Chocorua Rye Whiskey is made at Tamworth Distilling in Tamworth, New Hampshire. The distillery has a 250 gallon, copper still, made at Vendome. They use 100% organic rye, grown in Maine and they use water from the Ossipee Stratified Aquifer that lies in the granite bedrock under the distillery. The label is three sided and most of it is dedicated to a copy of the 1838 poem by RH. S.S. Andros, The Legend Chocorua. In fact, you have to look hard to find the information about the whiskey. The best information is to be found on the distillery website. I first tasted this whiskey with Maggie Kimberl and she had them send me a bottle for review. Matt and I tasted it and here are our tasting notes.
Chocorua Rye Whiskey
Proof: 90
Age: No Age Statement
Nose:
- Mike: Rye grass and lots of it. There is also a little vanilla and oak and a hint of citrus.
- Matt: Lots of rye grass, vanilla and marshmallows with lemon shandy citrus.
Taste:
- Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, lemon peel and oak. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the citrus steps forward to the extent that you would think you had a lemon drop hard candy. Tasted with a pecan and wild berries come out with more oak wood.
- Matt: Vanilla with lemon cream puff and oak. The dried cranberry brought out flavors of sour lemonhead candy, tart raspberries and vanilla. The pecan gave it a creamy mouth-feel and enhanced the lemon and oak wood.
Finish:
- Mike: Long and dry, with rye grass, oak wood and some lingering citrus notes. The cranberry reduced the rye grass and enhanced the lemon peel notes. The pecan made the finish very long with oak, vanilla and a hint of creamy chocolate.
- Matt: Medium long with tart citrus and sweet oak wood. The dried cranberry reduced the oak wood and enhanced the citrus. The pecan made the finish long with oak and hints of tart lemon pie.
I would pair this fine rye whiskey with a cigar that was strong with the earthy tobacco and cedar spice notes in the smoke. I would reach for a Fuente “Short Story” cigar.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller