Review: Old Stubborn Cask Strength Rye, Old Swagger Cask Strength Rye, and Old Swagger Bourbon

There are plenty of people in the industry who can make whiskey. Far fewer have built a reputation on their ability to recognize exceptional whiskey when it reaches the glass.

For years, Ed Bley earned the respect of enthusiasts not as a distiller, but as a selector. Through countless single barrels and private picks, he cultivated a following among drinkers who learned that if his name appeared on a barrel, it was probably worth their attention. In an industry where nearly everyone claims to possess an exceptional palate, Bley assembled a record that led many consumers to buy first and ask questions later.

That reputation ultimately led to the creation of Rising Tide Spirits. Rather than following the increasingly crowded route of building a distillery, Bley focused on the discipline that had brought him success from the beginning: identifying outstanding whiskey, understanding its progression over time, and developing blends and releases that highlight the strongest qualities of the barrels involved.

The company takes its name from the saying that a rising tide lifts all boats, an apt philosophy for a venture rooted in collaboration and craftsmanship rather than individual acclaim. It also serves as a reminder that great whiskey does not always begin with the person running the still. At times, it begins with the person making the final determination about what merits a place in the bottle.

That brings us to the three 2026 Rising Tide Spirits releases: Old Swagger Cask Strength Rye 12 Years Old, Old Swagger Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon 13 Years Old, and Old Stubborn Cask Strength Single Barrel Rye. Together, they present another opportunity to consider a straightforward question: what happens when one of the most trusted palates in modern American whiskey is given complete freedom to create?

Old Stubborn Cask Strength Rye Whiskey Review

Barrel No. 751 was distilled on a pot still at an undisclosed West Virginia distillery and matured for at least 12 years. While the source has not been officially identified, there is only one West Virginia distillery capable of supplying rye whiskey of this age: Smooth Ambler in Maxwelton. When the distillery opened in 2010, production relied on a pot still manufactured by Germany’s Christian Carl. Several years later, Larry Ebersold joined as a consultant, followed by the installation of a continuous column still.

Although Old Stubborn Cask Strength Rye does not display an age statement, Ed Bley has confirmed that every barrel in the series is at least 12 years old. Barrel No. 751 was aged in a cask coopered by Independent Stave Co. with a #4 char and filled at 125 proof. The whiskey spent most of its maturation in West Virginia before relocating to Kentucky for the final two years. The barrel was dumped in April 2026.

Raisinets and mint tea arrive immediately on the nose. Pine sap follows, while extended maturation contributes damp potting soil and mature oak. Dried fruit, rye spice, and oak work together nicely, with none of the components crowding out the others.

The palate takes a different route. Rather than opening with spice, blackberry jam and Cherry Coke lead the way. Oak enters during the mid-palate through notes of tiramisu. Fruit remains prominent throughout, supported by rye spice and a medium-thick viscosity.

The finish shifts squarely toward traditional rye territory. Wintergreen Lifesavers arrive in abundance alongside slightly burnt toast and black cherry skins before fading into a grassy closing note.

From beginning to end, this is an excellent rye whiskey that demonstrates what extended maturation can accomplish. For drinkers seeking well-aged rye that was not distilled in Indiana, this release deserves attention. Once these barrels are depleted, Rising Tide Spirits will no longer offer cask strength West Virginia rye single barrels. The asking price is substantial, but it also provides something outside the increasingly crowded MGP category. As much as I enjoyed the whiskey itself, the cost ultimately exceeds my level of enthusiasm. 127.94 proof. A / $250

Old Swagger Cask Strength Rye 12 Years Old Review

This cask strength blend is composed of 15 barrels distilled by MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, from the distillery’s 95% rye and 5% malted barley mashbill. Each barrel was filled at 120 proof and matured for at least 12 years in casks sourced from Independent Stave Co. While the blend includes barrels from multiple lots, all 15 were distilled during the same year. Every barrel spent its entire maturation at MGP in Indiana.

The rye whiskey market in 2026 is seeing a growing number of MGP-distilled releases reaching the 12- to 13-year range. Most of those barrels originated in Indiana but were acquired through Templeton Distillery in Iowa, where they spent more than half of their maturation. This Rising Tide Spirits release followed a different path, remaining at MGP for the entirety of its aging cycle.

Herbal black jelly beans lead the nose, followed by Stroopwafel cookies and nutmeg. A touch of beeswax appears with additional time in the glass.

The palate begins with classic MGP dill before moving toward lime juice. Further along, Biscoff cookies highlight the whiskey’s age, accompanied by cherry cough lozenges. The viscosity is notably dense without becoming syrupy.

The finish delivers grapefruit zest, pickled ginger, dill, and pink peppercorn, supplying plenty of spice and energy through the closing moments.

As with the other releases in the lineup, the price sits at the higher end of the spectrum. Still, those seeking mature MGP rye will find plenty to appreciate here. My view remains unchanged: rye whiskey in the 12- to 13-year range that spends its entire maturation at MGP in Indiana consistently delivers a more potent and enjoyable drinking experience than similarly aged barrels that spend substantial time aging in Iowa. Consumers are encountering more rye whiskey in this age bracket than ever before, yet labels rarely disclose where those barrels spent their years resting. That information matters. 110.8 proof. A / $175

Old Swagger Bottled in Bond Bourbon 13 Years Old Review

This Bottled in Bond release is a blend of 15 barrels of bourbon distilled by MGP in Indiana on the same day as the previous 12-year-old Old Swagger Bottled in Bond Bourbon release. The barrels were filled in November 2012 and matured for 13 years and 4 months. Each barrel was sourced from Independent Stave Co., featured a #4 char, and entered the barrel at 120 proof.

Most of the maturation took place at MGP, with the final two years spent in Kentucky. The blend’s natural harvest proof reached 127 before being reduced to the Bottled in Bond standard of 100 proof.

Dried black tea leaves and dusty limestone gravel lead the nose. Oak-derived tannins show themselves through toasted pecans and freshly made waffle cones from a neighborhood ice cream shop.

The palate opens with wild blackberries, less sweet and less plump than cultivated varieties, alongside almond extract. Burnt brown sugar arrives next, followed by cornbread.

The finish is the high point. Dr. Pepper takes command, followed by unsweetened cocoa powder and the cinnamon residue left behind inside a chewing gum wrapper. Leather rounds out the closing stretch.

This is a very good bourbon from start to finish. At a time when many enthusiasts remain focused on cask strength releases, often venturing into HAZMAT territory, this bottle serves as a reminder that proof alone does not determine quality. At 100 proof, it delivers plenty of flavor without relying on sheer alcohol intensity. The price remains a hurdle, however, and there are likely other bottles capable of delivering similar satisfaction at a lower cost. 100 proof. A- / $250

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