Pikesville Rye Review

Welcome to the review of Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey. Like the last review of 451 Boneshaker, this bottle was received as a birthday gift from friend of the site, Ashwin. I've been saving this for months so I'm excited to get into it.

 As always, I'll get started with the specifications.

Manufacturer: Heaven Hill

Age: 6 years

Location Produced: Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc, Bardstown, KY

Mash Bill: 51% Rye, 35% Corn, 14% Malted Barley

Aroma (from manufacturer): Dusty cocoa notes with oaky smoke underneath

Taste (from manufacturer): Dry and spicy, with honeyed rye and cloves

Finish (from manufacturer): Soft vanilla and baking spices

Alcohol: 55%

Who is this for?: Pikes Peak fans (rated 4.8 on Google Maps), people looking for a high proof rye

Cost (Ohio): $46.99 + tax.

Let's start the review. 

Taste - Score 28 out of 35

Upon pouring, we picked oak and charcoal with a slight fruity smell. Overall, it didn't come across as overpowering. The specific notes were butterscotch, honey, toffee, and some baking spices.

The taste was delicate and didn't last long in the mouth and was warming and buttery. It is very easy to drink until the finish.

Smoothness/Finish - Score 16 out of 25

About that finish... my goodness. The finish consisted of an incredibly long Kentucky hug (the warm sensation that lingers). For me, it was a bit too long and I had to cut it with a few ice cubes. Others really enjoyed it so this comes down to a matter of preference. If you prefer a long finish, this is the rye for you.

Intangibles: Color/Appearance - Score 13.5 out of 15

The color has a nice copper appearance and looks great in the glass. The bottle has a very unique shape where it's flat on the front and rounded elsewhere. One thing I really liked was the big cork that made a beautiful popping noise every time I took it out of the bottle. 

Availability - Score 0 out of 5

Per the Ohio Department of Liquor, Pikesville Straight Rye is only available on special order. However, realistically, this isn't available to the average Ohio consumer... Another reason to get rid of the state run stores...

Overall Value - Score 16 out of 20

For $47 + tax, this is a high quality, high proof rye that delivers a nice experience. In all fairness to Pikesville, everyone who helped on this review had the finish rated higher than I did so that held it back a bit as did the lack of availability in Ohio. 

This is a high quality rye that is great for when company visits or drinking on a cold winter night and looks great on the shelf. It's another example of Lux Row showing they know how to make quality whiskey and bourbon. 

Final Score: 73.5 out of 100 - Solid

Note: This review was done by Mark with help McMillianaire and the Duchess. The bottle was given to me as a gift by friend of the site, Ashwin.