At 92 proof, Vinea combines eight-year-old straight rye whiskey with nine-year-aged grain neutral spirit finished in cognac casks. It’s a deeply sweet, surprisingly complex blend that offers an experience unlike most traditional whiskey releases.
Stats
- Type: Blend of Straight Rye and Grain Neutral Spirits finished in cognac barrels.
- Age: 8-9 year
- Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
- Mashbills: 95% Corn │ 5% Rye & grain neutral spirit (base not given, assumed corn)
- Origin: Sempreon (MGP) — Lawrenceburg, Indiana & undisclosed distillery for the GNS.
- Additional Aging: Minden Mill Distillery — Minden, Nevada
- Release: Wide release
- MSRP: $59 / 750 mL (via Ampersand)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Ripe Golden Delicious apples and raspberry lead into deeper fig jam and dark brown sugar, with an almost chocolate liqueur-like sweetness. Nutmeg adds warmth, and the nose is surprisingly complex for 92 proof, although there’s the faintest hint of neutral grain ethanol.
- Palate: The mouthfeel is fairly soft and creamy, with a continuation of the unusual chocolate note and overripe red fruit. Low-burning baking spices and barrel char provide some contrast, although the overall experience doesn’t quite deliver the same depth suggested by the nose.
- Finish: Low-burning baking spices continue into the finish, joined by Grape Bottle Caps, cherry syrup, and chocolate. There’s a lingering sweetness, but the finish doesn’t quite reach the complexity or intensity of the nose.
Blended by Chip Tate in collaboration with Minden Mill Distilling in Nevada, Ampersand is an exploration of what happens when traditional spirits categories become a little less restrictive.
Vinea is a particularly interesting example. Bottled at 92 proof, the blend consists of 75% eight-year-old straight rye whiskey and 25% grain neutral spirit aged for nine years in cognac casks.
It’s a combination that might raise a few eyebrows, particularly for whiskey drinkers accustomed to more traditional mash bills and finishing techniques. But that’s precisely what makes this release worth exploring.
Presentation
Ampersand has created one of the most distinctive bottle designs in the current whiskey and spirits landscape. The unusual shape and prominent metal Ampersand symbol give Vinea an unmistakable appearance.
It’s a bottle that looks as unconventional as its contents, and that’s a good thing. The presentation is one of the strongest elements of the entire release, making it an immediate standout regardless of what’s inside.
Distinctiveness
Vinea and its sibling release Malus are two of the more unusual blends I’ve encountered this year, regardless of where either ultimately lands in my personal rankings.
The combination of straight rye whiskey and grain neutral spirit aged in cognac casks is not something you encounter every day. Even at first glance, the composition suggests something outside the familiar boundaries of traditional whiskey.
The result is equally unconventional. There’s recognizable rye spice and cognac influence, but the deeper sweetness and unusual chocolate characteristics take this into unfamiliar territory. I appreciate what Chip Tate is attempting here, and more importantly, I think there’s genuine success in the execution.
This is the kind of experimentation that keeps the spirits industry interesting. Rather than simply releasing another variation of an established whiskey profile, Ampersand is challenging drinkers to reconsider what a blend can be.
“Rather than simply releasing another variation of an established whiskey profile, Ampersand is challenging drinkers to reconsider what a blend can be.”
Transparency
Ampersand does a reasonably good job disclosing the composition of Vinea. The label identifies the blend as 75% straight rye whiskey and 25% grain neutral spirit aged in cognac casks.
The rye is identified as MGP-sourced Indiana whiskey, but the specific distilleries behind the grain neutral spirit and cognac cask components aren’t disclosed. I’d also like to see more information about the cognac casks themselves.
Still, disclosing the actual percentages of the blend is appreciated. Knowing exactly how much of each component is included gives consumers more information than many unconventional releases provide.
Value
At $59.99, Vinea offers an interesting proposition. Both components have substantial age behind them, with eight-year-old rye and nine-year-aged grain neutral spirit finished in cognac casks.
Personally, this is the more appealing of the two Ampersand releases. The nose is significantly more complex, and the combination of deep sweetness, rye spice, and cognac influence hits more of my personal preferences.
That said, the value proposition will depend heavily on your willingness to explore something outside conventional whiskey. The unusual grain neutral spirit component won’t appeal to everyone, and the palate doesn’t quite deliver everything the nose promises. For someone who enjoys the profile, though, $59.99 feels like a reasonable entry point for such an unconventional blend.
Buy if:
- You enjoy deep sweetness with dark fruit and chocolate characteristics.
- You appreciate rye spice and cognac influence working together.
- You’re interested in unconventional blends that challenge traditional whiskey categories.
- You value complexity and experimentation over familiar flavor profiles.
Skip if:
- You prefer traditional bourbon or straight rye whiskey.
- You are sensitive to grain neutral spirit characteristics or ethanol notes.
- You want a palate that consistently matches the complexity of the nose.
- You prefer bold, concentrated flavors and higher-proof releases.
Verdict
Ampersand Vinea is a fascinating blend, and probably the more personally appealing of the two Ampersand releases. The nose is genuinely impressive, bringing together ripe Golden Delicious apples, raspberry, fig jam, dark brown sugar, and an almost chocolate liqueur-like sweetness. At 92 proof, that level of complexity is particularly surprising. The rye spice and cognac influence are delicious, and there’s a lot to appreciate in the ambition behind the blend.
However, Vinea is also a release that requires some patience and an open mind. My scores have actually increased over time as the bottle has opened up. Initially, the grain neutral spirit was more noticeable on the nose, but with some oxygen, that characteristic became much less apparent. Even so, the palate introduces some astringency and flavors that don’t always seem to fit together. It’s one of those rare occasions where the nose promises considerably more than the palate ultimately delivers.
I think there’s a lot to appreciate here, particularly for someone who enjoys deeper sweetness, spice, and experimentation. The grain neutral spirit component is going to be a sticking point for some drinkers, and I understand why. But I’d rather see a blender take an ambitious swing like this than settle for another predictable release. Vinea doesn’t entirely stick the landing, but it makes for a memorable experience and another example of Chip Tate’s willingness to push the boundaries of blending.
Bourbon Bishop Bottom Line:
A deeply sweet, unusually complex rye and cognac-influenced blend with an exceptional nose, although the palate struggles to deliver on its promise.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 5.25 / 7
- Palate: 4 / 7
- Finish: 3.75 / 7
- Presentation: 6.5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 7 / 7
- Transparency: 6 / 7
- Value: 5.5 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.43 / 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 Ampersand
Ampersand is part of the Foley Family’s growing spirits portfolio, alongside Minden Mill and Burnt Tavern. With whiskey innovator Chip Tate leading the blending and distilling vision, the brand takes an exploratory approach to spirits, bringing together distinctive components and unconventional combinations that challenge traditional expectations of what whiskey can be.
At the heart of Ampersand is a willingness to experiment. From unusual spirit combinations to thoughtful maturation and blending, Chip Tate’s approach puts creativity and craftsmanship at the forefront. The result is a collection of releases that don’t necessarily fit neatly into familiar whiskey categories, and aren’t particularly interested in doing so.
Whether every experiment lands exactly where you might hope is part of the conversation. What makes Ampersand interesting is its willingness to push boundaries, explore new possibilities, and give drinkers something genuinely different to consider.
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