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Hemingway Rye was founded by Steve Croth, one of the founders of Angel’s Envy Whiskey. He hired Jacob Call to source and blend this whiskey. It is 96% Indiana rye whiskey and 4% Kentucky rye whiskey finished in an Oloroso Sherry barrel that had been used before to age some rum. The Kentucky rye whiskey had been distilled by Jacob Call. I was sent a sample of this whiskey to review and Matt and I sat down and tasted it. Here are our tasting notes.

Hemingway Rye First Edition Finished in Oloroso Sherry Barrels

Proof: 100

Age: No Age Statement

Nose:

• Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, raspberry and raisins, baking spices and oak wood.
• Matt: Rye grass, vanilla, cardamom spice and oak wood.

Taste:

• Mike: Rye grass, caramel, almonds, raspberries and raisins, cardamom spice, and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the caramel and berries come forward in the taste. Tasted with a pecan and the oak is enhanced.
• Matt: Rye grass, vanilla, cardamom spice and oak wood. The dried cranberry brought out some nutmeg spice. The pecan brought out some malted milk ball flavors and raisins.

Finish:

• Mike: Medium long with oak and spice. The dried cranberry made the finish shorter but added some sweetness of lingering berry flavors. The pecan made the finish much longer with lots of baking spice and oak.
• Matt: Medium long with oak, white pepper and leather. The dried cranberry added some sweet chili spice to the finish. The pecan made the finish very long with oak and lingering chocolate.

I would pair this Rye whiskey with a cigar that has a lot of vanilla and chocolate notes in the smoke. I would reach for one of my favorite cigars, a My Father The Judge.