05/14/2026
🥃 Old Pepper Bottled-In-Bond Straight Rye 🥃
Wow I forgot about this guy. Fortunately, this week we were in Kentucky on a heavily academic, research-oriented mission that led us to the James E. Pepper Distillery where I was pleasantly reintroduced to my old friend.
💥 100 proof. 100% rye. All of it. If you only like sweet bourbons, this one might bully you a bit.
But look, toughen up. Yes, there’s pepper and mint, but there’s also a ton of cinnamon to keep it from turning into a hockey fight. You’re ready to evolve. I can feel it.
🚫 This isn’t the week you say “I don’t like ryes.”
✅ This is the week you realize you just haven’t met the right one yet.
Also – here’s some good intel; their decanter, barrel proof rye has recently been released and should be available in Ohio in the not-so-distant future. (pictured here) 📣