Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey

This is a Kentucky small-batch whiskey built around a substantial share of rye, with malted rye and caramel malt in the grain recipe. It is made by the traditional sour mash method, in which part of the previous batch goes into the next. It rests in specially toasted French oak barrels from the Vosges region, and that oak shows in the glass: crème brûlée, baking spice and cardamom on the nose, then a peppery rye kick softened by caramel-malt creaminess, nougat and toasted oak. The finish runs long with spice, sweet fruit and toasted nuts. Bottled at 91.2 proof, it has enough structure for an Old Fashioned or Manhattan but rewards sipping neat. That makes it a good fit for enthusiasts who already like rye-forward whiskey and want something more dessert-leaning. As a 2024 release honoring John Shenk, who founded a distillery in 1753, it also earns a place in collections of heritage bottlings. We carry it because the French oak and unusual grains genuinely set it apart.