Distillery: MGP—Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Proof: 100.0 (50.0% ABV)
Age: Seven Years
Mashbill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
MSRP: $70
More Than the Mashbill
Doc Swinson’s Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey, with a mashbill that leans heavily into rye at 95%, expectations would naturally tilt toward sharp spice, dryness, and intensity. What further sets this release apart is the age. While Bottled-in-Bond requires a minimum of four years, this rye carries a seven-year age statement, additional time that clearly influences how the whiskey behaves in the glass.
What makes this rye stand out is how confidently it defies expectation. Rather than leaning aggressively into spice, the whiskey opens with sweetness and is composed rather than in your face. The extra years in the barrel appear to have done some meaningful work, rounding the rye’s sharp edges and providing for the proof to lift flavor rather than simply amplifying the heat. The result is a rye that feels much more quality than its mashbill alone would suggest.
Whiskeys like this are a reminder that mashbill tells us where rye begins, not where it ends.
Doc Swinson’s Bottled in Bond (Spring 2016) Straight Rye Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes
Nose – 4.5/5
Cotton candy sweetness. Candied sugar. Light rye grain.
Strengths: The Nose is strikingly playful for a whiskey this heavy on the rye component. There’s a spun-sugar whimsical sweetness. It’s inviting, expressive, and immediately distinctive. Does not feel artificial.
Why It’s Not Higher: While engaging, the Nose leans sweeter than depth. A touch more herbal or grain-driven complexity would elevate the Nose.
Rating Justification: A memorable and rather unexpected Nose sets this rye apart early. Challenges any preconceived notions of what a high-rye mashbill might be like.
Palate – 4.7/5
Candied orange peel. Sweet mint (wintergreen). Dry rye.
Strengths: The Palate is where everything comes together. Sweet citrus leads, followed by wintergreen mint and a dry rye structure underneath. The 100 proof feels ideally determined by enhancing clarity of flavors without introducing heat. Flavor definition remains strong throughout.
Why It’s Not Higher: The profile stays composed and doesn’t build to a crescendo or big bang. Those looking for aggressive rye spice may want more bite.
Rating Justification: A beautifully balanced Palate that showcases the whiskey’s maturity which is especially impressive given the mashbill.
Finish – 4.6/5
Long. Dry oak. Faint citrus-sour note.
Strengths: Lengthy Finish. Dries gradually without going biter. The slight sour note reads more like citrus peel than oak tannin.
Why It’s Not Higher: The sour edge lingers just a touch longer than ideal.
Rating Justification: A confident, extended Finish. Reinforces the whiskey’s maturity. Stays true to the overall theme and doesn’t stray off course.
Value – 4.5/5
At $70, Doc Swinson’s Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey delivers on a strong age statement and a demanding mashbill. Seven years in barrel under Bottled-in-Bond standards is uncommon in this category. That additional time shows up in how controlled and composed the whiskey feels at its 100-proof point.
For enthusiasts seeking a high-rye expression that prioritizes balance over bite, this bottle is a strong value. It rewards attention to finding the flavors and drinks comfortably for a wide range of experienced drinkers.
Doc Swinson’s Bottled in Bond (Spring 2016) Straight Rye Whiskey Review: The Verdict
Doc Swinson’s Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey is a standout example of patience paying off. With a mashbill that suggests sharp intensity, the whiskey instead delivers balance and sweetness as well as composure. It’s proof that time and patience can reshape rye whiskey in ways that are compelling and don’t feel contrived or gimmickry.
This is not a rye that earns its score through clarity and maturity. For experienced rye drinkers willing to look past the assumptions of the mashbill, this bottle offers both enjoyment and insight—a whiskey that doesn’t merely survive its mashbill, but rises above it. Shop now.
Verdict – 4.6/5
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 4.5 – 5
- Gold – 4 – 4.5
- Silver – 3 – 4
- Bronze – <3
Mike Long is a staff writer at Bourbon Inspector and has an Executive Bourbon Steward designation from the Stave and Thief Society. He’s a former “wine guy” who discovered his love for bourbon years back at a spur-of-the-moment bourbon tasting he attended. He also loves traveling throughout America with his wife of over 37 years, Debby.