Amburana finished Rye selections are quickly becoming a fan favorite and garnering a cult following, taking home accolades such as Uproxx's #1 Rye Whiskey of 2022. This combination of straight rye whiskey and Amburana barrels is a perfect pairing, sure to make an impression on anyone who has the pleasure of tasting it.
From Brian Schmidt, Topflight Series Panel Member:
Amburana is a wood from South America commonly found in Peru and Brazil that we're starting to see pop up in specially finished whiskey in the U.S. in the past year. This Rare Character selection represents the best version I've seen and experienced so far. As with all his expressions, Pablo Moix has selected some exceptional base rye whiskey for this special finishing. If you're familiar with other Amburana-finished whiskeys, you'll know that one core flavor shows up powerfully: cinnamon. If you don't like cinnamon, I suggest you don't try this. The smell leaps from the glass, and I want my house to smell like this during the holidays. For me, this has a distinct pastry or bread-type quality in addition to the cinnamon and vanilla cream; I liken it to rice pudding. The nose continues fully onto the palate, further embodying a dessert quality. I've had multiple people try this, and all of them have returned with similar notes - cinnamon, a certain cereal famous for its crunch, or even a large crimson gum. I personally don't find the heat of that last one, but at 115+ proof, there's a definite bite for those not used to cask-strength whiskeys. I recommend this pour neat, and while it holds up over a rock, the best experience is definitely in a Glencairn glass by a fire. I can't say enough good things about this bottle, including the amazing label design by James, Senior Designer at ReserveBar.
TOPFLIGHT: Series 1, Barrel No. 31
PROOF: 115.28
AGE: 5 years, 11 months
MASHBILL: 51% rye / 45% corn / 4% malted barley
FINISHING BARREL: Amburana
CHAR / TOAST: Medium
WAREHOUSE LOCATION: Stanford, KY
BARRELED ON: 12/1/16
DATE PULLED: 11/1/22
