Uploaded July 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
You can skip ahead, but you’ll miss a lot of great information along the way!
Shortcuts/Timecodes:
0:00 – Intros
5:00 – Millstone Nosing
6:31 – Millstone Tasting
10:16 – Pinhook 8 Nosing
10:50 – Pinhook 8 Tasting
12:14 – Magi Nosing
13:00 – Magi Tasting
Back in March of 2024, the Saints Alley “Nobleman” Rye that I blend was named “Best American Rye” by Whisky Magazine’s World Whiskies Awards. While I was thrilled with the accolade, I knew winning the “World’s Best Rye” title would be tough (as many countries produce great ryes). Well, we didn’t win and the Millstone 10 Year “Founders Reserve” received that title for the second year in a row. So quickly switching hats to my LiquorHound one, I immediately ordered in a bottle to review for everyone! For contrast, I’ll be reviewing Pinhook’s 2024 Vertical Series 8 Year Rye and Cat Eye Distillery’s “The Magi” Rye beside it!
The Millstone “Founders Reserve” 10 Years Old Dutch Whisky is a pot-distilled rye aged in the Netherlands. According to the back of the tube it came in, “MILLSTONE Dutch Single Malt Whisky (and I'm guessing this is a generic tube and we can sub in "rye" where they list "malt") is hand crafted in the traditional distillery that is owned and operated by the Zuidam Family. More than 50 years of experience in distilling of exclusive spirits and a constant search for perfection has led to the birth of this exquisite Millstone whisky line. WINDMILLS mill the malted barley that is used to produce this malt whisky. This traditional way of railing causes almost no increase to the temperature of the grain and thus helps preserve the wonderful aromas. MASHING the grain is done by adding hot water to the malted barley. The hot water triggers the enzymes to convert the starch from the grain into sugars. The resulting mash is cooled to 20 • Celsius and pumped to the fermentation tank. THE FERMENTATION is done in small batches at a very low temperature to give the whisky its fruity flavors. The fermentation takes about 5 days. DISTILLATION, Millstone Whisky is double distilled in handcrafted copper pot stills. The small stills thus produce a very delicate and fruity new spirit. AGEING After the careful distillation the whisky is aged in small barrels. From the bottle’s actual label, it states it was distilled in Nov. 2012, aged 10 years in American Oak, and bottled at 105.2 proof in a 700ml bottle. Minus the shipping fee from Europe (and after conversion) it retailed at $95 usd. $135 with shipping.
Pinhook’s 2024 Vertical 8 Year “Tiz Rye Time” Rye explores the true impact of age on a whiskey’s character by following a single group of 32 MGP barrels (95% Rye 5% Barley mash bill) as they matured to at least 8 years old. With each of the Vertical Series releases, the proof is set to best showcase the unique attributes of that year’s blend. This 2024 annual limited release was proofed down from a batch proof of 125 to a final bottling strength of 108.4 proof. It retails for $85 and for now can be found fairly easily online.
The Magi Rye from the Cat Eye Distillery is an interesting blend I’ve recently come across. It combines 6 barrels of 7.9 year double oaked MGP (Indiana) rye whiskeys, 1 barrel of an 11-year French oak Polish rye, 1.5 barrels of a 21-year Palliser (Alberta Canada’s Black Velvet Distillery) rye whiskey, and 2 barrels of a 22-year Palliser rye whiskey that was finished a full year in port barrels. So, the youngest rye in this bottle is almost 8 years old and the oldest – at 22 years – had a year of port finishing on it! It can be bought through several online retailers, but the easiest way is through the Cat’s Eye Distillery’s website (which has all the links to them). It’s bottled at 107 proof and retails around $100.
As of June/July 2024, my current bottle count is over 2,800. I am a Certified Specialist of Spirits and have also been accredited by the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT). I've been actively collecting for three decades and what started as a small basic home bar has transformed (with the help and understanding of my wonderful wife) into this collection and career. Speaking of my career, I’m super proud to announce that my “Saints Alley “Nobleman” Rye Whiskey was named “Best American Rye” at the 2024 World Whisky Awards! Fortunately, we’re still aging up more barrels of it, and as soon as they’re ready, I’ll work the next batch. But until then, don’t forget, that our other Bourbons have also won multiple awards and are on Total Wine shelves now (be sure to ask for a sample when you're in the stores)! Our Special Edition "Herald" adds Pineau Des Charentes casks to the standard's Armagnac alone. It was named "The Best Overall Bourbon" in a blind competition at Tales of the Cocktail's - 2023 New Orleans Spirit Competition! Given my decades of experience, you know I’m working hard with my team to continue bringing you whiskeys that we’re very proud of! Thanks for watching and please remember to drink responsibly. Cheers!
