Established in 1780, James E. Pepper is marketed as the oldest brand of whiskey made in Kentucky. The 1776 Straight Rye was launched in 2012 to revive the old brand, featuring a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. Aged 3-4 years at the Lawrenceburg Distillery in Indiana, it is unfiltered and bottled at the James E. Pepper Distillery using water from a historic limestone well.
I’d call this a high-proof sipping rye, especially if you want to swallow a sword and breathe fire later. That’s not your thing? Then try it with an ice cube.