Skip to main content

A rye whiskey aged using wooden staves for sustainable distilling

Bespoken Spirits' The Epic rye whiskey is aged using wooden staves

Bespoken Spirits

Even if you’re a whiskey enthusiast, one spirit you might not be super familiar with is rye whiskey. Often considered whiskey’s spicier, more peppery cousin, rye is beloved by cocktail fans thanks to its starring roles in cocktails like the Sazerac or the Manhattan. But it can be a great choice to drink neat as well, especially if you prefer whiskeys which are on the sweeter and spicier side.

Recommended Videos

Now, a new rye whiskey from Bespoken Spirits is hitting the market. Known as The Epic, it comes in at a hefty 114 proof to carry its rich flavors of citrus peel, marshmallow, pumpernickel, and brown sugar.

Bespoken Spirits is a newer Kentucky distillery which aims to mix the goals of sustainability and quality, seeking to use less wood, energy, and water in the production of its spirits. The Epic is finished with four different types of wood staves, which are the blocks of wood which have been part of whiskey barrels. Rather than putting the spirit into the barrel, the staves are used to put the barrel into the whiskey, adding a blended element to the finishing process.

As a special release, The Epic will be a Kentucky-only release, so you’ll have to do some work to track down a bottle. “We are thrilled to present our very first Distillery-only release to the public! This exceptional rye whiskey will be a standout feature for Bespoken throughout the fall bourbon festival season in Kentucky,” said Scott Savage, CEO of Bespoken Spirits. “Our team has poured their passion and expertise into this release, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with the vibrant community of Lexington and the rest of Kentucky.”

Georgina Torbet
Georgina Torbet is a cocktail enthusiast based in Berlin, with an ever-growing gin collection and a love for trying out new…
The 4 best whiskey drinks: We love these the most
You'll enjoy these cocktails enough to add them to your home bar arsenal
Whiskey cocktail

Whiskey is one of life's great pleasures, so we have strong feelings about the best whiskey drinks. As a spirit it can be light and fruity, or moody and smokey, or dark and oaky, and it can contain any combination of flavors from caramel to pineapple and can come in a wide variety of types.

We don’t have to tell you that whiskey is a great spirit to mix with. There’s a reason some of the most well-known cocktails ever created use whiskey as the base or, at the very least, one of the main ingredients. Take a look at any list of "classic" cocktails. While you’ll see many made with gin, vodka, tequila, and other spirits, many of the most well-known feature whiskey.

Read more
Brother’s Bond Regenerative Grain Bourbon just might be the perfect whiskey for Earth Day
Brother's Bond makes the perfect bourbon for Earth Day
Brother's Bond

If you're somehow unfamiliar with Brother's Bond Bourbon, it's an award-winning whiskey brand founded by actors and friends Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley (of 'The Vampire Diaries' fame). But it's not your average celebrity brand. Founded in 2021, the duo set out to craft high-quality whiskeys using sustainable, regenerative agricultural practices. Not surprisingly, Brother's Bond Bourbon might have the perfect whiskey for Earth Day.
Brother's Bond Regenerative Grain Straight Bourbon

It's aptly called Brother's Bond Regenerative Grain Straight Bourbon. If you're planning to enjoy a glass of whiskey on Earth Day (April 22), there's no better choice. This small-batch, award-winning whiskey is a blend of three-year-old bourbon and six-year-old wheated bourbon, along with custom toast and char methods.

Read more
If you like rye whiskey and tequila, you’ll love this new release from Angel’s Envy
Angel's Envy is dropping a whiskey finished in Patron tequila barrels
Angel's Envy

Are you a fan of rye whiskey and tequila? If so, the innovators at Angel's Envy have the perfect new expression for you. It's called Cellar Collection Series, Vol. 5 Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in French Oak Extra Añejo Tequila Barrels, and although the name is a bit of a mouthful, it's the perfect whiskey for fans of the two spirits.
Angel's Envy Cellar Collection Series, Vol. 5 Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in French Oak Extra Añejo Tequila Barrels
ANGEL'S ENVY Cellar Collection Series, Vol. 5 Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in French Oak Extra Añejo Tequila Barrels Angel's Envy

The newest addition to Angel's Envy's Cellar Collection, this limited-release whiskey (created by Master Distiller Owen Martin) was matured for up to seven years and finished in French oak extra añejo tequila barrels from PATRÓN for up to 12 months. But its journey doesn't end there. It was then blended with a straight rye whiskey that matured for over eleven years.

Read more