Rye whiskey is one of the oldest American spirits and was the spirit of choice before Prohibition. Ryes are back in fashion, but longer-aged ryes are rare. A special release from Cooper Spirits is Lock Stock & Barrel Rye Whiskey. This one is a bit pricey, but for the collector, it’s not to be overlooked. Aged for 13 years in new charred-oak barrels, Lock Stock & Barrel is 100-percent rye, double distilled in copper pots and bottled at a nearly barrel proof of 101.3. It lives up to the hype with complex favors of tobacco, chocolate, coffee, nuts and dried fruits and has a long, clean finish. If you’re looking for something new to fill the void on the shelf where your Van Winkle 13-year rye used to sit (if only!), then give Lock Stock & Barrel a shot.
This article appears in Guide to Beer 2014.
