Sorry for the poor quality of this photo, but it was taken in a bar with very low lighting. As you can see this is a bottle of A.H. Hirsch Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. It is 93 proof and aged 22 years in Oak. I had a sample of this on a recent trip to Portland. I have said in a previous post how important it is to get to know your bar tender and be nice and engaging with them, and this is a direct result of my efforts at the Urban Farmer in Portland Oregon.
I had talked with Phillipe the bartender and told him I had a blog and would be ordering a couple beers and some whiskey that I couldn’t get in Idaho. He immediately took an interest, because there was someone sitting at his bar that knew as much about alcohol as he did, and we had a camaraderie that transcended the typical patron/tender relationship. As I sat at the bar, he began coming down to my end over and over just talking brews and whiskeys. Then he brought down this bottle and a glencarin (Special Bourbon glass) and poured me about a 1/2 shot sample of this. There was no way I was buying this because it was $36 a shot! Later I looked it up on the internet and the cheapest I can find it is for $120 a fifth. I am trying to figure out how to get one!
Simply put this was Awesome Stuff! It had caramel and a little peat on the nose almost like a good single malt scotch. It was spicy, and sweet, and complex with a great finish. This is really great. I was actually a little apprehensive to try this because the Old Overholt I reviewed earlier was so bad it kind of tainted my impression of rye. No more!
This isn’t a full review, because I just had a small sample, but I know from that taste that my Rye Times are just beginning.
-Don
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
I guess that is one way to untaint your rye experience, hit the big guns!
And remember Boys and Girls, the bartender is your friend.
That is truly good advice Peter! The Bartender is your friend, and tip accordingly! Big guns indeed. I have to hide $120 so I can make a purchase! 😉
Yeah, I guess this does prove that you should get to know your bartender. Might be more relevant for whiskey drinkers in most places, but couldn’t hurt beer guys, either.
Actually, beer guys should get to know their RETAILERS well. I have had great luck getting my hands on free stuff and out-of-state imports by taking the time to have an intelligent beer chat with the local beer store owner.
Point is, there are beer and whiskey fans everywhere – the more you connect, the more you enjoy!
Well said.
Did You ever have Michters Rye? Not as high enas the rye you mentioned very drinkable??
$120cost a bottle I would retail that foe around $22 per shot$36.Someone is making a killing
Yeah, It was kind of a high end bar in a Downtown Portland Hotel. I think you are covering a lot of overhead in the price. I figure most places want to recover the cost of the bottle in 3 to 5 drinks. That would definitely do it. I have never had Michters Rye. I’ll look for it, but I live in Idaho which is a control state and a very restrictive control state at that. So I might not be able to get it without going out of state.
-Don