You can skip ahead, but you’ll miss a lot of great information along the way!
Shortcuts/Timecodes:
0:00 – Intros
5:00 – Millstone Nosing
6:31 – Millstone Tasting
10:16 – Pinhook 8 Nosing
10:50 – Pinhook 8 Tasting
12:14 – Magi Nosing
13:00 – Magi Tasting
Back in March of 2024, the Saints Alley “Nobleman” Rye that I blend was named “Best American Rye” by Whisky Magazine’s World Whiskies Awards. While I was thrilled with the accolade, I knew winning the “World’s Best Rye” title would be tough (as many countries produce great ryes). Well, we didn’t win and the Millstone 10 Year “Founders Reserve” received that title for the second year in a row. So quickly switching hats to my LiquorHound one, I immediately ordered in a bottle to review for everyone! For contrast, I’ll be reviewing Pinhook’s 2024 Vertical Series 8 Year Rye and Cat Eye Distillery’s “The Magi” Rye beside it!
The Millstone “Founders Reserve” 10 Years Old Dutch Whisky is a pot-distilled rye aged in the Netherlands. According to the back of the tube it came in, “MILLSTONE Dutch Single Malt Whisky (and I'm guessing this is a generic tube and we can sub in "rye" where they list "malt") is hand crafted in the traditional distillery that is owned and operated by the Zuidam Family. More than 50 years of experience in distilling of exclusive spirits and a constant search for perfection has led to the birth of this exquisite Millstone whisky line. WINDMILLS mill the malted barley that is used to produce this malt whisky. This traditional way of railing causes almost no increase to the temperature of the grain and thus helps preserve the wonderful aromas. MASHING the grain is done by adding hot water to the malted barley. The hot water triggers the enzymes to convert the starch from the grain into sugars. The resulting mash is cooled to 20 • Celsius and pumped to the fermentation tank. THE FERMENTATION is done in small batches at a very low temperature to give the whisky its fruity flavors. The fermentation takes about 5 days. DISTILLATION, Millstone Whisky is double distilled in handcrafted copper pot stills. The small stills thus produce a very delicate and fruity new spirit. AGEING After the careful distillation the whisky is aged in small barrels. From the bottle’s actual label, it states it was distilled in Nov. 2012, aged 10 years in American Oak, and bottled at 105.2 proof in a 700ml bottle. Minus the shipping fee from Europe (and after conversion) it retailed at $95 usd. $135 with shipping.
Pinhook’s 2024 Vertical 8 Year “Tiz Rye Time” Rye explores the true impact of age on a whiskey’s character by following a single group of 32 MGP barrels (95% Rye 5% Barley mash bill) as they matured to at least 8 years old. With each of the Vertical Series releases, the proof is set to best showcase the unique attributes of that year’s blend. This 2024 annual limited release was proofed down from a batch proof of 125 to a final bottling strength of 108.4 proof. It retails for $85 and for now can be found fairly easily online.
The Magi Rye from the Cat Eye Distillery is an interesting blend I’ve recently come across. It combines 6 barrels of 7.9 year double oaked MGP (Indiana) rye whiskeys, 1 barrel of an 11-year French oak Polish rye, 1.5 barrels of a 21-year Palliser (Alberta Canada’s Black Velvet Distillery) rye whiskey, and 2 barrels of a 22-year Palliser rye whiskey that was finished a full year in port barrels. So, the youngest rye in this bottle is almost 8 years old and the oldest – at 22 years – had a year of port finishing on it! It can be bought through several online retailers, but the easiest way is through the Cat’s Eye Distillery’s website (which has all the links to them). It’s bottled at 107 proof and retails around $100.
As of June/July 2024, my current bottle count is over 2,800. I am a Certified Specialist of Spirits and have also been accredited by the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT). I've been actively collecting for three decades and what started as a small basic home bar has transformed (with the help and understanding of my wonderful wife) into this collection and career. Speaking of my career, I’m super proud to announce that my “Saints Alley “Nobleman” Rye Whiskey was named “Best American Rye” at the 2024 World Whisky Awards! Fortunately, we’re still aging up more barrels of it, and as soon as they’re ready, I’ll work the next batch. But until then, don’t forget, that our other Bourbons have also won multiple awards and are on Total Wine shelves now (be sure to ask for a sample when you're in the stores)! Our Special Edition "Herald" adds Pineau Des Charentes casks to the standard's Armagnac alone. It was named "The Best Overall Bourbon" in a blind competition at Tales of the Cocktail's - 2023 New Orleans Spirit Competition! Given my decades of experience, you know I’m working hard with my team to continue bringing you whiskeys that we’re very proud of! Thanks for watching and please remember to drink responsibly. Cheers!
