Broken Barrel Heresy Rye Whiskey
Broken Barrel Heresy Rye Whiskey is a 105 proof (52.5% ABV), 750mL Kentucky straight rye whiskey — distilled in Owensboro, Kentucky, from a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, aged a minimum of two years, then finished with broken barrel staves submerged in the tanked spirit. Its Oak Bill — the stave blend printed beside the mash bill on every Broken Barrel bottle — is 40% charred French oak staves, 40% ex-bourbon cask staves and 20% sherry cask staves: the same proprietary bill the house uses on its Small Batch bourbon, applied to rye. That is the heresy — a high-rye whiskey finished on wine-country and sherry wood. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- Proof: 105 proof / 52.5% ABV
- Size: 750mL
- Mash bill: 95% rye, 5% malted barley
- Origin: Distilled in Owensboro, Kentucky; aged a minimum of 2 years
- Oak Bill: 40% charred French oak staves, 40% ex-bourbon cask staves, 20% sherry cask staves
- Awards: Gold Medal, 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (rye); 93 points, Tasting Panel, January 2022 (brand copy)
- Producer: Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. (founder Seth Benhaim)
The House Oak Bill, Committed on Rye
Every Broken Barrel whiskey is finished by submerging broken barrel staves in the spirit — both faces of the wood in contact, deepening young whiskey faster than a second barrel can. Heresy takes the stave bill developed for the house bourbon — charred French oak for woody body, spirit-soaked ex-bourbon staves, and sherry cask wood — and commits it on a 95% rye mash at full 105 proof. The brand positions the result as fiery yet balanced, and Whisky Advocate scored it 91 points, describing a crisp, tropical rye (per Wine.com's citation). Brand copy records a Gold Medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and 93 points from Tasting Panel. Browse the range on the Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. vendor page or the rye whiskey shelf.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Grapefruit, pineapple and mango sorbet (Whisky Advocate, via Wine.com). Palate: Jammy cooked fruit and toasted baking spice over the charred French oak's woody body; the ex-bourbon and sherry staves smooth the rye's fire. Finish: Drying, ending in chocolate-covered espresso beans (Whisky Advocate).
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a splash of water at 105 proof. The sherry-and-French-oak finish makes it a distinctive Manhattan or Old Fashioned rye for drinkers who like their spice framed by fruit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Heresy? Because it takes the Oak Bill developed for bourbon — French oak, ex-bourbon and sherry staves — and applies it to a 95% rye whiskey, an untraditional finish for the category.
What is the mash bill? 95% rye and 5% malted barley, distilled in Owensboro, Kentucky, and aged a minimum of two years before the stave finish.
How strong is Heresy Rye? 105 proof (52.5% ABV) — full strength, unlike the softer 88-proof California Oak bourbon.
High-rye heat, three woods deep — get Heresy Rye online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.