Full Review

Leadslingers

Leadslingers
Fighting Spirit Rye Whiskey

Category: Rye Whiskey

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 45%
Bronze Medal
Recommended
$35

Leadslingers
Fighting Spirit Rye Whiskey

Category: Rye Whiskey

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 45%
Golden amber color. Aromas of spice box, almond cookies, floral soap, ground ginger, and raisin bran with a satiny, vibrant, dry-yet-fruity light body and a peppery, brisk violet candies finish. An interesting, floral Rye whiskey that will make for bright and interesting creative cocktails.

Tasting Info

Spirits Glass Style: Odd
Aroma Aroma: spice box, almond cookies, floral soap, ground ginger, and raisin bran
Taste Flavor: violet candies
Smoothness Smoothness: Peppery
Enjoy Enjoy: in cocktails
Cocktail Cocktails: Whiskey Sour, Old Fashioned, Manhattan
Bottom Line Bottom Line: An interesting, floral rye whiskey that will make for bright and interesting creative cocktails.

The Importer

Stoller Imports

The Importer
4811 Emerson Avenue
Palatine, IL 60067
USA
1 847-350-3150

Their Portfolio

BR Adictivo Añejo Tequila 40% (Mexico) $64.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Adictivo Reposado Tequila 40% (Mexico) $54.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Adictivo Blanco Tequila 40% (Mexico) $49.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Adictivo Extra Añejo Tequila 40% (Mexico) $99.00. - Bronze Medal
94 Brusco Mezcal Joven 45% (Mexico) $39.99.
85 Cava De Oro Tequila Añejo 40% (Mexico) $64.00.
BR Cava De Oro Tequila Reposado 40% (Mexico) $54.00. - Bronze Medal
87 Cava De Oro Tequila Cristalino Extra Añejo 40% (Mexico) $49.00.
85 Cava De Oro Tequila Extra Añejo 40% (Mexico) $99.00.
88 Eiregold Special Reserve Single Blended Irish Whiskey 40% (Ireland) $29.00.
87 Hyde No. 8 Heritage Stout Cask Blended Irish Whiskey 43% (Ireland) $39.00.
92 Joseph Cartron Créme De Framboise Liqueur 18% (France) $23.00.
88 Joseph Cartron Impérial Cartron Triple Orange Liqueur 40% (France) $29.00.
97 Joseph Cartron Sureau Elderflower Liqueur 20% (France) $26.00.
BR Leadslingers Minuteman Single Malt American Whiskey 45% (USA) $35.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Leadslingers Bourbon Whiskey 40% (USA) $35.00.
BR Leadslingers Fighting Spirit Rye Whiskey 45% (USA) $35.00. - Bronze Medal
92 Maestro Café Caffé Cream Liqueur 17% (Italy) $29.00.
BR Marama Origins Spiced Rum Spirit 40% (Indonesia) $26.00. - Bronze Medal
89 Mucha Liga Blanco Tequila 40% (Mexico) $39.99.
92 Wild Poet Irish Gin 44% (Ireland) $34.00.

Rye Whiskey

Spirits Glass Glencairn Canadian Amber.jpg
Serve in a Glencairn Ganadian Whisky Glass
Rye Whisky must contain a minimum of 51% rye grain, be distilled at less than 80% ABV (160 proof) and be aged for a minimum of two years in new charred barrels. A small amount of straight Rye whiskey is bottled and marketed, but most of the industry production is blended into other whiskies to give them additional character and structure. Canadians frequently refer to their whisky as "Rye," though it is in fact made primarily from corn or wheat.

The Taste: While the best Bourbon is known for a creamy, caramel-like palate, the best Rye whiskey makes its presence known with a spicy, grainy, hard-edged firmness that is distinctive and unique. Usually very dry, with notes of walnut, toasted grain, and black pepper, straight rye has a bold assertive character that has earned it a small but dedicated following among discerning whiskey fans.

The Scotch-Irish immigrant distillers had some exposure to using rye in whiskey production, but for their German immigrant neighbors rye had been the primary grain used in the production of Schnapps and Vodka back in northern Europe. They continued this distilling practice, particularly in Pennsylvania and Maryland, where Rye whiskey, with its distinctive hard-edged, grainy palate, remained the dominant whiskey type well into the 20th century.

Rye whiskey was even more adversely effected by National Prohibition than Bourbon. A generation of consumers weaned on light-bodied and relatively delicate white spirits turned away from the uncompromising, pungent, full-bodied straight Rye whiskies. Production of Rye whiskies had vanished altogether from its Mid-Atlantic homeland by the 1980s. A handful of modern Rye whiskies are currently being made by Bourbon distilleries in Kentucky and Indiana. America’s first indigenous whiskey style is today only barely surviving in the marketplace. Its primary use is for blending to give other whiskies more character and backbone, although a small but vocal group of Rye whisky enthusiasts continue to champion it.