Since launching its inaugural bottling in the fall of 2020, Blue Run Spirits has quickly become one of the most talked about brands in American whiskey. Last year, the brand made its first strides into the rye world with the launch of its Golden Rye Whiskey. Now the brand is heading back into that spicy realm with its first barrel proof rye, the Blue Run Emerald Rye Whiskey.
Blue Run Emerald Rye Whiskey marks the first Blue Run Rye Whiskey to be contract distilled by Liquid Advisor Jim Rutledge at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Crafted from just 189 barrels, the whiskey embraces the distinct, spicy characteristics of rye whiskey, yet with the approachability and depth of a fine bourbon. Blue Run Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon blended Emerald to highlight a myriad of Blue Run’s favorite flavor characteristics.
“This was an incredibly fun project to work on as I asked the Blue Run team what aspects of Rye Whiskey they truly loved,” said Gammon. “I then went about focusing my blend on those key attributes, zeroing in on fragrant herbs, fresh peppers and robust spice. Those three prominent notes provide the foundation for a complex, deep flavor experience all the way through to the finish.”
Adding to the complexity, several Emerald barrels were aged at different locations more than fifty miles apart in Bardstown and Frankfort. The difference in aging environments helped contribute to the blend’s approachability at this high of proof. In addition, Shaylyn crafted Emerald with whiskies born from three different mash bills with varying degrees of the core grain of rye, creating a rich liquid palette for her to work with when applying her award-winning blending skills.
On the nose, Emerald Rye offers butterscotch and creamy caramel aromas leading to toasted oak and spicy peppers. The palate awakens with a quick hit of buttercream and shishito peppers followed by a blast of apples and pears evolving into a woody sprinkling of cloves and rye spice. The finish leaves lasting notes of leather, oak, and brown butter.
Blue Run’s signature butterfly medallion on the bottle features anodized emerald green. Designed by Nike sneaker designer and Blue Run cofounder Devon McKinney, Emerald is the second butterfly medallion in Blue Run’s Rye Whiskey series inspired by precious objects.
Blue Run Emerald is available for $109.99 and is barrel proof at 116.7. It will be available at select retailers across the United States and online at the brand’s official website beginning at 3:00 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, November 15.
Last month, Blue Run Spirits launched its Flight Series.
