Old Pepper Single Barrel Rye Whiskey
Old Pepper Single Barrel Rye Whiskey is a 750mL barrel-proof straight rye from the historic James E. Pepper Distillery — "Old No. 5" — in Lexington, Kentucky. Each barrel is bottled uncut at its natural strength, so the proof varies from barrel to barrel (the bottle's strip label states the exact figure). Built on a high-rye mash bill and aged four years in new toasted and charred Kentucky oak, it is finished and hand-bottled at the Lexington distillery using water from its historic limestone well. The single-barrel line earned a Double Gold at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and 93 points from the Beverage Testing Institute. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: barrel proof — varies by barrel; stated on the bottle's strip label
- Size: 750mL
- Mash bill: 95% rye / 5% malted barley ("Pure Rye" style)
- Aging: 4 years in new toasted and charred Kentucky oak
- Distillery: James E. Pepper Distillery (DSP-KY-5), Lexington, Kentucky — brand founded 1780, distilling resumed on-site 2017
- Awards: Double Gold, 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; 93 pts, Beverage Testing Institute (single-barrel line)
Lexington's Rye, Rebuilt
The Pepper family brand is the oldest whiskey brand made in Kentucky — founded during the American Revolution, shuttered in 1958, and rebuilt over a decade of research by Amir Peay, who restored the distillery's buildings and mechanical systems to how they ran in 1934. Colonel James E. Pepper himself made the Old Fashioned famous, invented the bottle strip stamp that became the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, and sold whiskey to Presidents Andrew Jackson and Ulysses S. Grant. Browse more rye whiskey or the Old Pepper range at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Fresh herbs — dill and mint — with anise, baking spice, and butterscotch (reviewer notes).
Palate: Bold rye spice and clove up front, deepening into cocoa, leather, vanilla toffee, and the house signature of chocolate peppermint and wildflower honey.
Finish: Long and spicy, with oak zest and lingering peppermint.
How to Enjoy
At barrel proof, start neat and add water a few drops at a time to find your sweet spot — the chocolate-mint character opens beautifully. It also builds a serious Manhattan or Old Fashioned.
Frequently Asked Questions
What proof is Old Pepper Single Barrel Rye?
It is bottled uncut at barrel proof, so the proof differs by barrel — check the strip label on the bottle.
What is the mash bill?
95% rye and 5% malted barley, in the "Pure Rye" style Colonel Pepper produced.
Where is it made?
Finished and bottled at the historic James E. Pepper Distillery (DSP-KY-5) in Lexington, Kentucky.
What awards has it won?
The single-barrel line took Double Gold at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and 93 points from the Beverage Testing Institute.
Barrel-proof Kentucky rye with a 240-year pedigree — Old Pepper Single Barrel is ready to order from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.