Whip Saw Rye Whiskey
Whip Saw Rye Whiskey is a 45% ABV (90 proof) American rye whiskey in a 750mL bottle — a blend of whiskeys aged up to seven years, built on a high-rye mashbill of 76% rye, 21% corn and 3% malted barley, and finished in seasoned French oak wine barrels. This is the Splinter Group Spirits project from Napa Valley, California, assembled by winemakers Steve Matthiasson and Bob Cabral: the finishing barrels previously held Matthiasson cabernet sauvignon and William Selyem pinot noir, two of California's most respected wines, lending dark-fruit complexity and tannic structure rarely found in standard rye. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 45% (90 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Mashbill: 76% rye, 21% corn, 3% malted barley
- Aging: whiskeys up to 7 years old, finished in seasoned French oak wine barrels
- Finishing barrels: ex-Matthiasson cabernet sauvignon and ex-William Selyem pinot noir
- Producer: Splinter Group Spirits, Napa Valley, California (Steve Matthiasson and Bob Cabral)
- Awards: 90 points, Wine Enthusiast
A Winemaker's Rye
Most ryes finish in barrels; Whip Saw finishes in wine barrels chosen by two of Napa's best winemakers, and the difference is immediate. The high-rye spice and herbal bite are all there, but they ride on dark fruit and tannic polish from the Matthiasson cabernet and William Selyem pinot noir casks — vanilla crème brûlée and gingerbread on the nose, butterscotch and toffee opening the palate, then apricot, orange zest and baking spices over a thread of dark fruit. It earned 90 points from Wine Enthusiast, and it bridges American whiskey tradition and California winemaking craft like almost nothing else. Browse rye whiskey, bourbon and more from Whip Saw at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting Notes
Nose: vanilla crème brûlée, gingerbread, spiced candied fruitcake, bergamot, a hint of black truffle. Palate: silky and sweet — butterscotch, toffee and caramel, then apricot, orange zest, layered baking spices and ginger. Finish: lingering spice, charred oak, cracked pepper, a thread of dark fruit.
How to Enjoy
Neat for the full wine-cask effect, or over a single cube. It is also built for cocktails: the fruit and spice make it a remarkable Sazerac or an Old Fashioned with unusual depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Whip Saw Rye different? It is assembled by two Napa winemakers and finished in French oak barrels that previously held Matthiasson cabernet sauvignon and William Selyem pinot noir — dark fruit and tannin rarely found in rye.
How old is the whiskey? A blend of whiskeys aged up to seven years on a 76% rye mashbill.
How strong is it? 90 proof (45% ABV), 750mL.
Wine country meets whiskey country — order Whip Saw Rye Whiskey online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.