J.W Kelly & Co. Melrose Rye Whiskey

Italian winemaking meets Tennessee rye tradition. J.W. Kelly revives a historical 19th-century Baltimore rye recipe with an inventive Amarone wine cask finish. The foundation starts with a high-malt rye mash bill aged for two years inside air-dried American white oak barrels. Then, master blenders transfer the spirit into hand-selected Italian Amarone casks for a secondary aging period. It's a bold crossover of flavors.

Exotic red wine wood elevates everything. These Amarone wine casks impart rich, dark fruit characteristics that soften the sharp pepper edges typical of youthful rye whiskies. At 92 proof, the spirit offers a vibrant, silky mouthfeel packed with luscious dried cherry and oak. You'll enjoy every layered, fruity sip. Sip it neat or over ice.

Nose: Dark fruit leads off the aroma. Notes of dark cherry, dried raisin, and ripe red plum intertwine gracefully with sweet vanilla, toasted oak, and earthy wintergreen mint. A subtle wine tannic dryness lingers softly.

Palate: Sweet honey and dark caramel coat the palate. Rich red wine tannins and prickly rye spices surge forward, bringing intense cinnamon, nutmeg, and bittersweet dark chocolate flavors. The mouthfeel stays impressively thick.

Finish: Cinnamon spice carries through the backend. Drying wine tannins, dark espresso, and black tea notes slowly unwind across your throat alongside a persistent, warming heat. It leaves behind a faint cherry ring.

Savory charcuterie matches these wine notes. Pair a dram alongside cured prosciutto, duck breast with cherry reduction, or an artisanal cheese platter featuring sharp blue cheese. Dark chocolate truffles also accentuate the rich berry flavors.