Bulleit 12 Year Rye

Welcome to the review for Bulleit 12 Year Rye.

If you haven't heard, Bulleit has been in the news for some negative reasons that include allegations of discrimination, sexual, and physical abuse assault against an LGBT member of the Bulleit family by the family patriarch. It has escalated to the point that parent company Diagio has removed the figurehead from representing the brand.

The news on Bulleit is very disturbing and if you have ethical concerns over supporting companies based on their behavior, this is something to keep in mind. I'm not going to let the news influence the review, but rather if I buy Bulleit in the future.

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

Manufacturer: Diagio

Age: 12 years

Location Produced: MGP (rumored)

Mash Bill: 95% Rye, 5% Barley

Aroma (from manufacturer): n/a

Taste (from manufacturer): n/a

Finish (from manufacturer): n/a

Alcohol: 46%

Who is this for?: Rye lovers and Bulleit fans

Cost (Ohio): $49.99 + tax.

Let's start the review. 

Taste - Score 27 out of 35

On the nose, we picked up spicy, pepper, leather, dill, pickle, and mint and somehow reminded us of the smell of a barn. Overall, the aroma was pleasant.

The taste was silky and slick. We picked up notes of honey, toffee, pepper, dill, minty toothpaste, and simple syrup. It is very approachable, but feels thin for a 12 year whiskey.

Smoothness/Finish - Score 18 out of 25

The finish came across as medium with some slight bitterness

Intangibles: Color/Appearance - Score 10 out of 15

The color and appearance is very similar to other Bulleit products. The color has a dark honey hue and looks good in the glass. The bottle has the same raised etchings and corked top as other Bulleit products. I would like to see something unique for a 12 year product other than the label. 

Availability - Score 4.5 out of 5

Bulleit Rye is very available. However, it is at a price point where it isn't carried everywhere due to limited shelf space. However, if this is something you are looking for, it is easy to find. 

Overall Value - Score 12 out of 20

At $49.99 + tax, I was expecting a unique rye that was differentiated from regular Bulleit Rye. In the end, Bulleit didn't deliver. This offered a standard whiskey experience that I can get with the Woodford's of the world at a much lower price. Bulleit lowered the proof on this too far to where it took away much of the character of this rye. They would have been better off making this barrel proof (similar to Old Ezra) or making this a higher-proofed rye to increase the value proposition. 

Final Score: 71.5 out of 100 - Solid

Note: This review was done by Mark with help Ashwin and McMillionaire. The bottle was purchased in Illinois before it was available in Ohio.