J.W.Kelly Golden Age Straight Rye Whiskey
J.W.Kelly Golden Age Straight Rye Whiskey is the core rye of the revived Chattanooga house — 94 proof (47% ABV), 750mL, distilled from a mash of 65% rye, 20% malted barley and 15% malted rye, and matured in oak barrels for a minimum of two years. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 47% (94 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Mash bill: 65% rye, 20% malted barley, 15% malted rye
- Aging: Minimum two years in oak barrels
- Style: Straight rye whiskey
- Origin: Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA (J.W. Kelly & Co. / Keeper's Quest)
A Chattanooga Name from 1866, Poured Again
James Watt Kelly was born in Waterford, Ireland in 1844, arrived in the United States in 1863, and in 1866 founded J.W. Kelly & Co. and its Deep Spring Distillery in Chattanooga, Tennessee — a whiskey house that stood across from the Read House and ran until Prohibition-era law closed it down. Chattanooga's Keeper's Quest revived the name, and Golden Age is its straight-ahead rye: a high-rye mash with malted barley and malted rye in support, given its legal minimum two years in oak and bottled at a full 94 proof. Find it on our rye whiskey shelf, or meet the Amarone-finished sibling on the J.W.Kelly Whiskey vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose (brand owner): Sweet orchard fruit with classic rye spice. Palate: Soft and creamy — lightly sweet at first, turning to crusty bread. Finish: White pepper.
How to Enjoy
Pour it neat to read the malted-rye roundness, or let the 94 proof and white-pepper finish do the work in a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned — it has the spice structure both drinks are built on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the mash bill of Golden Age rye? 65% rye, 20% malted barley and 15% malted rye — published by the brand owner, Keeper's Quest.
How old is it? It is matured in oak for a minimum of two years, which is also the legal floor for a straight rye; the house states no older age statement for this bottling.
How does Golden Age differ from Melrose Rye? Golden Age is the core straight rye at 94 proof with a published mash bill and no finish; Melrose is the premium expression at 92 proof, finished in Amarone wine casks.
Chattanooga's 1866 rye, back in the glass — order J.W.Kelly Golden Age Straight Rye Whiskey online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.