Grand Traverse Ole George Double Barrel Rye adds aromatic smoke and caramel to the distillery’s already matured Ole George whiskey. The producer describes stronger oak sweetness and a smooth finish after the second barrel stage. This is a rye to consider when you want the oak treatment to be central to the tasting, rather than an added flavor such as maple or cherry.
Begin with a small neat pour and let it rest briefly in the glass before returning to the aroma. Compare a second pour with a few drops of water, or try a large cube for slower dilution. Plain toasted nuts are a pairing to test beside the oak; keep an unpaired sip to compare the caramel and smoke.
How it’s made: In Michigan, Ole George ages four years in new American white oak before this expression receives another eighteen months in French oak. Double Barrel is bottled at 50% ABV.
