Peerless Toasted Rye Whiskey
The Stats
- Distillery: Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.
- Location: Louisville, Kentucky
- Type: Toasted Rye Whiskey
- Age: NAS
- Proof: 109
- Mash Bill: Undisclosed
- Release: Ongoing Release
- Price: $90–$100
CLICK THE VIDEO TO PLAY ↓
Rye isn’t usually subtle. It tends to arrive loud, full of spice, snap, and sharp edges. It kicks the door open and lets you know it’s there. But every now and then, rye slows down.
The Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. Toasted Rye is built on that restraint. Instead of doubling down on aggression, it leans into warmth. Instead of amplifying spice, it refines it. Finished in a toasted barrel rather than a heavily charred one, this rye is shaped by intention, heat applied with control, not force.
Bottled around 109 proof and typically landing in the $90–$100 range, this release doesn’t come with an age statement or a published mash bill. What it does come with is a clear design philosophy: take a bold spirit and soften its edges without stripping away its identity.
A Toasted Interpretation of Rye
Toasted barrels are different from traditional char. Instead of an intense flame that creates heavy caramelization and smoke, gently toasting the wood draws out sugars and baking-spice aromatics in a more controlled way. Think oven, not flamethrower.
In theory, that means more sweetness, more roundness, and more integration, especially in a spirit that can sometimes skew sharp or herbal.
Peerless’ take delivers on that promise, but not in the way you might expect. The rye character is present, but it doesn’t dominate. The front of the palate leans dessert-forward. The spice shows up later, more as a reminder than a headline.
It’s a rye that whispers before it speaks.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Rich and dessert-forward on the nose, with brown sugar, molasses, caramel, and warm baking spices leading the way. Vanilla and marshmallow add softness, while a subtle mint tea note and toasted wood keep it grounded. It’s dense and sweet-leaning, with very little fruit, more holiday kitchen than fresh orchard.
Taste
Caramel and cinnamon hit first, giving it a round, almost bourbon-like entrance, before the rye spice slowly builds in the mid-palate. Toasted oak, light cocoa, and warm baking spice create a comforting, wintry profile. At 109 proof, it carries weight but stays controlled and balanced rather than hot or sharp.
Finish
The rye is more evident on the finish, with a measured spice that lingers alongside cinnamon and gentle oak. There’s a touch of earthy dryness that reins in the sweetness, leaving a warm, mature impression. It’s refined and steady, not explosive, but intentional
Artfully Bourbon Rating
8 / 10 - Very Good
Peerless Toasted Rye is a controlled, dessert-leaning take on a category that usually prides itself on edge and intensity. It opens sweet and warm, with brown sugar, cinnamon, and toasted oak, before allowing the rye spice to step in quietly on the finish. The result is balanced and mature, but intentionally restrained.
At $90–$100, it sits at the higher end of the rye conversation, but it delivers a thoughtful, well-constructed pour that feels complete rather than experimental. If you prefer your rye bold, herbal, and aggressive, this may feel a touch polite. But if you enjoy sweeter expressions with depth and a toasted, holiday-kitchen vibe, this absolutely earns shelf space.
If you like this, also try: Peerless Double Oak Rye. It leans darker and richer, with more pronounced oak and spice, offering a deeper, more intense companion to this toasted expression.
