The Story
At first glance, I thought this might turn out to be a “novelty” whisky. It has a story to go along with the label, and though interesting the story is unrelated to whisky. “Ken Kesey was an American novelist. His work included ‘Sometimes a Great Notion’ and ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’. FURTHUR is a 1939 school bus that was purchased by Ken using his earnings from his best-selling novel. In 1964 Ken and his “Merry Pranksters” wild with life and lust for big fun, painted the school bus in dayglo colors, and filmed its “Trip” across the US.” But behind the label is a 2-year-old MGP rye picked by the palates at BC Merchants and bottled in Pembroke, KY. MGP knows how to make rye and BC Merchants knows how to pick barrels. Let’s break this down and see if it’s worth your money!
The Details
Name: Furthur Straight Rye Whisky
Distiller: MGP of Indiana
Bottler: BC Merchants
Type of Producer: Non-Distiller Producer
Year Established: 2016
Bottling Proof: 101
Age: 2 years
Mashbill: N/A (Coming from MGP this is probably 95% rye)
Style: Straight Rye Whisky
Release Date: Early 2020
Release Type: Limited
Availability: Illinois and other select markets
MSRP: $39.99 (750ml)
Tasted: Furthur Straight Rye Whisky
Nose
Oak
Black pepper
Anise
A bit earthy
The nose is on the younger side but still plenty interesting
Palate
Really nice heat. Perfect at 101 proof.
Solid high rye flavor profile
Spicy black pepper
Hints of dark fruit
Mouthfeel
Medium
Finish
Strong and long spicy finish
Final Impressions
This whisky is just right at 101 proof. Adding a bit of water didn’t do it any favors. It’s really quite good for a 2-year rye; better than many 4-year ryes I’ve had. Coming from MGP I really expect no less. What started as a cautiously optimistic tasting resulted in a whisky that’s pretty darn good at this price point. If you appreciate younger flavor profiles but still like your whisky to pack a punch, and you’re in the mood to try a new label from a century-old distillery; you’ve found it.
