Masterson's Hungarian Oak 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey
Masterson's Hungarian Oak 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey is a 100% rye whiskey aged a full ten years and finished in fine-grain Hungarian oak (Quercus Petraea) barrels, bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof) in a 750mL bottle. Order it online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA — a rare chance to taste what a decade of rye does when it meets oak from Hungary's forests.
- ABV: 45% (90 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 10 years, finished in fine-grain Hungarian oak (Quercus Petraea)
- Mash bill: 100% rye, grown in the Pacific Northwest
- Origin: Distilled in pot stills in Alberta, Canada; bottled in Sonoma, California
- Scores: Wine Enthusiast 94 (base 10 Year Old Straight Rye)
A Bat Masterson Tribute, Finished in Hungarian Oak
Masterson's is named for Bat Masterson, the Old West lawman, and built the way he would have liked it: all rye and only rye, with grain grown in the verdant Pacific Northwest, fermented with inoculated dry yeast, and distilled through pot stills in Alberta, Canada before aging just over a decade in white-oak casks. This special-series release takes that 10-year-old rye and finishes it in fine-grain Hungarian oak barrels sourced from Quercus Petraea — timber air-dried outdoors for at least two years, a process that promotes natural vanillin release, while Hungary's dynamic four-season climate draws vanilla and nut character into the whiskey.
Tasting Notes
The Hungarian finish shows as sweet wood overtones with an accent on vanilla and nuts, layered over the base rye's caramel, burnt butter, orange zest, and baking spices. The mouthfeel is smooth and round rather than a spice bomb — oily, grain-forward, with a touch of white pepper on the finish.
How to Enjoy
Pour it neat to study the oak finish, or build a luxurious Manhattan — rye is that cocktail's traditional base, and the vanillin notes play beautifully with sweet vermouth. A single large cube works if you take it on the rocks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Hungarian oak different for aging whiskey?Hungarian oak (Quercus Petraea) has a fine, tight grain that allows a slower extraction of flavors than American oak, giving a more refined, nuanced result. These barrels were air-dried outdoors for at least two years, which promotes natural vanillin release — expect pronounced vanilla and sweet wood notes.
Is Masterson's a Canadian whiskey?Yes. It is distilled in pot stills in Alberta, Canada, from 100% Pacific Northwest rye, and bottled by 3 Badge Mixology (35 Maple Street) in Sonoma, California. The Hungarian oak refers to the finishing barrels, not the whiskey's origin.
What is the proof of Masterson's Hungarian Oak 10 Year Old Rye?It is bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV) — though the brand notes the ABV of individual bottles may vary slightly.
Is it a single barrel whiskey?This series is a finished release of 10-year-old rye, aged and finished in selected oak — each bottle captures the character of its barrel. For more aged rye whiskey options, see the Masterson's shelf at Del Mesa Liquor.
Collectors of Canadian rye should move while this series is on the shelf — order Masterson's Hungarian Oak 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA, before the next bottling vanishes.