MB Roland Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
MB Roland Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey is a high-rye straight rye (750mL) pot-distilled at MB Roland Distillery in Pembroke, Kentucky, from a 68% rye / 27% white corn / 5% malted barley mash bill — bottled uncut and unfiltered at still and barrel proof in the pre-Prohibition style, with each batch individually proofed (51–55% ABV), hand-labeled, and numbered. The 27% local white corn is a deliberate choice: it rounds out rye’s spice for a fuller, butterier mouthfeel. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 51–55% (102–110 proof), individually proofed per batch — 750mL
- Mash bill: 68% rye / 27% white corn / 5% malted barley, pot-distilled
- Aging: straight rye aged in new, charred American oak (batches run 2–5 yr)
- Origin: MB Roland Distillery, Pembroke, Kentucky — grain from Christian County
- Style: pre-Prohibition — entered at distillation proof, bottled uncut and unfiltered
A Pre-Prohibition Rye with a Corn-Softened Heart
Most high-rye recipes lean on intensity; MB Roland leans on craft. The 68% rye is pot-distilled the slow way, then the local white corn — the same Christian County corn behind the distillery’s famous corn whiskey — does quiet work in the background, softening the peppery edges into brown sugar and baking spice. It is the same barrel-proof, unfiltered, individually-proofed discipline as the rest of the line, from Kentucky’s first fully grain-to-glass craft distillery. See more from MB Roland or browse rye whiskey.
Tasting Notes
Full-bodied at barrel proof. Notes of mint, pepper, baking spices, and brown sugar on the palate, with the rye spice carried on a rounder, buttery texture than a straight high-rye usually delivers (per the distillery’s product-sheet notes).
How to Enjoy
Neat with a few drops of water to open it up, or over a large cube. This is a Manhattan-grade rye — its corn-rounded spice holds up beautifully against sweet vermouth — and it makes a Sazerac with genuine backbone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What proof is MB Roland rye whiskey?
Batches are individually proofed at 51–55% ABV (102–110 proof); your bottle’s hand-written label carries the exact figure.
Why is there corn in a rye whiskey?
The 27% local white corn is deliberate — it mellows the rye spice and gives the whiskey a rounder, buttery mouthfeel, a house signature from the Tomaszewskis.
Is this like old-style rye?
Yes — it is built in a pre-Prohibition style: pot-distilled, entered into barrels at distillation proof, and bottled uncut and unfiltered.
High-rye, barrel-proof, bottled the old way — order MB Roland Straight Rye online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.