Pinhook Vertical Series Tiz Rye Time 6 Year Old Rye Whiskey
Pinhook Vertical Series Tiz Rye Time 6 Year Old Rye Whiskey is a 54% ABV (108 proof) unfiltered straight rye whiskey in a 750mL bottle — a 95% rye / 5% malted barley mash aged six years in new charred American oak, the third release of Pinhook's nine-year Vertical Series, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 54% (108 proof) — bottled unfiltered, proof set per vintage for balance
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 6 years — the Vertical Series follows one group of ~450 MGP rye barrels from 4 to 12 years, blending ~50 barrels each spring
- Mash bill: 95% rye / 5% malted barley
- Origin: Kentucky — MGP-sourced rye distillate aged and blended at Castle & Key in Frankfort, Kentucky (Pinhook's distilling partner since 2017); Pinhook founded by Sean Josephs (est. 2014)
- Brand: every Pinhook release is named for a Bourbon Lane Stable thoroughbred — "Tiz Rye Time" (16.1 hands)
Follow One Rye Across Nine Years
Pinhook's Vertical Series is a genuinely unusual idea: instead of a fixed flavor profile, the brand follows one group of 450 MGP rye barrels as they age from four to twelve years, blending about 50 barrels each spring and setting the proof to maximize balance at that age. Tiz Rye Time is the six-year chapter — unfiltered, at 108 proof, a 95% rye mash bill, hand-waxed in the Vertical Series rye line's signature silver wax. Each release is named for a thoroughbred from Bourbon Lane Stable, and founder Sean Josephs (of NYC's Char No. 4 and Maysville) built the brand on limited availability and Kentucky horse-racing heritage. Browse more rye, explore Pinhook, or compare other whisky releases.
Tasting Notes
The brand's notes for this vintage: juniper, dried apricot, cardamom, and ginger cookie dough on the nose, moving to a rich palate of eucalyptus, chocolate, clove, and toasted pecans. Retailer notes add tangerine zest and cinnamon on the nose with dried apricot, molasses, toasted cedar, and clove on the palate.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a Glencairn — at 108 proof unfiltered, a few drops of water open the apricot and chocolate notes. It is a contemplative vintage, not a mixing rye, though it would anchor a serious Manhattan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pinhook Vertical Series?
A nine-release project following one group of MGP rye barrels from age 4 to age 12 — a new blend is released each year so drinkers can taste the same whiskey's arc across vintages. Tiz Rye Time is the 6-year release.
Is it really 108 proof?
Yes — 54% ABV, bottled unfiltered. Pinhook sets the proof each year for balance rather than bottling at a fixed strength.
Who is behind Pinhook?
Founder Sean Josephs, from the NYC culinary world (Char No. 4, Maysville) — the brand is tied to Kentucky horse racing, with each release named for a Bourbon Lane Stable thoroughbred.
Year six of a nine-year rye experiment — order Pinhook Tiz Rye Time online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.