Lervig Off The Rack Finnish Rye Whisky 2024 By Rackhouse Imperial Stout 37.5 cl 14.7%

An emptied whisky barrel is never quite empty. There's always something left in the wood - rye, fire, a little caramel from the last round - and that's the residue Lervig chases when they fill their darkest beer into used barrels and let time do the rest.

Expert description of Lervig Off The Rack Finnish Rye Whisky By Rackhouse

Off The Rack is Lervig's barrel-ageing series under the Rackhouse programme. The Stavanger brewery takes their most powerful beer and puts it into freshly emptied spirit barrels, and this release is the second chapter in the line, aged on Finnish rye whisky barrels. The base is an Imperial Stout brewed on water, barley, oats, hops and yeast, and the beer has spent 20 months on the barrels - long enough for both the rye's spiced character and the whisky's spirit notes to settle into the beer.

It's a single batch. Once it's sold, it won't come again. Lervig has marked it vegan, so no animal-derived fining agents are involved.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Dark cocoa and roasted malt first, then a mild tobacco note, and behind it all lies the rye whisky - warm, spiced, a hint of oak.

Taste

Heavy and full. Cocoa and dark chocolate carry it all, while the rye's spiced character meets a distinct spirit warmth from the barrels. It's balanced enough that the malt can still shine through.

Finish

Long and dry, with tobacco and a final hint of whisky oak that lingers long after the last sip.

Specifications

Name: Lervig Off The Rack Finnish Rye Whisky 2024 By Rackhouse
Brewery: Lervig
Country/Region: Stavanger, Norway
Beer style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 14.7%
Size: 37.5 CL
Malt: Barley, oats
Ingredients: Water, barley, oats, hops, yeast
Allergens: Barley, oats, gluten
Best before: 10/02/2031
Serving suggestion: 12-14°C in a snifter or tulip glass

Flavour Profile

Malty · Roasted · Spiced · Creamy

Did You Know?

The Off The Rack series is Lervig's way of squeezing the last out of their own used spirit barrels. Instead of leaving the barrels empty after a Rackhouse ageing, they fill them again with a new round of Imperial Stout, so the wood's last flavour isn't wasted.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Lervig Off The Rack Finnish Rye Whisky

Is Off The Rack Finnish Rye Whisky worth the money?

Yes. As a single batch that won't come again, it's a rare chance to try Lervig's most experimental barrel ageing.

What does Off The Rack Finnish Rye Whisky taste like?

It tastes of cocoa and dark chocolate, with the rye's spiced character and a distinct spirit warmth from the barrels.

What food pairs well with Off The Rack Finnish Rye Whisky?

Try it with dark chocolate or enjoy it alone as a nightcap.

What temperature should it be served at?

Serve it at 12-14°C in a snifter or tulip glass, ideally a beer glass.

Is the beer vegan?

Yes, Lervig has marked it vegan, as no animal-derived fining agents were used in brewing.

Can Off The Rack Finnish Rye Whisky be cellared?

Yes, this batch is best before 10/02/2031 and, as a barrel-aged imperial stout, can easily be cellared further when stored cool and dark.