A. Altschuler 12-year Mizunara Finished Rye

While there’s little out there about The Woodwork Collective out of Louisville, Kentucky, they’ve been making ripples in the whiskey world under their A. Altschuler & Co. label, with the goal of taking well-aged whiskeys and, where it makes sense, finishing them into unique and enjoyable expressions. 
 
If you’ve been reading these emails for a while, you know we’ve released several A. Altschuler & Co. barrels since the beginning of 2024, and they never seem to last long on the site for good reason. Each one tends to hit in my personal flavor pocket as well. Their 12-year Straight Bourbon from last year ended up being one of my favorite bourbons of the year, and the 11-year 99/1 from earlier this year is tracking to do the same.

 You may also remember that earlier this year we released an 8-year mizunara and toasted finished rye under the Raconteur label. We figured a great way to close out 2025, or rather kick off 2026, was with our first rye single barrel under the Altschuler umbrella, and with one of those barrels that inspired the direction of Raconteur Rye. 
 
This is a 12-year, mizunara-finished 95/5 rye: still clearly rye but with added layer of fruit, incense-like oak, and depth from the finishing. With fewer than 100 bottles available, I don’t see it lasting very long.
 

Creamy and luscious, layers of toffee and caramel, a measured note of exotic wood, and boiled red fruit over French custard. Vanilla follows, with well-developed rye spice esters softened by 12 years of age. Hints of mint and orange peel lift the whole thing.
 
A sugary caramel apple cider oak bomb: creamy, oaky, and sweet. Smooth toasted oak, creamy toffee and caramel, with thick, understated layers of rye and soft herbal spice, more elegant than aggressive. The mouthfeel is polished: powerful flavor, cohesive, and dense.
 
Deep toasted oak, then cocoa and caramel, cherry and rhubarb. A touch of mint, and finally a building rye spice that carries long and warm.