Review: Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2024

Our last encounter with Wyoming’s Outryder dates back to the 2021 edition. For this seventh release, this American whiskey that threads the needle between bourbon and rye comes with its origin story, which I don’t recall ever reading.

And here it is:

In 2010, co-founder David DeFazio requested Wyoming Whiskey’s distiller at the time, Bourbon Hall of Famer Steve Nally, to develop a rye. Nally expressed reluctance; he didn’t want to make a rye and communicated his distaste for the spirit. The founders encouraged Nally to reconsider, and he ultimately surrendered to the request. Two different whiskies were laid down in late 2011, nearly 100 barrels of “rye” and 200 barrels of bourbon made with rye. In 2016, after Nally had left Wyoming Whiskey, it was time to bottle. New distiller Sam Mead called DeFazio to explain that the whiskey Nally had produced was only 48% rye, which disqualified it from the rye whiskey category. The team was stunned. DeFazio called Nally and said, “I want you to know that the ‘rye’ you made is spectacular — but why did you use only 48% rye in the mash bill?” Nally responded with an implied smirk, “Because I told you I didn’t want to make a rye.” Thus, Wyoming Whiskey Outryder was born.

Since this first bottling in 2016, the spirit has always contained the original 48% “almost rye” — until this year. The 2024 Outryder features a 51% rye recipe combined with the standard rye bourbon.

The recipe changes a bit each year, but for 2024, Outryder has a first on tap: It’s the first time it’s actually been made by blending a high-rye bourbon with a real rye. To wit:

According to Wyoming Whiskey Co-Founder, David DeFazio, “Our 2024 edition of Outryder is the first of its kind. It blends a traditional high-rye bourbon with a true rye whiskey. All of the barrels selected for this release were filled in early 2017 and have matured through the heat of seven summer seasons in our warehouses.” He continues, “As is true for all of our batched products, we selected barrels for their excellence and their ‘Outryder’ flavor profile; they were not selected according to a set metric. This batch has a 2.5 ratio of bourbon to rye barrels and offers notes of cinnamon, chocolate hazelnut and candied walnuts, among other rich flavors. We can’t wait for people to taste the 2024 batch.”

Let’s give it a whirl!

This year’s Outryder cuts closer to a rye than prior expressions, heavy on the nose with the big, herbal qualities you expect to see in a rye. Peppery and bracing, the whiskey takes it time to open up, eventually finding room for aromas of honey butter, toasty barrel char, and some sesame. The palate is at first fairly rye-traditional, with a punch of green herbs, followed quickly by a surprising slug of anise. Lots of fruit emerges — baked apples and some peaches, then notes of pie crust and brown butter. Vanilla and milk chocolate linger on the finish, along with some citrus peel. By this point, the rye spice has faded away completely.

Outryder continues to be a standout among American craft distilling, despite its significant evolution over the years. The price is definitely creeping up there, however — a sample is probably in order before you commit to a full 750ml.

100 proof.

B+ / $85 / wyomingwhiskey.com [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS]

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