This post sponsored by the Glencairn Whisky Glass

This whiskey is bottled by Steel Bending Spirits in Jackson, Michigan. One of the owners of this company is Neil Giraldo, the husband of Pat Benatar, thus the musical theme to the name of the brand. The rye whiskey was purchased from distilleries in Indiana and Kentucky and expertly blended into a very nice final product. They have hired Ari Sussman to be their Master Distiller and he will be making their products at his distillery in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Until that product is ready they have sourced their whiskey. Sussman has done an excellent job blending this sourced whiskey. The bottle is reasonably priced and very attractive. It is worth taking the time to find this new rye whiskey.

Three Chords Amplify Rye

Proof: 95

Age: No Age Statement

Nose: Caramel, just a hint of rye grass, apricots and some sweet oak with a hint of cardamom in the background.

Taste: Caramel, apricots, rye grass, cinnamon and a hint of oak tannins. When tasted with a dried cranberry, buttery notes come forward with apricots, cinnamon and white pepper. When tasted with a pecan, wood comes to dominate the flavor at the cost of the fruit and caramel.

Finish: Medium long with oak and cinnamon. The cranberry lengthened the finish and made it drier with oak and spice. The pecan made the finish very dry with lots of oak tannins and pepper spice.

I am pairing this rye with a RoMa Craft Neanderthal cigar. I find the smoke to have a lot of rich tobacco with some sweet mocha and cedar spice. The whiskey brought out some vanilla and dried fruit notes in the smoke, while the smoke made the whiskey very spicy with cinnamon, ginger and cardamom with apricots and oak. A really good pairing.

Photos Courtesy of Michael Veach