Former Master Blender for Wayne Gretzky Estates, Joshua Beach is now the principle whisky maker for Harris Beach Spirits, and in Rye Fifty One Rye Whisky has created a spirit that is described by the company as being “geared towards mixologists, bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts.”
Of course, before pouring it into a melange of cocktail ingredients, let’s see how it stands up on its own.
Like other Canadian whiskies, the Rye Fifty One Rye Whisky name alludes to the fact that to many, Canadian whisky is still so often casually referred to as “rye” – whether it is 100% rye or not. Some Canadian whiskies have even been labelled “rye” without any actual rye ever making it in to the blend – as there is no legal requirement to do so.
Thankfully, Harris Beach Rye Fifty One Rye Whisky does have rye whisky within its blend; 51% as a matter of fact.
Beach maintains that when it comes to flavor, it isn’t the amount of rye used within a blend that matters as much as the percentage in which was is distilled at. In the case of Rye Fifty One, the rye used was distilled at ~64%, which is said to provide big flavor to the blend. The remainder is balanced by the sweet softness of 49% corn whisky, aka, ‘the base whisky’.
Rye Fifty One Rye Whisky is finished in Virgin French and American Oak.
SHELF APPEAL RATING (Note: does not count toward final score, out of 5):
APPEARANCE: Clear. Maple syrup.
NOSE: Bright initial aromas of Welch’s White Grape Juice, thick maple syrup, straw, and tennis balls surge to the fore, and are followed up by an aromatic layer that produces the floral note of a geranium, and a hint of lightly buttered popcorn.
PALATE: A silky smooth texture provides a nice buttery, coating mouthfeel. Medium sweetness. Maple syrup and vanilla ice cream are quickly perceived on the front palate which evolves into canned peach syrup and hot rye spice.
FINISH: Medium, chest warming and pleasant. Cinnamon, burnt maple syrup and a final smattering of rye spice.
ABV: 45%
AGE: NAS
CASK(S): Virgin French Oak and American oak
ENJOY: Neat, with ice, or in a cocktail.
RATING:
Conclusions
Mmm, maple syrup. Buttery texture. Pancakes anyone?
In Rye Fifty One, Beach has created a very sippable Canadian whisky with an undeniable maple and rye spice element that begged to be tested out in a cocktail.
Rye Fifty One is distilled on premise at Spirit In Niagara Distillery in Niagara-On-The-Lake Ontario – which is fitting given the white grape note that I quickly perceived on the palate. Yes, a peculiar “tennis ball” note is present, that try as I may, I can’t escape detecting. However, don’t this stop you from experiencing it neat before testing it out in a cocktail.
The Rye Fifty One was successfully test-driven in a nice, stiff Sazerac cocktail. It provided a pleasant dry, spicy element to the classic New Orleans-style concoction. I recommend trying this out for yourself.
…And For Those So Inclined: A Recommended Cigar Pairing
Pair the Harris Beach Rye Fifty One with a Perdomo Habano Maduro cigar.
The Perdomo Habano Maduro exhibits a medium to full-bodied profile of dark chocolate, roasted coffee bean, earth, and leather, and is punctuated by a plethora of chewy spices. The Nicaraguan wrapper leaf rests in a bourbon barrel for several months before it is applied to complete the cigar.
The prominent spicy profile of the Perdomo Habano Maduro compliments the spicy, rye-forward-with-subtle-sweetness profile of the Rye Fifty One whisky, which rounds things out with a silky, slightly viscous mouthfeel.
– Kurt Bradley
Reviewed October 03, 2022
