Last month, I was given a couple of bottles by Maggie Kimberl, who received these bottles from the Tamworth Distillery to pass on to me. We liked both bottles, but we thought this whiskey was worthy of being our Whiskey of the Month for January 2026. This whiskey is made in a 250 gallon still made by Vendome and is 100% rye. It is Bottled-in-Bond at eight years old and a very good rye whiskey. Here are our tasting notes.
Tamworth Chocorua Rye Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond
Proof: 100
Age: Eight Years Old
Nose:
- Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, chocolate, cardamom spice and oak wood.
- Matt: Caramel, hazel nuts, cardamom. Allspice and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, chocolate, orange zest, cardamom and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the chocolate steps forward and the orange zest and cardamom are enhanced. Tasted with a pecan and dark chocolate and apricots come forth.
- Matt: Caramel, lemon zest, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg and oak wood. The dried cranberry enhanced the lemon zest and cardamom. The pecan brought out dark chocolate.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood, orange zest and lingering chocolate. The dried cranberry made the finish longer with oak wood, chocolate and cardamom. The pecan made the finish long and sweet with dark chocolate and apricots.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood and allspice. The dried cranberry made the finish spicy with oak wood and nutmeg. The pecan made the finish long with oak wood, nutmeg and lingering dark chocolate.
I would pair this fine rye whiskey with a My Father The Judge cigar. The rich vanilla and chocolate in the smoke would pair well with the vanilla and chocolate in the whiskey.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller