Northern Rye No. 02 | Mammoth Distilling

NORTHERN RYE NO. 02: The Next Chapter

Northern Rye is a style of whiskey created by Mammoth Distilling that combines North American traditions with old-world techniques to create a spirit showcasing character from both grain and oak. The result is a new expression of whiskey. One that explores the nearly endless possibilities of complex rye grain character while balancing the structure, flavor and depth that comes from oak. The inspiration for Northern Rye No. 02 came from the local wineries of Northern Michigan, whose ethos and production techniques involve blending old world viniferous varietals with new American hybrids and aging them in French and American oak barrels to create wines worthy of their own designation. This whiskey is the next chapter of our story, where Northern Rye meets Northern Michigan wine for a perfect marriage of terroir and technique.

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What's In This Bottle?

Northern Rye No. 02 contains a blend of 11% straight Michigan Wheeler rye aged in first-use, char level 3 Missouri white oak barrels, 21% 18-year Alberta rye finished in American Oak Port barrels from 45 North Vineyard & Winery, 20% 18-year Alberta rye finished in Bonobo Winery’s Estate Pinot Noir French oak barrels, and 48% 15,16, and 18-year Alberta rye in second- and third-fill American casks.

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PRODUCT NOTES

STYLE: Northern Rye
ABV: 50% (100 proof)
SIZE: 750ml
GRAIN: Rye, corn and barley

TASTING NOTES

Gingersnap and fig on the nose, followed by strawberry jam, tobacco and grass, warming into pink peppercorn and ripe pear, with a long velvety finish of sweet challah bread, port and leather.

Exploring the Nexus of Whiskey and Wine in Michigan

The distinct spiciness of rye can be complemented by notes of fruit and grass, produced through esterification. Exposure to wood adds further depth and structure, introducing flavors like vanilla, caramel and baking spices. Northern Rye No. 02 was created using components and techniques that further explore this new style of whiskey first introduced with our release of Northern Rye No. 01 in the fall of 2022. As with No. 01, No. 02 also begins with a component of straight Michigan Wheeler rye aged in first-use, char level 3 Missouri white oak barrels to bring forward sweetness and tannin structure. The similarities end there however, as the remaining components of No. 02 were each finished in used wood, several of which carry notes introduced through casks from two of Northern Michigan’s finest wineries: American Oak Port Barrels from 45 North Vineyard & Winery and Bonobo Winery’s Estate Pinot Noir French Oak barrels.

A great port-style wine from 45 North is made from locally grown Merlot Cab Franc and Marquette grapes, fermented and stabilized with Mammoth-distilled brandy, before being blended and aged in American Oak casks. We aged 18-year Alberta Rye in these used casks for one month, creating a component to No. 02 that adds deep tones of dark fruit and caramelized sugar which help balance the spice of the rye. Another blend of 18-year Alberta Rye was finished in Bonobo Winery’s Estate Pinot Noir French oak barrels for 5 months, allowing the fruit-forward Pinot Noir to delicately accompany the subtle and nuanced fruit esters in the rye. Two more small blends of 15-, 16-, and 18-year Alberta rye were aged and finished in second- and third-use Missouri and Minnesota oak casks. All these blends were then carefully married to showcase this amazing interaction of rye, oak, and Northern Michigan wine.

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