Can the blending masters at Rolling Fork Spirits pull off the exact same magic with a historic rye whiskey that they did with their massive Bourbon de Luxe revival?
On this episode of Five Minute Fridays, Jake Lewellen cracks open and reviews the highly anticipated REWCO 6-Year Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. Clocking in at 109.4 proof and priced at an approachable $59.99 MSRP, this bottle carries some serious historical weight.
Named after R. E. Wathen (Richard E. Wathen), president of American Medicinal Spirits during Prohibition, REWCO is a brand resurrected straight out of the Wathen family’s 200-year distilling legacy. But how does it actually drink today?
Jake breaks down the incredibly unique, hybrid flavor profile of this small batch. Blending three barrels of traditional 74% rye with two barrels of high-spice 95% rye, this pour delivers an unexpected wave of sweet corn, baking spices, citrus zest, and grilled peaches on the nose, followed by a deeply complex tropical fruit sweetness on the palate.
Is this Pre-Prohibition revival "The Zenith of Possibility in Whiskey Quality," or does it get lost in a crowded rye market? Find out in under five minutes!
⏱️ Timestamps:
- 00:00 - The Ultimate Test: Can REWCO Rye beat Bourbon de Luxe?
- 00:40 - The History of R.E. Wathen & American Medicinal Spirits
- 01:10 - First Impressions: Bottle design and visual aesthetic
- 02:35 - Tasting Notes: Diving into a nose of baking spices and grilled peaches
- 02:55 - Flavor Profile: Unpacking the tropical fruit sweetness and citrus zest
- 03:32 - Palate Experience: How the 109.4 cask strength proof holds up
- 03:58 - Mouthfeel & Smoothness: Textural breakdown of the hybrid mashbill
- 04:27 - The Finish: Subtlety, persistence, and lingering rye spice
- 05:22 - Final Verdict: Is this $60 limited release worth the hunt?
- 05:49 - Celebration ideas, future batch potential, and closing thoughts
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