Have you ever had whiskey made from rice? Most American whiskeys are crafted from corn, rye, barley, or wheat — but JT Meleck’s 100% rice whiskey challenges tradition with something uniquely Louisiana.
About J.T. Meleck (Fruge Spirits)
“Obsessively Authentic” – J. T. Meleck’s brand slogan
The J. T. Meleck story begins in 1896 with John Meleck, the great-great-uncle of the current generation’s ownership, planting his first rice on 20 acres of Louisiana marshland.
Five generations (and 136 years) later, the Fruge family still grows rice — and now crawfish — on that same 20 acres. Owner Mike Fruge took the legacy a step further – true farm to bottle, 100% rice spirits (vodka and whiskey) – and has quickly made a national name for J. T. Meleck and the small batch, craft rice whiskey scene.
Stats
- Age: minimum 4 years
- Proof: 96 (48% ABV)
- Mashbill: 100% Louisiana Rice
- Origin: J. T. Meleck (Branch, Lousiana)
- Release: Ongoing, Small Batch
- MSRP: $44.99
Scores
- Nose: Toasted rice cake, crème brûlée, marshmallow.
- Palate: Rice crispy treats, butterscotch, subtle cherry.
- Finish: Dutch baby pancake, slight ethanol, gentle black pepper heat.
- Presentation: A cylindrical bottle with a flared base and a label that visually nods to the harvested rice and crawfish fields of the Meleck farms. The dark blue backdrop with cream and gold accents gives it a distinctly premium feel.
The J. T. Meleck small batch rice whiskey delivers a dessert-leaning nose that immediately signals this won’t be a typical bourbon (in fact, it’s not bourbon at all — surprise! to my friends that I love to blind on this bottle). Sweet and rounded, with very little spice up front. The grain influence is obvious in the mid-palate, but never in an off-putting way. The spice appears late and stays restrained but provides a satisfactory linger for the proof.
This drinks like a bridge between:
- A toasted bourbon
- A well-aged American light whiskey
The lack of spice until the finish is striking and likely barrel-driven rather than grain-driven.
If you enjoy sweeter profiles or want something unique beyond standard bourbon, this is worth exploring.
Buy this if you:
- Enjoy sweeter, dessert-style whiskeys
- Want low spice and easy sipping
- Like exploring unique mash bills
Skip if you:
- Prefer bold rye spice
- Want heavy oak or tannin
The price tag of $44.99 (Bourbon Outfitters) feels well worth it to explore not only a specialized mash bill, but also for a crushable pour as a neat sipper, daily drinker or even an unique cocktail — I’d take this over many similarly proofed and priced pours from heritage distillers.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 4.75 / 7
- Palate: 4 / 7
- Finish: 4.75 / 7
- Presentation: 5.5 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 6 / 7
- Transparency: 7 / 7
- Value: 4.5 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.21 / 7 — Divine
| 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 bottle was provided to me free of charge for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
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