Review: Never Say Die Rye
Upon hearing “Never Say Die,” James Bond may be the first thing that comes to mind. However, I’d like to introduce you to the whiskey brand of the same name. It’s perfectly understandable if you’ve not yet heard of Never Say Die Kentucky Straight Rye, as until very recently, they’ve been exclusively an export brand for the United Kingdom. However, as of April 2024, the rye is now available in select American markets.
Never Say Die was a famed racing horse that won the Derby Stakes at Epsom Downs with 33:1 odds, after allegedly taking a shot of bourbon for some motivation.
Never Say Die is distilled in Danville, KY. After being aged in Kentucky for at least five years, the rye takes a trans-Atlantic boat trip to Northern England that takes roughly six weeks. Once the whiskey reaches Northern England, it matures for an additional 3 to 12 months at White Peaks Distillery. There’s a lot to unpack! While distilled in Danville, KY, Never Say Die is not a typical rye from Danville. This sweet mash rye boasts a custom mashbill of 56% rye, 33% corn, and 11% malted barley, along with a unique yeast strain. The concept of aging whiskey barrels on an ocean-going vessel is not unique, but it’s also not particularly common. While some brands subject their barrels to months on the ocean, Never Say Die goes with about 6 weeks. After the time on the ocean, the barrels experience several months in a vastly different climate than Kentucky, much like what Scotch experiences. The bottle for this review experienced 8 months in the milder climate.
Never Say Die Kentucky Straight Rye is bottled at 105 proof and is distilled on a column still. The whiskey is aged in #4 char barrels constructed from air-dried staves.
Let’s give it a try.
The aroma of buttered toffee and molasses hit first. The next wave brings a gentle spearmint and lemon zest. As is common to many ryes, black pepper makes a soft appearance as the dram opens up. After five minutes of breathing, floral notes surface. Overall, Never Say Die presents a rather complex and lovely nose.
The palate opens with a burst of pine and spearmint. In cohesion with the nose, buttered toffee is again present. The midpalate brings burnt orange peel and cinnamon — and while the cinnamon is present, the palate is rather sweet, but far from cloying. The finish starts with a mild ginger note, followed by the consistent note of buttered toffee. With a touch of sweet tobacco and orange zest, oak shows up a bit more. Hanging on at the very end: black licorice. To match the palate, the finish is also on the sweet side.
Never Say Die Kentucky Straight Rye is a quality rye worth your attention. Danville, KY has a positive history with rye whiskey, and this is a unique derivative with unique aging conditions as compared to many other ryes on the market.
105 proof.
A- / $79 (700 ml) / neversaydiebourbon.com
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