The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey
BourbonIssue 66

Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey

Pikesville · Heaven Hill Distillery

$50110 proof6 YearKentucky, USA
Pikesville is a rye that refuses to hide behind sweetness. It's a full-throttle expression of the grain itself, with enough barrel influence to add complexity without masking the raw material. A serious sipper that rewards attention.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

A rush of rye spice leads the charge, followed by dark cherry compote and a layer of toasted caramel. Deeper breaths reveal charred oak and a subtle floral note like dried carnations pressed between pages.

Palate

Muscular and grain-forward, with rye bread crust meeting butterscotch sweetness on the mid-palate. The high proof carries flavors of leather, cracked pepper, and a persistent cherry note without any burn that feels out of place.

Finish

Long and warming, with charred oak and a lingering rye spice that fades into dried tobacco leaf. The grain character stays present to the very end.

Specifications
Mash Bill
Approximately 65% rye, 25% corn, 10% malted barley
Barrel Type
New Charred American oak
Bottled in Bond
No
Single Barrel
No
Wheated
No
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Pikesville Manhattan — 2 oz Pikesville Rye · 1 oz Carpano Antica Formula · 2 dashes Angostura bitters · Stir over ice, strain into a coupe, garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

Food Pairing

Smoked brisket with a black pepper bark

The Story

Originally a Maryland-style rye resurrected by Heaven Hill in Bardstown, Kentucky, Pikesville honors a pre-Prohibition recipe with modern cask-strength ambition.

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