Tennessee Whiskey Brand Drops Buzzy Rye Finished in Barrel-Aged Honey Casks

(Photo: Blue Note Bourbon)

Blue Note Bourbon, Memphis’s first licensed distillery, announced on Aug. 13 the limited release of a rye whiskey finished in locally sourced barrel-aged honey casks.

“Limited releases like our Honey Rye Cask allow our team to flex its creative muscles and shine a spotlight on special finishes,” B.R. Distilling Company President and Chief Operating Officer Logan Welk said in a news release. “Blue Note’s bold and spicy notes blended with the nuanced flavors of wildflower honey deliver an intricate balance of strength and sweetness.”

Blue Note Bourbon shared that the brand sourced American oak barrels that were reused to store locally sourced honey.

The team housed the rye whiskey, which hosted a mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, inside those casks for a minimum amount of three years. Eventually, the rye whiskey was drawn and bottled at 117 proof.

The brand claims that Blue Note’s Honey Rye Cask possesses flavors of apricots, oak and allspice. There’s a distinctively floral component to this rye, and its finish is soft and light. The wildflower honey dominates in the conclusion.

More About Blue Note Bourbon

Big River (B.R.) Distilling company, Blue Note’s parent company, was founded in Memphis Tennessee. It was considered the oldest licensed distillery in Memphis. Blue Note Bourbon was founded to honor blues music — a major cultural driver of the city of Memphis.

The brand features four expressions available for sale: Juke Joint, Crossroads, Uncut and a rye whiskey. Juke Joint features a mashbill of 70% corn, 21% rye and 9% malted barley. It spent a minimum of three years aging in a barrel before it was released, and if you want to know what we thought about it you can read our review here.

In April, Blue Note shared that it signed a multi-year partnership making it the first official bourbon of Major League Pickleball. This agreement placed Blue Note as the third official spirit behind Dulce Vida Tequila and The Botanist Islay Gin as pickleball sponsors.

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