Yellow Rose Rye Whiskey
Yellow Rose Rye Whiskey is a 90-proof (45% ABV) straight rye whiskey with a 95% rye / 5% barley mash bill, sourced from MGP Distillery of Indiana and hand-selected, blended, and bottled in Texas by Yellow Rose Distilling of Houston — Houston's first legal whiskey distillery, founded in 2010. The producer's own note: "Mild vanilla and pine with hint of brown sugar" on the nose, "slightly sweet, spearmint with mild pepper and maple" on the palate, and a "medium finish with less pepper than other rye whiskeys." It is a small-batch, limited-production whiskey the distillery calls "a true American classic perfect for fine cocktails." 96 points and Top 100 Spirits at the 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge; 87 points from Whisky Advocate (Fall 2013). It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 45% (90 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Mash bill: 95% rye / 5% barley (MGP Indiana); straight rye, no coloring or flavoring
- Age: blend of straight rye whiskeys — components at least two years old, most four (per sources)
- Producer: Yellow Rose Distilling, Houston, Texas (bottled in Texas; Zamora Company equity stake since 2017)
- Awards: 96 pts, Top 100 Spirits — USC 2020; 87 pts — Whisky Advocate, Fall 2013
Houston's Rye, Indiana's Mash Bill
Yellow Rose was Houston's first legal whiskey distillery, and its rye is a Texas story with an Indiana accent: the 95%-rye mash bill comes from MGP, but the selecting, blending, and bottling happen in Houston, where the whiskey is finished Texas-style. The result is a rye the producer pitches as pre-Prohibition in spirit — vanilla, pine, brown sugar, spearmint, maple — with less pepper than the rye-whiskey stereotype. Compare it with the rest of our rye whiskey collection and the full Yellow Rose line.
Tasting Notes
Nose: mild vanilla and pine, hint of brown sugar. Palate: slightly sweet — spearmint, mild pepper, maple. Finish: medium, less peppery than most ryes.
How to Enjoy
A natural for a rye Manhattan or Sazerac — the spearmint-maple profile loves bitters. Neat works too; browse more cocktail ryes in our cocktail-ready spirits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yellow Rose Rye a straight rye?
Yes — labeled and sold as straight rye whiskey: 95% rye / 5% barley, no coloring or flavoring.
Where is it made?
The whiskey is sourced from MGP Distillery in Indiana and hand-selected, blended, and bottled by Yellow Rose Distilling in Houston, Texas.
What awards has it won?
96 points and Top 100 Spirits at the 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, and 87 points from Whisky Advocate (Fall 2013).
Houston's rye, 95% of it — order Yellow Rose Rye Whiskey online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.