Bulleit Frontier Whiskey can be found in almost every bar and liquor store across the country, and it is instantly recognizable for its distinctive old-timey medicinal-style bottle. The core bourbon and rye whiskeys are very popular, but there are a few other expressions that are released on a limited basis as well. And one of those, Bulleit Rye 10-Year-Old, just got a permanent spot in the portfolio, news that should delight fans of well-aged American rye whiskey.
Bulleit has a long backstory about old recipes and family history, but the brand as we know it was created by Tom Bulleit in 1987, who sourced the whiskey from a Kentucky distillery. Seagrams was the first company to acquire the brand, but after its dissolution Diageo stepped in and still owns it today. There have been a few controversies involving the brand and its parent company over the past few years, including founder Tom Bulleit being forced out of the company after accusations of abuse by his daughter, Hollis Worth, who also accused Diageo of withholding money and ignoring her allegations (Diageo refuted these claims, and Worth no longer works for the company).
Today, Bulleit has its own distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky, but the whiskey in the bottle is still sourced and/or contract distilled until the in-house produced whiskey is mature. In the case of the 10-year-old rye, it is made from a 95 percent rye and 5 percent malted barley mashbill that is distilled at MGP in Indiana, and bottled at 91.2 proof. The core Bulleity Rye is a 95 proof bottling, also sourced from MGP, that is a few years younger than the 10-year-old. According to a representative from Bulleit, the idea behind the 10-year-old expression was to offer more of a sipping experience compared to the core rye. Official tasting notes describe caramel and toffee on the nose, followed by pear-like fruitiness, dry oak, vanilla, and baking spice on the palate and finish.
This new release follows a few others of note over the past year or so from Bulleit, including an American single malt, batch 8 of the Barrel Strength Bourbon, and the re-release of the 12-year-old rye. Bulleit Rye 10-Year-Old is available now, and at $50 per bottle it’s actually a pretty good deal. Check websites like Total Wine or your local liquor store to find a bottle.
