Racquet Club Spirits Bourbon Whiskey
42% ABV (84 proof) | 750mL | Aged 4 years in new charred oak — Racquet Club Spirits Premium Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a high-rye bourbon (60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley) from the LGBTQ+-owned Palm Springs company of partners Brian Harke and Matthew Winks — a tribute to the 1934 Racquet Club resort, Hollywood's desert playground (Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Kirk Douglas). Every bottle is filled, labeled, corked, and sealed by hand; the whiskey itself is distilled by MGP in Indiana under the founders' oversight, unfiltered, and proofed with Sierra Nevada alpine water. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
Caramel, vanilla, fruit, cocoa, and nuts on the nose; the palate delivers caramel, vanilla, chocolate, and smoke, fading to roasted nuts, rye spice, and caramel. Reviewers call it "very gentle and easy to drink straight." Among high-rye bourbons, the 36% rye mash bill brings real spice to a smooth 84-proof pour — and the Double Golds from both the Sip Awards and the San Diego Spirits Festival back it up.
Tasting notes
Nose: caramel, vanilla, fruit, cocoa, nuts. Palate: caramel, vanilla, chocolate, smoke; roasted nuts, rye spice. Finish: balanced, gentle, caramel. (Per brand sell sheet and independent reviews.)
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 42% ABV (84 proof) — 750mL
- 4 years in new charred oak; high-rye mash bill (60/36/4)
- Unfiltered; hand-filled, hand-labeled, hand-corked in small batches
- Double Gold — Sip Awards and San Diego Spirits Festival
- LGBTQ+-owned Palm Springs brand; MGP-distilled in Indiana
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat or on a large cube — it drinks gently straight and holds up in cocktails per reviewers.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Racquet Club Bourbon made?
The brand is based in Palm Springs, California; the whiskey is distilled by MGP in Indiana under the founders' oversight.
What makes it high-rye?
Its mash bill is 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley — 36% rye is well above standard.
Has it won awards?
Yes — Double Gold at both the Sip Awards and the San Diego Spirits Festival.
Is it filtered?
No — it's unfiltered and hand-bottled.