Review: Dented Brick Bottled In Bond Straight Rye Whiskey

Dented Brick Distillery was built on land with an existing artesian well and a history of distilling.  It turns out the well driller was shot and killed in a blazing gunfight that left impressions in the bricks of his house.  Marc Christensen used some of these “Dented Bricks” to build the new distillery.  The distillery was built with several roof vents, no insulation, or HVAC, making in hot in the summer, cold in the winter.  Since the distillery also serves as their rickhouse this temperature variation has an effect on their barrel aged spirits.  Dented Brick currently crafts 16 spirits including DB Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey.  Established in 1897 the Bottled in Bond Act set the standards for ensuring the quality of whiskey in the United States.  The act mandates the spirit must be aged a minimum four years in a Federally bonded warehouse and bottled at 100 proof.  The 100% unmalted rye grain used is milled, mashed, fermented, and small batch distilled in house on a Vendome Copper & Brass Works still.  The spirit rests in 4 separate American oak barrels, two with a char 2, and two with a char 3.  The spirit is barreled at 120 proof and when it is 28 days away from being 5 years old the whiskey comes out at 122 proof.  It is filtered and proofed with Rocky Mountain snow melt water from the Wasatch Mountains that flow underground into their artesian well.  The aroma leads with vanilla, toasted oak, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Additional time brings out orange peel, caramel, and clove.  The flavor leads with vanilla, citrus, brown sugar, and cinnamon, building to a vanilla, oak, and clove peak.  It fades with caramel and nutmeg and finishes semi-dry and spicy with cinnamon, orange peel, almond, black pepper, nutmeg, and oak.  Dented Brick continues to craft amazing spirits and their Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey may be their best.

Made in South Salt Lake Utah

50% Alcohol

Score: 92

Award: Gold Medal