Corsair Dark Rye American Rye Malt Whiskey
Corsair Dark Rye American Rye Malt Whiskey is an 85-proof (42.5% ABV) Tennessee whiskey built on a grain bill of 61% malted rye, 4% chocolate malted rye, and 35% malted barley — no corn anywhere in the recipe. Made 100% in house at Corsair Distillery in Nashville and aged in small charred-oak barrels, it is technically both a rye whiskey and a malt whiskey, and it drinks that way in a 750mL bottle. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 85 proof (42.5% ABV)
- Size: 750mL
- Mash bill: 61% malted rye, 4% chocolate malted rye, 35% malted barley — no corn
- Aging: Small-batch, small-barrel maturation in new charred oak
- Producer: Corsair Distillery, Nashville, Tennessee — 100% made in house, never sourced
The Chocolate Rye
Typical rye whiskey leans on corn to round out the grain bill; Corsair fills that slot with malted barley instead, and sneaks chocolate malted rye into the mix — which is why Dark Rye pours with notes of chocolate and coffee where other ryes show green, grassy spice. The small-barrel aging accelerates wood contact for extra depth without bitterness, and the distillery's 91-point Beverage Testing Institute score backs up the experiment. Because it sits between the rye and single-malt worlds, it works like a rye in a Sazerac or Boulevardier and like a malt neat. Shop the Corsair collection, explore more rye whiskey, or compare it with other American whiskey at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
The nose opens with bright citrus and rye spice touched by chocolate. The palate has a thick, viscous mouthfeel: rye malt spice and oaky sweetness up front, then chocolate nibs and a subtle coffee roast, with none of the green notes common in young ryes. The finish is clean and distinctly rye, with a lingering chocolatey warmth.
How to Enjoy
Pour it neat or with a splash of water to let the chocolate-rye character open up. It is also a natural cocktail whiskey — the chocolate and spice notes make it a standout in a rye Old Fashioned or a Boulevardier, and the distillery lists classic rye cocktails as its drink strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Corsair Dark Rye different from other rye whiskeys?
The mash bill: 61% malted rye, 4% chocolate malted rye, and 35% malted barley, with no corn — making it technically both a rye and a malt whiskey, with chocolate and coffee notes instead of green rye spice.
What is the proof of Corsair Dark Rye?
85 proof (42.5% ABV), bottled at that strength per the distillery's official product sheet.
Is Corsair Dark Rye sourced whiskey?
No. Corsair makes it 100% in house at its Nashville, Tennessee distillery and never sources the liquid.
Order Corsair Dark Rye American Rye Malt Whiskey online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA — a chocolate-kissed Tennessee rye malt worth a spot on your shelf.