King’s Family Distillery Ryeconic Twice Barreled Straight Rye – Honey Cask Finish Review

Distillery: Long Island Spirits—Long Island, NY

Proof: 90.0 (45.0% ABV)

Age: Not Less Than Four Years

Mashbill: 60% Corn, 33% Winter Rye, 7% Malted Barley

MSRP: Undisclosed. Online price ranges from $29 to $49

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A High-Proof Rye with a Twist of Tennessee Honey Finishing

King’s Family Distillery is not a household name among whiskey enthusiasts, but their growing lineup of bold, innovative releases caught my eye. Their signature approach to layering maturation deepened my interest.

Located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, the distillery was founded in 2018 by husband-and-wife team Justin and Cara King. Both bring deep industry ties to the table—Cara comes from a family of grain producers with long-standing relationships in the distilling world, and Justin has roots that trace back to both legal and less-than-legal whiskey traditions in the region.

Their Ryeconic Twice Barreled Straight Rye Whiskey particularly grabbed my attention. This release begins with a familiar ho-hum base: 95% rye, 5% malted barley mashbill sourced from Ross & Squibb Distillery (aka MGP) in Indiana.  But the ho-hum stops when you discover the Secondary Finishing. 

After four years of aging in new American oak, the whiskey is re-barreled into grooved oak barrels for another two years and three months, then finally finished in casks previously used to age East Tennessee honey. The total time in oak is a significant seven years and three months.

King’s Family Distillery Ryeconic Twice Barreled Straight Rye – Honey Cask Finish Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 4.25/5

The nose opens with herbal, spearmint, light oak char, and a touch of orange zest. There’s an underlying sweetness—think honey black tea. Faint notes of dried herbs and lemon zest balance out the sweeter tones.

Palate – 4.5/5

At 109.3 proof, the sip begins with an oily mouthfeel that delivers orange peel, toasted bread, and a burst of rye spice. Mid-Palate reveals a bit of tea bitterness, a touch of cinnamon honey, and charred oak. The Secondary Finish seems to amplify the spice without making the whiskey too dry or tannic that came come about during the secondary oaking.

Finish – 4/5

The Finish is medium-long and rides out on spearmint, toasted oak, and a lingering trace of sweet baking spice. While the honey note isn’t dominant, it leaves a warm sweetness that settles nicely during the fade.

Value – 4.5/5

At $91 price point, this would be a retail upper-shelf rye—with its seven-year age statement and Secondary Finish, the potential for Value is significant.  Couple that with the layered maturation process that delivers great complexity, and the honey cask finish that is not a gimmick, this is a high quality expression.

For rye enthusiasts who enjoy high-proof whiskey with a unique twist, this bottle offers craftsmanship and character at a high price point.  I feel certain that enthusiasts who have never heard of King’s Family Distillery will have a difficult time pulling the trigger on this expression.  But I recommend you don’t sleep on it.  While the price point is well up there, the Value is there.

King’s Family Distillery Ryeconic Twice Barreled Straight Rye – Honey Cask Finish Review: The Verdict

King’s Family Distillery’s Ryeconic Twice Barreled Straight Rye is more than just a clever name—it’s a well-constructed whiskey. From the MGP rye backbone to the grooved oak re-barreling, to the final polish in honey-soaked casks, this pour strikes an engaging balance of bold rye spice and subtle Tennessee sweetness.

It’s a high-proof sipper that doesn’t scream out for dilution, although a splash of water will tease out a little more of the honeyed fruit and herbal brightness.

Verdict – 4.2/5

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