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Mad River Distillers: Revolution Rye Whiskey

Posted by whiskeywench on

A couple of weeks ago, The Whiskey Bard (on Instagram) reached out and offered to send me some samples from Mad River Distillery. The samples were provided at no cost, with absolutely no obligation to post, review, or share my thoughts. As always, any opinions I share are entirely my own.

The lineup included Revolution Rye, Burnt Bourbon Whiskey, and Double Tap Maple Bourbon. I had the chance to sit down with them this past weekend, and rather than trying to squeeze all three into a single Instagram post, I’ve decided to review each one individually. I think each whiskey deserves its own spotlight, so I’m starting with Revolution Rye.

Mad River Distillers is in Waitsfield, Vermont. Founded by Maura Connolly, the distillery was first conceptualized in 2011, with its first spirit, a rum, being released in 2013. This rye is distilled from 100% rye grown near Ithaca, New York.

Nose: oak, cinnamon, and cocoa

Palate: warming, pepper, baking spices, and chocolate

Finish: earthy, spiced, and coffee

ABV: 48% | Cost: $49.99

Let me start by saying, I am not a rye person. If you’ve followed my reviews for any length of time, you’ve probably seen me say that more than once. Knowing that, I went into this dram fully expecting not to enjoy it, and honestly, I was shocked by how much I liked it. Even my husband, who is also not a rye fan, took a sip and immediately said, “Wow, I really like this.” Of the three Mad River samples I received, this was his favorite. It wasn’t my favorite of the lineup, ranking #2 for me, but that takes nothing away from how impressed I was with it.

The first thing that stood out was the warmth, followed by pepper and baking spices. Then came a rich chocolate note that completely changed the experience for me. The finish brings earthy spice along with some coffee notes. What sets this rye apart from many others I’ve had is that chocolate. It’s rich, creamy, and surprisingly prominent, making this a whiskey that keeps you coming back for another sip.

I think one of the reasons I enjoyed this so much is that it doesn’t drink like a traditional rye. Rye purists may find the chocolate and coffee notes a little unconventional, but for me, that’s exactly what makes it interesting. Yes, there’s a bit of youthful character here, but those chocolate notes are simply too good to ignore.

I also think this would make a fantastic cocktail whiskey. Overall, I’m genuinely impressed with what Mad River is doing. And if you’re someone who enjoys chocolate-forward whiskey profiles, this is worth checking out. At around $50, it’s a solid value and an easy recommendation from me.

Cheers!

Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend people to try it and make up their own minds.

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