Rossville Mission Exclusive Union Master Crafted Cask Strength 56.6% Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml

After more than a decade of purchasing MGP-distilled whiskey from countless dozens of third-party brands and private labels, this single barrel of 5+ year old, cask strength rye whiskey is actually the first weve ever purchased directly from the Indiana stalwart.

Rossville Union is actually MGP Distillerys own house brand, so it makes complete sense that they would save the good stuff for their own label. After supplying rye whiskey for Bulleit, Dickel, Willett, Pinhook, Barrel, Heavens Door, Templeton, High West, and a litany of other world-famous labels, Rossville Union makes the brands foray into the private barrel market directly.

So whats the impetus for consumers to purchase yet another MGP-distilled single barrel selection, you ask? The advantage of provenance.

When third-party labels purchase distillate from MGP for their brands, they do not get to choose which barrels they receive. Rather, they most often purchase a filling contract of fresh distillate, taking hundreds of barrels at a time and sitting on them until theyre ready to drink.

Hence, the barrel samples were given from these companies are simply what happens to be in stock, not necessarily the cream of the crop.

Since MGP is both the distiller and the brand owner of Rossville Union, their team is able to cull barrel samples from thousands and thousands of barrels, rather than just a few hundred. The difference in that quality was clear from the moment we tasted our latest barrel selection.

Bottled at 113.2 proof (56.6% ABV), the heat on this potent rye whiskey almost entirely masks whats lying underneath. Sampled without water, its like a blunt punch in the mouth. With water, however, the baking spices come alive, the clove and cinnamon meld with the sweetness of the oak, and the notes of herbaceous rye come to life in a symphony of goodness.

In short, this is a rye whiskey for rocks drinkers. If youre someone who likes an ice cube in your whiskey, or mixing an Old Fashioned, this is the bottle for you. If youre someone who drinks your whiskey neat, this one might be a little sadomasochistic!!