Is rye whiskey having a moment? Jake Lewellen reviews Proof & Precedent, a brand-new 11-year-old straight rye whiskey from Illinois bottled at 121.6 proof (60.8% ABV). It's a small batch blend of Illinois ryes, created with Brian Harris of Sipping Corn, Matt Cusack, and Marcus Neiman.
In this Five Minute Fridays tasting, Jake covers:
🥃 Why rye is surging, with Angel's Envy's Peach Brandy Cask finished rye, Silverthorn's 13-year, Dark Arts' 15-year, and Joseph Magnus' batched rye
🥃 Nose: apricot, peach, brûléed sugar, candied orange, honeysuckle, and a "hot toddy" aroma
🥃 Palate: fruit cocktail syrup, star anise, warm baking spices, and heavy oak on the finish
🥃 Why this high-rye rye drinks with the complexity of a high-rye bourbon, which makes it a good pick for bourbon drinkers who find rye too spicy
🥃 Jake's verdict: one of the top rye whiskeys he's had in 2026
⏱️ Chapters
0:00 Intro: a new Illinois rye from Proof & Precedent
0:42 Why this release matters
1:10 Rye whiskey is having a moment
2:02 Nose: apricot, peach & candied orange
2:53 First sip: 121.6 proof
4:13 Verdict: rye for bourbon drinkers
5:15 Final thoughts & rating
Have you tried Proof & Precedent? Tell us in the comments!
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Keywords
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