Old Overholt 11 Year Old Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (2025) 75cl

Beam Suntory has been revisiting its long languishing brands in recent years, such as Baker’s and Old Overholt. The development of the latter, once a classic of Pennsylvania’s rye-centered whiskey industry, has received another boost with Beam’s release of an 11 year old, cask strength Old Overholt.

Although the original Old Overholt was a very rye-forward whiskey, produced in the sweet mash process and aged using semi-climate controlled warehouses that were heated during the winter, most modern drinkers are not familiar with those details or even with what such a whiskey would have tasted like. Instead, Old Overholt has for decades come from the Kentucky-style, high corn mash bill used by Jim Beam for most of their rye expressions. Old Overholt Extra Aged Cask Strength 11 Year Old is no different, but what it offers is an almost middle aged, high proof version of that familiar rye whiskey.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Fruity scents initially stand out among the array of notes floating up to my nose. Picking them apart shows me mostly stone fruits (cherries and sweetened apricots) as well as a little bit of citrus. These are accompanied by some brown spices in the form of cinnamon raisin toast and anise. The typical Beam nuttiness is present as well, although less so than their bourbons. Sweetness comes from molasses pound cake, caramel and a bit of vanilla.

Palate: I’m finding flavors more compatible with a bourbon than a rye whiskey on the tongue. There’s caramel, vanilla, classic Beam nuttiness and a moderate amount of underlying oak, but it’s the fruit, licorice and spice notes that subtly hint that this is a rye whiskey underneath it all. Sweetened stone fruit, cinnamon, chili oil and red pepper flakes stand out the most. There aren’t many green notes (the herbal kind, not the youthful kind) and I kind of look forward to those the most in a rye whiskey. It’s beautifully rounded with very few flaws but it’s not as exciting as it could be.

Finish: The finish is moderate to long in length and provides a sweet, pleasant ending to the dram. The baking spice and chili/pepper spices become more subdued after the sip is complete while caramel, vanilla and oak keep it all a pretty standard affair. Overall the finish is mellow and well constructed and shows no real flaws.

53.7% ABV

75cl