A layered blend of mature rye whiskies enhanced by double-oaked influence, delivering depth, spice, and remarkable barrel character.
Stats
- Age: 10-13 year
- Proof: 113 (56.5% ABV)
- Mashbill: Blend of 95% Rye │ 5% Malted Barley & 44% Corn │ 51% Rye │ 5% Malted Barley
- Origin: Ross & Squibb (MGP) — Lawrenceburg, Indiana
- Blend:
- 12% 13 yr 95/5 MGP
- 36% 10 yr 95/5 MGP
- 37% 10 yr 44/51/5 MGP
- 15% 10 yr 95/5 MGP (double oaked)
- Blend Size: 1400 bottles
- Finish: Blend of straight and double oaked ryes
- Release: Limited release, blended
- MSRP: $100 (Silverthorn Reserve)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Cinnamon stewed apples, toffee, and herbal mint lead the way. Underneath sits an earthy quality accompanied by subtle green wood and barrel-driven complexity.
- Palate: Classic 95/5 rye sweetness and spice form the backbone. Brown sugar, toasted caramel, patchouli, and fleeting crème brûlée notes emerge as the whiskey expands across the palate.
- Finish: The finish showcases the blend’s double-oaked influence with chocolate-covered cherry, drying oak, and persistent rye spice. Medium heat and medium length leave behind a dark, sweetly spiced impression.
Disclosure: I provided limited pre-release sensory feedback on early iterations of the High Malt Bourbon Blend and Rye Blend during development. My role was advisory only, and the final blending decisions remained entirely with Drew. As always, this review reflects my independent assessment of the final released whiskey.
Silverthorn Rye Blend isn’t trying to reinvent rye whiskey.
Instead, it takes familiar rye building blocks and elevates them through thoughtful blending and strategic barrel influence. The result is a whiskey that remains recognizable as rye while adding additional layers of sweetness, oak, and complexity.
At 113 proof, it delivers precisely the kind of escalating spice experience rye enthusiasts crave.
Presentation
Silverthorn’s presentation leans into a minimalist, commandingly restrained aesthetic that immediately signals intent. The flattened cylinder bottle shape feels deliberate rather than decorative, with typography and labeling that place key information front and center without distraction. There’s a quiet confidence in how everything is laid out. Nothing is trying to compete for attention, yet everything feels considered.
The design language mirrors the whiskey itself: process-driven, not performance-driven. It avoids the temptation toward excess or ornamentation, instead emphasizing clarity and structure. Even at a glance, you understand this is a brand that prioritizes what’s inside the bottle over visual theatrics.
What stands out most is how the presentation reinforces the personality behind the whiskey. It’s minimal, thoughtful, and slightly reserved, but undeniably premium. Much like the craft behind the blends, it doesn’t need to announce itself loudly to be noticed. It simply earns attention through restraint and precision.
Distinctiveness
Of the three newest Silverthorn releases, this is the least distinctive, though that’s hardly criticism.
The core profile remains rooted in familiar mature rye territory. What separates it from many peers is the contribution of the double-oaked component, which adds deeper caramelized sugars, richer fruit notes, and enhanced barrel spice without overwhelming the rye character itself.
“…arguably one of the most distinctive bourbons I’ve tasted this year.”
Transparency
Silverthorn continues to set a standard few independent bottlers match.
Every component of the blend is disclosed, including distillery source, age, mashbill percentages, and blending proportions. Consumers are given virtually everything needed to understand what is in the bottle and how it was constructed.
Value
At $100 MSRP, the Rye Blend offers substantial value.
The blend includes mature stocks from multiple rye mashbills along with secondary barrel influence that adds genuine complexity rather than marketing appeal. The craftsmanship behind the final profile makes the pricing feel justified.
Buy if:
- You’re a dedicated rye whiskey enthusiast
- You enjoy double-oaked influence
- You appreciate layered spice development
- You prefer rye that balances sweetness and barrel character
Skip if:
- You prefer sweeter bourbon profiles
- You dislike drying oak influence
- Rye spice typically isn’t your thing
- You want fruit-forward whiskey with minimal barrel impact
Verdict
The Rye Blend succeeds by understanding exactly what rye lovers want and then giving them more of it.
It preserves the classic sweet-and-spicy framework of mature rye while introducing deeper layers of caramelization, oak influence, and barrel spice through thoughtful blending. Nothing feels forced or gimmicky.
This is a rye that starts comfortably familiar before steadily revealing additional complexity with every sip.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 5.5 / 7
- Palate: 5.6 / 7
- Finish: 5.75 / 7
- Presentation: 5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 5 / 7
- Transparency: 7 / 7
- Value: 5.5 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.62 / 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 Silverthorn Reserve
Silverthorn Reserve is the passion project of Drew Thorn — a builder at heart with over 30 years in fermentation and spirits.
His path runs through Flying Dog Brewery and the founding of Sagamore Spirit, where he helped establish modern Maryland rye. Silverthorn, though, is more personal — smaller scale, highly controlled, and rooted in precision blending and finishing.
That precision shows up in everything from barrel selection to blending technique. Even un-finished releases benefit from his approach of re-entering blends into used barrels to marry and further age, rather than bottling immediately.
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