RyeLaw Vintage 2017 Fife Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46,3%

Most people picture rye in Kentucky or Pennsylvania. A young Fife distillery chose it for its very first release instead, mashed from malted rye, fermented outdoors and run through a Lomond Hill still.

Expert's Description

RyeLaw Vintage 2017 Ozark Wood is a Lowland Scottish Rye Whisky matured in new, charred oak casks from the Ozark Mountains and bottled at 46.3%.

This is the first release from InchDairnie in Fife. The label says Scottish Rye Whisky, while shops often file it as Fife Single Grain Scotch Whisky. The reason is the mash bill: 53% malted rye and 47% malted barley, all made at a single distillery. Scotland has no legal definition of rye whisky, so it lands in the single grain category even though rye is what you taste.

The grain is hammer-milled, mashed through a mash filter instead of a traditional mash tun, fermented outdoors and distilled in a Lomond Hill still. The spirit dates from 2017 and came from just one week of production. It went into new, charred oak casks made from Ozark Mountain wood in the USA. New oak brings more vanilla and a firmer wood presence than refill casks, and here it works as a soft base under the rye's peppery spice. The origin of the oak changes from year to year, and the 2018 vintage, for instance, rests in oak from the Appalachians. The whisky was bottled in 2022, non-chill filtered and without added colour, and only 200 casks went into bottle for this inaugural release.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rye spice leads, clear and upfront, with mellow oak resting on a layer of vanilla. The aroma is peppery and fragrant rather than sweet.

Palate

Pepper rolls in waves but is wrapped in a thick, oily mouthfeel. Sweet biscuit, cereal and dried fruit follow.

Finish

Sweet spice and ripe oak that linger.

Specifications

Name: RyeLaw Vintage 2017 Ozark Wood
Distillery: InchDairnie
Region/Country: Fife, Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Scottish Rye Whisky
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: New charred oak casks from the Ozark Mountains
Non-chill Filtered: Yes
Natural Colour: Yes
Distillation Method: Distilled in a Lomond Hill still
Distilled: 2017
Bottled: 2022
Edition: Vintage 2017, Ozark Wood
EAN: 5060916320000
No box included

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Peppery · Vanilla · Cereal · Dried fruit

Did You Know?

InchDairnie convinced the Scotch Whisky Association that rye had been used at some Scottish distilleries when Alfred Barnard toured them in 1886-87. That argument is what made it possible to call a Scottish rye whisky exactly that.

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Frequently Asked Questions about RyeLaw Vintage 2017 Ozark Wood

What makes RyeLaw Vintage 2017 Ozark Wood special?

It is InchDairnie's very first release and one of the few Scottish whiskies made from malted rye. It was distilled in a Lomond Hill still during one week of production, and only 200 casks went into bottle. It also opens a vintage series where each year brings new oak and a character of its own.

Is RyeLaw a rye whisky or a single grain?

Both, depending on who you ask. The label says Scottish Rye Whisky, but shops often list it as Fife Single Grain Scotch Whisky, because the mash bill is 53% malted rye and 47% malted barley from one distillery. Scotland has no legal definition of rye whisky.

Does RyeLaw taste like American rye?

No, it is softer and more restrained. Malted rye gives a sipping style without the sharp edge many American ryes have. The pepper is still there, but oily sweetness from biscuit and dried fruit takes the top off.

What does Ozark Wood mean on the label?

Ozark Wood is the variant name and tells you the oak for the casks comes from the Ozark Mountains in the USA. The casks are new and charred. The origin of the wood changes every year, so the 2018 vintage rests in Appalachian oak.

How should I drink RyeLaw?

Try it neat first, or with a few drops of water, which opens up the rye spice and the vanilla. Rye also works well in cocktails, an Old Fashioned being the obvious choice.

Which glass suits RyeLaw best?

A narrow whisky glass such as a Glencairn gathers the aroma and makes it easier to separate rye spice from oak and vanilla. See our range of whisky glasses.

What kind of distillery is InchDairnie?

InchDairnie is a young distillery in Fife, founded by Ian Palmer. The name comes from the Inchdairnie Estate and means hidden land close to water, while RyeLaw is named after a nearby farm and can be translated as the hill of rye.