A celebrity bourbon that leans into craftsmanship over celebrity — combining aged Kentucky depth with Indiana spice in a surprisingly compelling blend.
Stats
- Type: Bourbon
- Age: 8-13 year
- Proof: 115 (57.5% ABV)
- Mashbill: Calculated from blend ratio: 71.39% Corn │ 16.8% Rye │ 5.85% Wheat │ 5.96% Malted Barley
- Origin: Ross & Squibb (MGP) — Lawrenceburg, Indiana & unnamed Kentucky distillery (Barton 1792 assumed)
- Cask: New Charred American Oak
- Release: Limited release, blended, small batch
- MSRP: $99.99 (via Full Ryde)
- Celebrity Brand: Jared Allen, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Tasting Notes
- Nose: The nose starts with a surprisingly sweet and inviting profile: cherry cola, honey wheat bread, and Whoppers candy lead the way. Beneath that are layers of maple, oiled leather, baking spices, and a subtle floral rose petal note that add complexity without overwhelming the sweeter elements.
- Palate: The palate showcases the interesting contrast between the two bourbon components. The Kentucky whiskey brings darker cola, molasses, and deeper sweetness, while the Indiana bourbon adds cinnamon spice, caramel, and confectionary notes. The blend has good viscosity, though the flavors feel more like two personalities sharing the glass rather than a perfectly unified profile.
- Finish: The finish shifts heavily toward tobacco, cinnamon, and baking spice, creating a warm Kentucky hug that lingers well beyond the sip. Underneath the spice are hints of cherry syrup, candy sweetness, and subtle nuttiness reminiscent of walnut or pecan.
Full Ryde enters the bourbon world with an advantage many celebrity-backed brands don’t have: the whiskey actually has a story beyond the name on the bottle. Founded by NFL legend Jared Allen and bourbon enthusiast Mike Nielsen, Full Ryde’s second batch takes feedback from its initial release and refines both the product and the positioning.
Batch 2 is a four-grain, full-proof bourbon blend combining 8-year Indiana bourbon with a 13-year Kentucky bourbon component. At 115 proof, this is a whiskey that promises intensity, but the real question is whether these two distinct profiles come together as a cohesive blend.
Presentation
Full Ryde delivers one of the most complete bottle presentations I’ve seen this year without feeling like it is trying too hard.
The included bottle tube is a standout touch, elevating the unboxing experience in a way that feels premium. (Fun fact: place the bottle inside the tube and the air pressure slowly lowers it in — whether intentional feature or happy accident, I love it.)
The design leans into a bold, masculine aesthetic with strong lettering and sports-inspired details that subtly nod toward Jared Allen’s football background without becoming gimmicky.
Distinctiveness
Full Ryde does not completely reinvent bourbon — the core components are familiar.
However, the combination of an aged Kentucky bourbon backbone with Indiana bourbon spice and sweetness creates something more interesting than many celebrity whiskey releases.
The result is a blend that feels thoughtfully constructed rather than simply branded.
“The biggest challenge is that the whiskey almost feels like a tale of two bourbons“
Transparency
Full Ryde provides a strong amount of information compared with many modern bourbon releases. The brand shares the mash bills, proof, blend percentages, and component breakdowns, which gives consumers a clear understanding of what is inside the bottle.
The missing piece is the specific Kentucky distillery source. While that omission has become common in today’s bourbon market, additional sourcing details would elevate the transparency even further.
Value
One of Full Ryde’s smartest moves was adjusting Batch 2 pricing based on market feedback. Cutting the price by nearly 2/3 shows a willingness to listen and adapt — something many brands struggle with.
At $99.99, the value conversation is more complicated. An 8-year Indiana bourbon component carries roughly a $60 market value, while a 13-year Kentucky cask-strength bourbon commands a much higher premium.
Considering the limited nature of the release and celebrity association, the pricing lands in a reasonable place — though expectations are naturally higher at this level.
Buy if:
- You want a celebrity bourbon that delivers more than just a famous name.
- You enjoy bold, high-proof blends with contrasting flavor profiles.
- You appreciate bottles with premium presentation and attention to detail.
- You like exploring the differences between Kentucky and Indiana bourbon styles.
Skip if:
- You prefer a perfectly integrated blend where every flavor flows seamlessly.
- You dislike higher-proof whiskey with noticeable spice intensity.
- You are looking for the best $100 everyday bourbon value.
- You want complete distillery source transparency.
Verdict
Full Ryde Batch 2 is one of the better celebrity-backed whiskey releases I’ve tasted. Too often these collaborations lean heavily on the person attached to the bottle while the liquid becomes an afterthought. Full Ryde avoids that trap by putting together a legitimately interesting blend with quality components.
The biggest challenge is that the whiskey almost feels like a tale of two bourbons. The opening brings a sweeter Indiana influence with cherry, caramel, and confectionary notes, while the finish shifts dramatically into Kentucky-driven tobacco, cinnamon, and spice. The 13-year Kentucky component — likely responsible for those deeper cola and darker notes — feels like it takes center stage.
At the end of the day, Full Ryde is not trying to redefine bourbon. It is doing something more practical: creating an enjoyable, well-presented blend that shows a celebrity whiskey can have real substance behind the story.
Bourbon Bishop Bottom Line:
A surprisingly strong celebrity bourbon blend where Kentucky depth meets Indiana spice — even if the two sides don’t always ride perfectly together.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 5 / 7
- Palate: 5.25 / 7
- Finish: 5.4 / 7
- Presentation: 6.5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 5 / 7
- Transparency: 6.75 / 7
- Value: 5.5 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.63 / 7 – Divine
Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style.
| Score | Descriptor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Hell No | Drain pour. Seriously undrinkable. |
| 1.1–2 | Purgatory | Bad, but could be worse. Only in extreme cases. |
| 2.1–3 | Only Earthly | Just okay. Best used as a mixer. |
| 3.1–4 | Bliss | Passable to Good sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. Often high value for the price. |
| 5.1–6 | Divine | Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style. |
| 6.1–7 | Holy Heaven | Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn. |
Disclosure: This bottle was provided to me free of charge for review. All opinions are my own.
About Full Ryde
Full Ryde is a new bourbon brand built at the intersection of football, friendship, and a shared appreciation for American whiskey.
Founded by Jared Allen, Mike Nielsen, and brand strategist Aubry Boutin, Full Ryde brings together a Hall of Fame football career, deep bourbon enthusiasm, and decades of experience building brands.
Allen, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025, brings the same dedication to teamwork and craftsmanship that defined his NFL career into the whiskey world. Nielsen, founder and host of the award-winning Chi-Tucky Bourbon Brothers podcast, brings years of bourbon expertise and a passion for sharing whiskey with others.
The brand’s bourbon is produced and bottled by Middle West Spirits, an award-winning distillery in Columbus, Ohio, with a focus on grain-to-glass production and four generations of distilling tradition.
Full Ryde’s mission is simple: create approachable, quality bourbon while bringing people together around the bottle — much like a great locker room, where the experience is just as important as the final score.
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