Our First Onyx & Amber Rye

Onyx & Amber isn't exactly a new name anymore. This Denver-based whiskey company focuses on sourcing and finishing exceptional barrels, and we think you’ll only continue to see more from them. They specialize in high-aged, cask-strength bourbon, with most of the barrels we’ve selected to this point coming from MGP and maturing further in Colorado’s high-altitude climate. Each release is hand-selected for depth, complexity, and character, but today’s release is a bit more interesting.

When we saw Onyx & Amber had a small number of these particular barrels coming to the pick program back in April, eight in fact, we immediately said we wanted one. This is not only our first rye selection from the team, but also the oldest pumpernickel rye we’ve had here on the site. This unique 9-year Ohio 95/5 rye is a delight for rye lovers, and at 126 proof drinks thicker than a winter coat.

This whiskey has incredible layers to it if you just let them develop, though if you are looking for a sweet-forward Kentucky-style rye, you won’t find that here.

The nose is elegant, gently layered with plum and date syrup, but also with softly mature oak and torched orange peel. Lightly candied with buttermint and white pepper, it moves to cooked caramel and sage before developing into baked green apple.

The palate is velvety and proofy, almost sticking to the tongue and top of the mouth, with dark honey on the first sips. Rich oak, pine, grape concentrate, honeysuckle, and anise join dark chocolate bark in a long, dense, slightly vanilla-sweetened profile as it continues to open.

The finish is long and herbal, almost giving it a digestif-like characteristic with an anise/root beer float-like quality, while remaining plump and a bit jammy with reduced dark fruit concentrate, lingering chocolate, and soft effervescence.