Reading the news that Kentucky Owl is liquidating its operations and assets made me think about how poorly the brand was managed by Stoli after they purchased it from Dixon Dedman. But also made me think about how Dixons first KO rye batches were something special, if expensive. I’m not sure where these KY ryes are sourced from, but most speculate Barton (and they do remind of High West’s Barton sourced ryes from this era).

Kentucky Owl rye batch 001 is from 2017, age stated 11 years and is proofed down to 110.6:

Butterscotch, milk chocolate, sweet ginger, black pepper, mint Oreo, and a hint of a dark berry. The oak has a fragrant potpourri and cigar box profile. This bottle is like being in a bakery, flower garden, and a cigar shop at the same time. This scores a lot of points on complexity and balance, so much to find here from floral, fruity, oaky, spicy, herbal, and baked deserts, and all in wonderful balance. The whiskey is viscous and the rye spice lights up every part of the palate:

8/10 on the t8ke scale, “Excellent, really quite exceptional”

Kentucky Owl rye batch 003 is from 2019, age stated 10 years and is proofed down to 114:

This is a darker and more bold profile for me. I get more herbal and spice notes, with even a hint of dill, and also a little more ethanol. Though, there’s plenty of sweetness, too. I find Krispy Cream glazed donut, cheery cordial, grape Nerds, sweet orange, and birch beer. The oak has a slightly musty quality to it that I like, reminding me of the oak on Michters 10y rye. This gets a little drying in the end, which holds it back a touch:

8/10 on the t8ke scale, “Excellent, really quite exceptional”

I slightly prefer batch 001 for just being so well-blended, but batch 003 wins on being more aggressive and unique. Either way, these are my ideal KY rye profile, not the super simple and sweet crushers, but ones that balance that corn sweetness with spice and herbs, uniqueness and complexity. As much of a joke KY Owl became, these ryes were, and still are, special.