A polished take on MGP rye — aromatic, peppery, and crowd-pleasing.
About Open Road Distilling Co.
Open Road Distilling Company is a modern distillery, dining, and entertainment destination located in the heart of Reston Town Center. Built from the ground up to be both a production distillery and a social hub, Open Road blends house-made spirits, approachable food, and layered hospitality experiences under one roof.
The concept is operated by Metropolitan Hospitality Group, drawing on more than 15 years of experience opening and running restaurants that range from award-winning fine dining to speakeasy-inspired cocktail bars. That background shaped a meticulous process of tasting, revision, and refinement — first applied to food and cocktails, and ultimately extended into distillation. The result was a natural evolution: creating a line of quality spirits designed to elevate both cocktails and the overall guest experience.
Open Road features an operational distillery, tasting room, and bonded retail store, offering daily tastings of in-house distilled American Vodka and American Gin, alongside in-house blended Eagle Eye Rye and Independence Bourbon, and the newer Reserve series. Guests can enjoy these spirits neat, in thoughtfully crafted cocktails, or take a bottle home directly from the distillery.
Food is a central part of the experience at Open Road. The main dining room, led by executive chef Edvin Gonzalez, features the full Open Road Grill menu — approachable, crowd-pleasing staples like wings, nachos, and burgers — served in a large, open-concept space that includes an indoor terrace, a mid-sized music venue, an arcade room, and private dining areas for events.
Tucked away within the same building is Heirloom, a more intimate, cocktail-focused speakeasy offering a Mediterranean-leaning menu under executive chef Dane Sewlall, providing a quieter, more refined counterpoint to the energy of the main restaurant.
Behind the scenes, the distilling program is guided by head distiller and blender Michael McElroy.
His extensive background in bartending and cocktail design strongly influences Open Road’s approach to spirits. His wide-ranging tasting experience shows in whiskeys built to be accessible, balanced, and cocktail-ready at a fair price — while the Reserve Series single barrels push further into upscale territory, crafted specifically for sipping neat rather than mixing.
I first met Michael when I won a giveaway with Open Road, which included a private tasting for me and some guests, along with some swag and the Open Road barrel that you often see pictured in my photos.
Stats
- Age: 8 year
- Proof: 107 (53.5% ABV)
- Mashbill: 95% Rye │ 5% Malted Barley
- Origin: MGP — Lawrenceburg, Indiana
- Finish: Straight, proofed down
- Release: Limited release single barrel
- MSRP: $89.99 (Open Road)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Deep toffee sweetness leads, layered with floral pear and creamy sandalwood. Vanilla softens the edges while orange rind and a touch of black tea bring brightness and depth, making the nose the star of the show.
- Palate: The rye enters gently, almost caressing, with toffee carrying a medium viscosity across the tongue. Kiwi and crème brûlée appear mid-palate alongside walnut and shifting citrus notes, creating a dynamic but cohesive profile.
- Finish: The finish dries slightly as mature oak tannins take hold. Black pepper steadily escalates, lingering long after the sip with a satisfying, spicy persistence.
- Presentation: Clean, understated packaging lets the whiskey’s color shine, and while the eagle is a bit generic, the simple box and overall design feel intentional and quietly elevated, fitting the one-off barrel releases well.
This rye lands firmly in the camp of elevated MGP — familiar, but well-executed. The nose delivers complexity, the mid-palate maintains a pleasing mouthfeel, and the finish brings the heat. It reads slightly younger than its age at times, but remains rewarding throughout. If you already love MGP rye, this will feel like a comfortable, polished extension of that profile.
Presentation
Gorgeous bottles with smart use of negative space that really lets the natural color do the talking. The eagle is admittedly a bit generic, but for whatever reason it works for me. Paired with the simple box, the whole presentation feels intentional and quietly elevated — subtly reinforcing the one-off, single-barrel nature of these releases without trying too hard.
Distinctiveness
At its core, this is a classic MGP rye profile: deep toffee sweetness, floral fruit notes, a plenty of rye spice.
Every so often, a more unexpected note — like a deeper tannic note of black tea with orange rind or tropical fruits leaning towards kiwi — peeks through and adds interest. Otherwise, it delivers exactly what you’d expect: a solid, well-made, and intentionally safe rye — and that’s not a criticism.
Transparency & Value
Mike and the Open Road team are transparent about the Reserve Series being MGP-sourced, as well as their lower-proof blends incorporating both MGP and Texas distillate (though the specific Texas source isn’t disclosed). While there’s room for a bit more detail on the label, I respect the willingness to be upfront about sourcing at a time when many collectors write off MGP barrels outright—even when, as in this case, they’re genuinely well executed.
At $89.99, this bottle pushes slightly past the informal $10-per-year benchmark, and being MGP-sourced — something increasingly common — does soften the value proposition slightly. That said, MGP shouldn’t be dismissed on principle. This is a well-selected, thoughtfully proofed barrel with plenty going for it, offering just enough nuance to keep an enthusiast engaged.
Buy if:
- You already love MGP rye and want a polished, aromatic example
- Nose-driven complexity and peppery finishes are your thing
- You want a rye that works neat but still feels cocktail-capable
Skip if:
- You’re sensitive to heat or youthful spice on the finish
- You’re looking for something that strays far from classic MGP rye character
- Price-to-age is a major deciding factor for you
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 5.8 / 7
- Palate: 5.6 / 7
- Finish: 5.75 / 7
- Presentation: 6 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 3.5 / 7
- Transparency: 5.5 / 7
- Value: 4 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.16 / 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 bottle was provided to me free of charge for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
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