The Juiciest Tumblin Dice Yet? 🍊

We've long been fans of Proof & Wood. Based in Washington, DC, they’ve built their reputation around sourcing and blending, and over the years we’ve offered a number of their straight bourbons and ryes that have ended up among some of our favorite barrels of the year - especially their ryes.

In recent years, we’ve also seen them lean into more unique releases. We’ve had everything from double-oaked bourbon that spent nearly half its life in secondary oak to rye finished in Laird’s Apple Brandy barrels. Today continues that trend with something we haven’t seen them offer before: a 10-year-old rye finished in orange liqueur barrels.

There is just something magical about a well-finished rye. The classic 95/5 mashbill has enough character to still cut through the finishing cask, while also giving that secondary barrel plenty of room to add another layer of flavor.

That’s exactly what happens here. If you’re like me and prefer your Old Fashioneds with rye, this almost feels like an Old Fashioned in a glass. There's a syrupy texture that comes from the finishing, and candied citrus that takes an otherwise mint- and spice-forward rye and makes it much more balanced. This is a super flavorful finished whiskey, and one of our favorites we've had on the site all year long.

The nose is rich and saturated, opening with candied orange peel, orange marmalade, and brûléed citrus before moving into brown sugar syrup, dark cherry, cinnamon, and seasoned oak. The longer it rests, the more a damp, buttery richness begins to show.

The palate immediately shows the depth from its time in orange liqueur casks. Orange oleo and cocktail cherry lead into the spice and tannin of orange bitters, with flavored black tea, lighter baking spices, and mature oak. The classic buttermint and sweet mint of 95/5 rye feels beautifully integrated, folding into a sweet vermouth-like richness with just a touch of root beer.

The finish turns darker and drier, with candied orange, cocktail cherry, black tea, dark chocolate, and mature oak. Sweet mint lingers underneath, woven into the citrus and spice before finishing almost like a rich, concentrated Old Fashioned.