James E. Pepper 4 Years Old Rye Batch 3

By Barry Bradford on December 10, 2021 • ( Leave a comment )

What they say

The third batch of rye whiskey from James E. Pepper which has been bottled by That Boutique-y Whisky Company. Just like batch 1 and 2, this whiskey has enjoyed a finishing period in different types of cask, though this one is a departure from sherry casks – it was finished in ale casks (as pointed out by James E. Pepper owner Amir Peay on the label).

Batch 3 is a release of 356 bottles.

Official tasting notes

Nose: Fudge, toasted barley and floral honey combine with malty vanilla notes and dense brown sugar. Buttery corn and chewy caramel emerge among some sawdust.
Palate: Oak spice, plenty of creamy malt notes and dark toffee lead. A little bit of orange zest adds a flash of citrus to the mid-palate.
Finish: Peppercorn and more malt linger for a while.
Overall: The ale cask adds an extra dimension, without distracting from the classic James E. Pepper character.

What I say

Batch 3 James E. Pepper Rye whiskey from Boutique-Y features an interesting twist with an extra finishing period in ex-Ale casks. While US and particularly Bourbon rules prevent the use of anything other than Virgin oak casks (or alternatively then the use of Bourbon on the label) I do love to see a bit of experimentation with US whiskey.

ABV 50%
Age 4 Years Old
Bottler That Boutique-Y Whisky Company
Bottling Batch 3
Cask Ale cask
Category Rye whisky
Cost £46.95
Origin James E. Pepper Distillery
Outturn 356 bottles
Region USA
Released 2021
Vintage undisclosed

My tasting notes

Appearance Bronze (13/20), medium-large tears and legs.
Nose Spicy and sweet, cinnamon and aniseed, fresh vanilla pods, honey and toffee, fruity apple, banana bread & gingerbread, almond croissants & toasted flaked almonds.
Taste Medium-full bodied, creamy with spice, cardamom kulfi, ginger and rye bread, fizzy peppers, caramel & honey, candied orange peel, soft brown sugar, malty.
Finish Medium, sugar and spice, carrot cake; clove, cinnamon, nutmeg.
Overall Quite spicy Rye as you’d expect but also a nice cake-y sweet & malty feel to it, I was surprised to discover this was ale-cask finished after tasting it – so very well integrated cask-finish here.