Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey
The Stats
- Distillery: Hazelwood Spirits Company
- Location: Colorado
- Type: Straight Rye Whiskey
- Proof: 131.2 Proof
- Age: 5 Years
- Mash Bill: Heirloom Blue Corn, Yellow Corn, Rye, Malted Barley
- Distillation: Contract distilled by MGP
- Release: Ongoing Limited Distribution
- MSRP: $85
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Rye doesn’t always demand attention. Sometimes it whispers from the shelf. Sometimes it sits quietly while the bigger brands soak up the spotlight. This one doesn’t whisper.
Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof Rye comes in hot at 131.2 proof, built on a four-grain mash bill featuring heirloom blue corn, yellow corn, rye, and malted barley. It’s bold on paper. Young at five years. And coming from a brand that’s only been around since 2024.
That combination usually raises a fair question: Is this true ambition or is this barrel-proof hype?
A New Name With Something to Prove
Unlike heritage Kentucky labels with decades of backstory, Smokeye Hill is part of a newer wave of American distilleries that are pushing into barrel-proof territory early and confidently. The whiskey is contract-distilled to their recipe and aged in Colorado by Hazelwood Spirits Company, giving them control over the mash bill and maturation while building their identity from the ground up.
At $85 and limited primarily to western markets, this isn’t a budget bottle or a mass-distributed shelf staple. It’s positioned as a statement rye; high proof, distinctive grain choice, and unapologetically bold.
The mash bill is where things get interesting. Heirloom blue corn isn’t common in rye blends, and from experience, it tends to bring deeper, earthier sweetness and a certain dusty character that you don’t typically get from standard yellow corn builds. Pair that with rye spice and a five-year age statement, and expectations shift quickly.
On paper, this should drink hot. It should feel aggressive. It should lean sharp. But whiskey doesn’t live on paper. Let’s see what’s actually in the glass.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
The nose opens earthy and unmistakably rye-forward. Pine, antique wood, and a dusty library note lead the way before the glass has time to settle. It’s herbal, dry, and confident.
With air, it shifts. Tobacco leaf emerges, followed by orange peel and a subtle orchard sweetness, more pear skin than ripe fruit. The dust softens, the citrus brightens, and the blue corn influence begins to show through with a deeper, grounded sweetness beneath the spice.
Taste
The first sip turns the dial up on everything the nose hinted at. Earthy spice and baking cinnamon arrive immediately, layered with honeyed pear and a thick, coating texture that drinks well below its 131.2 proof.
It’s powerful but not reckless. The mid-palate brings herbal tobacco and oak, followed by waves of rye spice that build without overwhelming. There’s a creamy density here, not vanilla-forward dessert sweetness, but structural richness that gives the whiskey weight and presence.
Finish
The finish carries warm spice and oak through the back of the palate, with lingering dusty rye and a steady, controlled heat. It doesn’t explode, it hums. The proof shows itself gradually, leaving a warming spice and a faint citrus echo that lingers just long enough to remind you this is barrel-strength done with intention.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
8.5 / 10 - Very Good
Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof Rye is a confident statement from a young brand. Earthy, dusty, and spice-driven, it delivers depth well beyond its five years and carries 131.2 proof with impressive control.
This isn’t a dessert rye. It leans into structure, oak, and old-school grit, and it does it well.
At $85, it holds its own in the barrel-proof rye conversation. With a combined Artfully Bourbon score of 8.5, this is a clear buy. If you find it, grab it and keep an eye on what Smokeye Hill does next.
