Corbin Cash Merced Rye Whiskey
Corbin Cash Merced Rye Whiskey is a 45% ABV (90 proof) straight-style rye whiskey in a 750mL bottle, distilled entirely from heirloom Merced rye grown on the Souza family's fourth-generation farm in California's San Joaquin Valley and aged up to 6 years in custom-charred American white oak — a true grain-to-glass California rye available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 45% (90 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Grain bill: 100% Merced rye — a rare California-native heirloom rye the Souza family has planted since 1917 as a winter cover crop between sweet potato harvests
- Origin: Atwater, California — grown, harvested, fermented, and distilled on the family farm
- Aging: up to 6 years in custom-charred American white oak (no age statement)
- Distillery: Corbin Cash Distillery, founded by fourth-generation sweet potato farmer David Souza; named for his son, Corbin Cash Souza
- Awards (related release): the 1917 Barrel Proof bottling scored 93 points from VinePair (2022) — do not attribute to the standard 90-proof bottling
A Rye Rooted in the San Joaquin Valley
Corbin Cash is farm whiskey in the truest sense: the rye is grown on D&S Farms in the San Joaquin Valley, where the Souza family has farmed sweet potatoes for over a century. Between plantings they sow Merced rye — a drought-tolerant California heirloom rye whose roots drive some 13 feet deep, pulling nitrogen back into the soil. That cover crop became the grain bill of a genuine California rye whiskey: harvested, fermented, and distilled on the family farm in Atwater, then rested up to six years in custom-charred American white oak from Missouri. The result is a rye with a genuine sense of place — bold and spicy, yet rounded by years in oak. Discover more California craft in our whisky collection and the full Corbin Cash farm-to-bottle lineup.
Tasting Notes
The distillery describes it as a "bold, robust bite, full of character," and the glass agrees: classic rye-bread spice and rye grain lead, layered over an underlying syrupy sweetness with a silky mouthfeel. Expect butterscotch, vanilla, and dark chocolate notes from the oak, hints of stone fruit, and a long, smooth finish where the spice finally settles. (Note: most published third-party tasting notes are for the 123-proof 1917 Barrel Proof release; the standard 90-proof bottling shows the same character at a more easygoing proof.)
How to Enjoy
Pour it neat or over a single large cube to let the rye spice and oak sweetness open up. At 90 proof it is a natural cocktail whiskey: build a rye Old Fashioned or a Sazerac, or try a Manhattan where its dark chocolate and stone-fruit notes play off sweet vermouth. Pair with sharp cheddar, cured meats, or dark chocolate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Merced rye?
Merced rye is a California-native heirloom rye the Souza family has planted since 1917 as a winter cover crop between sweet potato harvests. It is the sole grain in this whiskey — a 100% Merced rye mash bill.
Is Corbin Cash Merced Rye really farm-grown?
Yes. The rye is grown, harvested, fermented, and distilled on the Souza family's century-old farm in Atwater, California — a genuine grain-to-glass whiskey.
How long is it aged?
Up to 6 years in custom-charred American white oak. It carries no age statement.
Is this the same as the 1917 Barrel Proof?
No. This is the standard 90-proof (45% ABV) bottling. Del Mesa also carries the limited 1917 Barrel Proof release at 61.5% ABV (123 proof) — the two are distinct SKUs.
Farm-grown, oak-rested, and bottled in California's farm country — order Corbin Cash Merced Rye Whiskey online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.