James E. Pepper 1776 Straight Rye Whiskey
James E. Pepper 1776 Straight Rye Whiskey is a 100-proof (50% ABV) straight rye whiskey built on a 95% rye / 5% malted barley mash bill — unfiltered, aged 3–4 years in new charred American oak, and hand-bottled at the historic James E. Pepper Distillery in Lexington, Kentucky. The Pepper family brand dates to 1780 and is the oldest whiskey brand made in Kentucky; the 1776 label was revived in 2012 and has collected major awards since. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 100 proof / 50% ABV
- Size: 750mL
- Mash bill: 95% rye, 5% malted barley (unfiltered)
- Aging: 3–4 years in new charred American oak
- Distillation: Distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana; cut to proof and hand-bottled in Lexington, KY
- Awards: 2019 Double Gold SFWSC · 2021 Gold SFWSC · 91 pts IWSC 2020
The Oldest Whiskey Brand in Kentucky, Bottled at 100 Proof
The Pepper family has been distilling in Kentucky since 1780 — before Kentucky was a state — and Colonel James E. Pepper's "Old 1776" was a Gilded Age legend, the whiskey of presidents, senators, and the barrooms of the Waldorf-Astoria. This modern bottling honors that lineage with a high-rye recipe, distilled in Indiana and finished in the family's revived Lexington distillery using water from its historic limestone well. The result is a rye whiskey that drinks like a bridge between bourbon sweetness and rye spice.
Tasting Notes
The nose opens with rye spice, baked apple, and clove, with vanilla and a whisper of mint. On the palate, bold peppery spice gives way to sweet honey, soft vanilla, and dark chocolate, with dried apricot and brown sugar at the mid-palate. The finish is long and warming, with cinnamon spice, oak, and a peppery tingle that lingers.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a single cube, this is a superb sipper, and the 100-proof backbone makes a commanding Old Fashioned or Manhattan — the whiskey's signature serve. For more historic American ryes, browse the full James E. Pepper collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is James E. Pepper 1776 a straight rye?
Yes — it's a straight rye whiskey with a 95% rye mash bill, aged 3–4 years in new charred oak and bottled unfiltered at 100 proof.
What is the proof of James E. Pepper 1776 rye?
100 proof (50% ABV). It's bottled unfiltered, so the flavor is full and intense.
Where is James E. Pepper whiskey distilled?
The whiskey is distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, then cut to proof and hand-bottled at the historic James E. Pepper Distillery in Lexington, Kentucky, using water from its limestone well.
How old is the James E. Pepper brand?
The Pepper family brand was established in 1780 during the American Revolution, making it the oldest whiskey brand made in Kentucky; the 1776 label was relaunched in 2012.
Order James E. Pepper 1776 Straight Rye Whiskey from Del Mesa Liquor today — in stock and shipping to San Diego, CA.