Journeyman Ravenswood Rye

Journeyman Distillery is located in Three Oaks, Michigan. I previously reviewed Barrel # 110 of the Journeyman Distillery's Ravenswood Rye. The current review is of Barrel # 151. The reviewed bottle has been open for 6 months and is half full. Ravenswood Rye carries no age statement and I believe it to be approximately 12-18 months old. It was aged in 15 gallon barrels. This whiskey uses a mashbill of only rye and wheat grains. I discussed at length in my previous review that I find that rye and wheat grains usually clash in an unappealing way when combined together. This Barrel # 151 works a lot better than did the Barrel # 110, which seemed to me quite typical of the clash of wheat and rye

Nose: good dark fruit, with adequate wood influence; there is more of a marriage of wheat and rye than usual here, with very little interference. Spice from both rye grain and from oak are noticeable. There is a very good sweet/dry balance. Water mutes the nose a bit. Score: 23/25

Taste: oddly, the wheat seems stronger than the rye here. That is very weird for that to be the case. Water added brings out an almost grapey variety of fruit, a sizzling tartness, and additional sweetness. Interesting and enjoyable. Score: 22/25

Finish: the wheat/rye clash starts up on the finish, but without malicious vehemence. Not too bad. Water tarts up the finish with a sour edge. Pleasant, though. Score: 21/25

Balance: there is pretty good balance in Barrel # 151 despite the grain clash. Score: 21.5/25

Total Sequential Score: 87.5 points

Strength: Barrel # 151 has more intensity in the nose than had Barrel # 110; this has very good strength throughout. Score: 23/25

Quality: very good quality of the individual flavours throughout. Score: 22.5/25

Variety: plenty of variety. Score: 22/25

Harmony: there is much less of wheat/rye clash with Barrel # 151 than with Barrel # 110 and most other whiskies which combine wheat and rye. Score: 20.5/25

Total Non-Sequential Score: 88 points

Comment: Journeyman Distillery has done a very good job in a very short time with this reviewed barrel of rye whiskey. Barrel # 151 of Ravenswood Rye is a very enjoyable whiskey, despite its young age and the presence of wheat and rye grains together. Sometimes wheat works with rye...but only sometimes. Don't bet on it