Very Olde St. Nick Cask Strength Summer Rye Whiskey
Cask strength (~117–119 proof, varies by lot) | 750mL | Uncut, unfiltered straight rye whiskey — Very Olde St. Nick Cask Strength Summer Rye is the seasonal counterpart to the brand's Harvest Rye: hand-selected barrels of sourced rye whiskey, dumped before the peak Kentucky summer heat, bottled uncut and unfiltered at barrel proof. The proof shifts from lot to lot (117–119+ reported), so every bottling is a one-off. The brand — created in the mid-1980s for the Japanese export market, with early stocks sourced through Julian Van Winkle III — now lives at Preservation Distillery + Farm in Bardstown, Kentucky. The name is a play on "samurai," a nod to those Japanese-market origins. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
In the glass it's vibrant and spicy: sweet herbs and baking spice over gentle proof warmth, peppery rye with rich vanilla, honey and gentle oak, and a long, warming finish of lingering spice (Liquor On Broadway). Among cask-strength ryes, this is the cult small-lot pick — old-stock whiskey from the brand's Bardstown warehouse, not a distillery release. Neat, or with a splash of water to open it up.
Tasting notes
Nose: sweet herbs, baking spice, bright mint, caramelized nuts (retailer notes). Palate: peppery rye, rich vanilla, honey, toasted dark caramel, stewed fruits. Finish: long and warming; lingering spice, char, tobacco, soft caramel-cherry.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- Cask strength, ~117–119 proof (varies by lot) — 750mL; uncut and unfiltered
- Hand-selected barrels dumped before the Kentucky summer heat — the seasonal "Summer Rye"/"samurai" release
- Cult 1980s Japanese-export heritage; bottled at Preservation Distillery, Bardstown
- Small-lot, sells out quickly — a collector's rye
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat in a Glencairn; add a splash of water to open the mint and baking-spice notes. Built for sipping, not mixing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the proof of Summer Rye?
It varies by lot — retailers report 117.4 to 119.4 proof. It is always bottled at cask strength, uncut and unfiltered.
Is it distilled at Preservation Distillery?
No — it is drawn from the brand's sourced old stocks and bottled at Preservation Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky.
What does "Summer Rye" mean?
The barrels are dumped before the peak summer heat, and the name plays on "samurai" — a nod to the brand's 1980s Japanese-export origins.
Is there an age statement?
No official age statement; retailer estimates are unconfirmed.
