Blue Note Honey Rye Cask Limited Release 2025 is a Other Whiskey from the Blue Note Bourbon brand crafted in United States.
Blue Note's Honey Rye Cask takes a fascinating detour through barrel aging—first the American oak barrels are used to age honey, then that same honey-soaked wood finishes the 95% rye whiskey, creating a two-way flavor exchange that's bottled unfiltered at a robust 116.49 proof. Here's the kicker: those barrels literally made honey before they made whiskey, meaning you're tasting wood that's been sweetened from the inside out—a reverse-engineering of the aging process that few distilleries have attempted.
Blue Note Honey Rye Cask stands out because it's finished in barrels that were previously used to age honey, then returned to those honey-infused casks for a second aging—a creative technique that adds layers of vanilla, apple, and cinnamon complexity without overwhelming sweetness, all while being crafted in Memphis where the intense heat accelerates the whiskey's interaction with the oak for bold, smooth flavor at a robust 116.49 proof.
This high-proof honey rye cask is versatile enough to sip neat or over ice on crisp fall evenings, where its warm spice notes and apple character shine alongside charcuterie boards, aged cheeses, or grilled pork chops, though it also plays beautifully in rye-forward whiskey sours or old fashioned-style drinks when you want something with a bit more complexity than your standard rye.
Nose: Opens with warm vanilla and baking spices, particularly cinnamon and clove. The honey influence appears as a subtle sweetness rather than an overwhelming floral note. Behind that, there's oak tannin and a touch of green apple skin. The high rye content brings hints of black pepper and dried herbs.
Palate: Crisp apple arrives first, followed quickly by cinnamon and vanilla. The 116.49 proof delivers considerable warmth without burning, carrying flavors of toasted oak, caramelized sugar, and honey that reads more like honeycomb than liquid honey. The rye spice builds gradually with notes of cracked pepper, mint, and a slight dill character typical of high-rye whiskeys.
Finish: Long and warming with lingering vanilla and apple notes. The spice elements persist—cinnamon, pepper, and oak tannins—while the honey sweetness fades to reveal the whiskey's drier, oakier backbone. Smooth despite the proof, with just enough heat to remind you of the strength without overwhelming the flavors.
Blue Note Honey Rye Cask takes a clever circular approach to finishing: American oak barrels first age the rye whiskey for at least three years, then those same barrels are emptied and used to produce barrel-aged honey, and finally the whiskey returns to those honey-infused casks for an additional aging period that marries the spirit with residual sweetness and complexity from the honey.
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Please drink responsibly. CA Residents: Proposition 65 Warning.
