Pinhook Bourbon Releases Inaugural Cask Strength Rye

Pinhook Rye Humor Cask Strength.

Pinhook Bourbon has announced the first release of their annual barrel proof rye whiskey, Rye Humor Cask Strength 2018.

The name Pinhook is taken from a thoroughbred industry practice of buying young horses and selling them when they are old enough to race. In that vein, the brand has begun to release a new bourbon and a new rye every year, each named after a promising young race horse. This year’s rye, Rye Humor, first hit shelves this spring at 97 proof. A handful of privately selected True Single Barrel Ryes also arrived over the summer, but this will be the first widely released barrel proof rye from the brand.

The newest expression, Pinhook Cask Strength 2018, will be arriving around the country in the coming weeks. This 95% rye, 5% malted barley rye whiskey recipe was distilled in Lawrenceburg, IN, aged 4 years, and bottled at 114 proof. The distillery tells us to look for notes of “dark chocolate, candied black licorice, vanilla extract, raisins, tobacco, cinnamon stick, and sarsaparilla.”

Pinhook also recently announced the launch of their Bourbon War Vertical Series, which follows a group of barrels as they age from 4 to 12 years. They’ve also teased a rye vertical, launching next year, to match.

Pinhook Rye Humor Cask Strength 2018 is slated to hit shelves in the coming weeks at a suggested retail price of around $48.

Caroline Paulus
Caroline Paulus is the Senior Editor for The Bourbon Review. She lives and writes in Lexington, Kentucky. Follow her on Instagram @misswhiskeyhistorian to keep up with her latest in bourbon news - and a few old finds, too.