Peerless Distillery - High Rye Bourbon Review
History of Peerless Distillery
The history of Peerless Distillery dates back to 1889 when Henry Kraver, a banker, purchased the Worsham Distillery in Henderson, Kentucky. Under Kraver's leadership, the distillery was incorporated as the Kentucky Peerless Distillery Company in 1907. Kraver significantly expanded production, increasing output from eight to 200 barrels per day. However, the distillery ceased operations in 1917 due to World War I and the impending Prohibition era, which led to the sale of equipment and stock for medicinal purposes[1][2].
The legacy of Peerless lay dormant until Corky Taylor, Kraver's great-grandson, decided to revive the brand. Inspired by family history and memorabilia, Taylor re-established the distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. The modern Peerless Distillery maintains a commitment to quality and tradition, producing spirits with a focus on craftsmanship and authenticity. The distillery operates under historic standards, ensuring that every batch is distilled in-house without outsourcing or compromising quality[2].
High Rye Bourbon
Peerless High Rye Bourbon represents a significant innovation for the distillery as it introduces a unique mash bill distinct from their traditional offerings. Released in April 2023, this bourbon is crafted with a higher rye content than previous Peerless bourbons[3]. The High Rye Bourbon is aged between five and six years and bottled at barrel strength with a proof of 110.5.
Review:
Nose: Marzipan, almond extract, charred oak, brown sugar, vanilla, and angel food cake are the heaviest notes I get on the nose. It is a very classic well-rounded nose with a slight rounding of white pepper on the back end which can be attributed to the higher rye content in the mash bill. It still smells a little bit young and the flavors are there but arent very refined or softened.
Palate: This is a classic high rye bourbon. It packs quite a significant punch on the first sip and brings along the brown sugar and vanilla up front. There isnt as much oak on the palate but I am very surprised how much of the almond extract Christmas cookies shine through here. It is not too oily and sits pretty light on the tongue which contradicts the flavor it brings. This is not a fruity bourbon by any means and I think just sticks with the classics.
Finish: This finish was long, pronounced, and didnt evolve too much off of the palate. There isn’t really anything wrong with that in my opinion as the flavors are great. I wish there was a bit more complexity on the backend for this price point as overall, this dirnks like a quality $70 cask strength bourbon would, not a $140 bourbon.
Overall: 81. This is a great bourbon. Is it $140 great? No. I won’t probably be buying another but I am glad I have one in my collection. The story at peerless is an incredible one and the quality that the master distiller has been bale to procue in such a short time since re-opening is impressive. Since they are so young, I understand the elevated price. However, I hope with expanded operations in the years to come, this price will come down to compete with many of the bottles available right now for about 50-60% of the price.
Value: 50/100; (-2 on the overall)
Availability: Limited. Should be able to find this in Kentucky with relative ease and especially at the distillery. I haven’t seen it too much on the shelf in Chicago but know the distribution is getting better from the company.
Citations:
[1] https://kentuckypeerless.com/the-history-comes-full-circle/
[2] https://www.spirithub.com/pages/kentucky-peerless-distilling-company
[3] https://kentuckypeerless.com/whiskey-3/kentucky-peerless-high-rye-bourbon/