Cleveland Underground Rye Whiskey Finished with Black Cherry Wood
45% ABV (90 proof) | 750mL | 95% rye mash bill | Black cherry wood finish — Cleveland Whiskey's Underground Rye takes a spicy 95% rye / 5% malted barley mash bill and finishes it with black cherry wood via the brand's patented Pressure Aging™ — pressure-cycling the whiskey with wood chunks that could never be coopered into a barrel. The result is a totally new twist on rye: mellow oak up front, candy-like fruit on the finish, dried cherries lingering on the way down. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
Lightly sweet on entry with notes of mellow oak, giving way to creamy vanilla and butterscotch with undertones of baking spice; the candy-like, fruit-forward finish carries a linger of dried cherries. Soft on the front, spice on the way down. Among rye whiskeys, this is the fruit-forward outlier — and a 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold medalist (plus 2019 SIP Awards Silver) backs up the experiment.
Tasting notes
Nose: lightly sweet, mellow oak. Palate: creamy vanilla, butterscotch, baking spice. Finish: candy-like, fruit-forward, dried cherries. (Per Cleveland Whiskey.)
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 45% ABV (90 proof) — 750mL
- 95% rye / 5% malted barley mash bill
- Black cherry wood finish via Pressure Aging
- SFWSC 2021 Gold; 2019 SIP Awards Silver
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat to catch the cherry fruit; excellent in a Manhattan with a cherry garnish.
Frequently asked questions
What makes this rye different?
The black cherry wood finish — cherry can't be made into barrels, so the whiskey is pressure-aged with cherry wood chunks instead.
What proof is it?
90 proof (45% ABV) per official brand copy.
Has it won awards?
Yes — Gold at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Silver at the 2019 SIP Awards.
How old is it?
No age statement (NAS) — pressure-aged in days, not years.