Bespoken Spirits Rye Whiskey
Bespoken Spirits Rye Whiskey is a 100-proof (50% ABV) rye built the Silicon Valley way: a 95% rye / 5% malt spirit sourced from MGP in Indiana is finished with Bespoken's proprietary ACTivation process — toasted wood microstaves in a temperature-and-pressure-controlled reactor — delivering aroma, color, and taste in days instead of years. Non-chill filtered and Double Gold at the 2021 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, this 750mL bottle is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 50% (100 proof), non-chill filtered
- Size: 750mL
- Mash bill: 95% rye, 5% malt (sourced from MGP, Indiana)
- Process: ACTivation — microstave finishing with controlled heat, pressure, and churn
- Awards: Double Gold, 2021 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition
The Tech-Built Rye
Bespoken — founded in 2018 by Stu Aaron and Martin Janousek — asked a simple question: what if maturation could be controlled like a lab experiment instead of left to a warehouse? Their ACTivator uses wood microstaves "about the size of a pinky finger" at 1/25,000th of a barrel's wood, cycling temperature, pressure, and churn over days. The company claims 97% less wood consumption and no angel's share, with no additives. The rye starts with a short 3-month initial rest before ACTivation finishes it.
Tasting Notes
The nose shows rich caramel, vanilla, and spice with caraway, celery, and a mild smokiness. The palate brings charred American oak with rounded sweetness and a peppery finish — classic high-rye character with unusual depth for its young calendar age.
How to Enjoy
At 100 proof this rye stands up to cocktails — a Manhattan or Old Fashioned gets real backbone — but try it neat first to taste what ACTivation actually does. Compare it with other rye whiskey picks or the rest of the Bespoken Spirits lineup to see how the process plays across mash bills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bespoken's ACTivation process? A proprietary finishing method where microstaves go into a metal reactor with the spirit; controlled temperature, pressure, and churn extract aroma, color, and taste in days.
Where is the whiskey distilled? The spirit is sourced from MGP in Indiana and bottled at Bespoken's Treasure Island Distillery in San Francisco.
What is the proof? 100 proof (50% ABV), non-chill filtered.
Has it won awards? Double Gold at the 2021 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition.
Curious about tech-finished whiskey? Pick up Bespoken Spirits Rye Whiskey online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.