Old Rick “Ménage à Trois” Rye & American Light Whiskey Blend (124 Proof) – Cox’s Creek Distilling Review
A bold, dessert-leaning rye that layers jammy sweetness, oak, and spice into a constantly evolving sip.
About Cox’s Creek Distilling
“Our mission is simple: to craft exceptional bourbon for everyone…” – Cox’s Creek Distilling website
Cox’s Creek Distilling Company, located in its namesake, Cox’s Creek, Kentucky, is host to a number of non-distilling producer (NDP) brands including Good Times, Old Zach, and Old Rick.
Good Times is likely its most (in)famous brand due to their eclectic cask “finishes”, which caught notoriety in the thick of the Bourbon Boom on countless single barrel picking clubs.
Old Zach made its name sourcing BuffTurkey during the height of its craze and more recently the eighteen year Barton barrels that have been circulating through the NDP channels.
Old Rick is the newest addition to their brand lineup which has primarily seemed to be sourcing high age statement (18-21 year) American light whiskey as well as interesting blends like the one provided to the author.
Stats
- Age: Min 10 yr
- Proof: 124
- Mashbill: Blend of 100% Canadian Rye + 99% Corn 1% Malted Barley (Double-Oaked American Light Whiskey) + 95% Rye │5% Malted Barley
- Origin: Alberta, Canada + Midwest Grain Products (MGP), Indiana (Sourced)
- Release: 2025, Limited Release
- MSRP: 169.99
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Strawberry jam, toffee, and brown butter create a rich, dessert-forward introduction with depth and warmth.
- Palate: Deep tannic oak leads the way, followed by white pepper and an unmistakable caramel bomb. Structured, bold, and assertive.
- Finish: Caramel-drizzled apple pie transitions into Big League Chew sweetness. Tingling white pepper and clove float above lingering caramel, with only the faintest metallic astringency at the tail end.
A big, expressive rye that balances dessert sweetness with oak structure and spice. Bold without being unruly, and layered enough to keep revealing new notes with each sip.
Buy this if you:
- Love the rich and drier oak presence of older Kentucky Bourbon
- Want a high proof straight bourbon that will steal the show.
Skip if you:
- Prefer lower proofs
- Dislike oak heavy profiles
- Don’t like the better Barton distillate.
The price tag of $169.99 is a little steep but not wholly unreasonable in the world of older age stated sourced whiskey. It’s certainly a quality blend hitting many of my own preferred tasting notes but without knowing exact age statements, it’s hard to objectively gauge its value.
I think more transparency on the bottles about the ages of each whiskey in the blend would help, though we know the lowest age is 10 year old MGP Rye whiskey. Most NDPs would have that around $100-120 in my experience.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 6 / 7
- Palate: 5.5 / 7
- Finish: 6 /7
- Presentation: N/A (samples)
- Value: 4.5 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.5 / 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 sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. 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 sample was provided to me free of charge for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
Looking for more whiskey reviews? Browse my latest reviews here.