Pinhook Whiskey
Straight Rye Bourbon
Straight Rye Bourbon
Region: Kentucky
Country: United States
Volume: 750ml
ABV:
The mash bill is composed of 60% rye, 20% corn, and 20% malted barley, all sourced as non-GMO grains. After a minimum of 3 years of aging, the whiskey is proofed with ground-fed, limestone-filtered spring water, culminating in a non-chill filtered bottling at 49.5% ABV.
On the nose, the whiskey offers warm aromas of ripe pear, vanilla, clove, and honey. The palate unfolds with flavors of cherry, black tea, baked apples, toffee, and white pepper, leading to a long, herbaceous finish.
True to Pinhook's ethos, while vintages may vary slightly, each release consistently delivers excellence. The 2024 vintage of Pinhook Straight Rye Whiskey showcases slightly updated packaging and an enhanced age statement compared to previous releases. Expertly crafted by Sean Josephs, this rye whiskey is perfect for both mixing and sipping, highlighting a pronounced expression of rye grain and embracing the racy spice and herbaceous undertones that are quintessential to the American cocktail cannon.
About Brewery
Pinhook Whiskey
Pinhook was established in 2010 by Sean Josephs, a renowned barman with a deep-rooted passion for American whiskey. Prior to launching Pinhook, Josephs founded iconic whiskey bars like Char No. 4 and Maysville in New York, and Kenton’s in New Orleans. As the Master Blender for Pinhook since its inception, Josephs leverages his seasoned palate, honed as a certified sommelier, to craft the brand's distinct whiskey profiles.
The foundation of Pinhook is rooted in a unique concept: annually releasing a new batch of bourbon and rye, each crafted to represent the pinnacle expression of their barrels at that specific moment. The blends and proofs are adjusted from batch to batch to accentuate the unique characteristics of each release, reminiscent of a whiskey vintage.
The term "pinhooking" refers to the practice of purchasing young, thoroughbred horses, nurturing their initial development, and then reselling them as race-ready contenders, with aspirations for a victorious run at the Kentucky Derby. Pinhook whiskey pays homage to this tradition, drawing parallels between investing in a young horse's potential and the maturation process of a young whiskey. Both endeavors require optimism, patience, and foresight to achieve the desired outcome.
Pinhook initially entered the market with expertly blended whiskeys sourced from the prominent and highly sought-after distillery, MGP. MGP-sourced whiskey remains a cornerstone of Pinhook's acclaimed 'Vertical Series' releases.
Today, Pinhook's operations are housed in the newly restored Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, KY. Established in the late 1800s and originally the residence of Old Colonel Taylor, Castle & Key is a historic site where Pinhook has begun releasing whiskeys crafted and distilled by the distillery. These releases feature Pinhook's meticulously chosen proprietary mash bills for both bourbon and rye, marking some of the first distillates produced at Castle & Key since its restoration.