The Gospel Straight Rye has to be one of the best-looking rye whiskeys on the market. The bottle, the box, everything about their design is absolutely killer. It has an effortlessly neuvo-vintage aesthetic that fits right at home in modern designs, yet looks like it’s been with us for decades.
Made from un-malted 100% Australian rye grain, this whiskey follows every requirement to be labeled and sold as straight rye here in the USA. Yes, even the label is done right with the correct info plainly typed on its surface. Amazing how a brand from Australia can get the USA labeling laws right on the first shot, but so many craft/NDPs here get it wrong so often. It’s like they read the rules or something.
The Gospel is a great example of how to do craft right from the legal, aesthetic and marketing sides, but we need to talk about the most important thing: how it tastes.
Let’s get to drinkin’!
The Gospel Straight Rye – Details and Tasting Notes
Whiskey Details
Style: Rye (Straight)
Region: Australia
Distiller: The Gospel Whiskey
Mash Bill: 100% Rye
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 2 Years
ABV: 45%
The Gospel Straight Ryes Price: $50*
Related Whiskey
Redemption Rye
Wilderness Trail Rye
A.D. Laws Secale Rye
New Riff Single Barrel Rye
Woodinville Cask Strength Rye
The Gospel Straight Rye Tasting Notes
EYE
Medium caramel
NOSE
Dry-woody, citrus, baking spice, touches of vanilla, cereal grain sweetness and toffee with a light biscuity note.
There is some of that “crafty-woodiness” to the aroma, but it’s far from being the dominating characteristic.
PALATE
Baking spice, vanilla, bergamot, cereal grain sweetness, honey, woody oak and some toffee and herbal notes.
Not bad, in fact, it’s rather nice. The “crafty-woodiness” does rear its head, but it’s not strong or overbearing.
FINISH
Medium -> Baking spice, citrus peel and woody oak fade to more spice.
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Decent balance, medium body and a warm easy feel.
The Gospel Straight Rye – Overall Thoughts and Score
Y’all know I absolutely despise that crafty/woody/sawdusty/cardboardy/tannic note that’s so damn prevalent in American craft whiskey. This does have a bit of that, but that’s the key, it’s a bit. We know this has a lot to do with humidity, that’s why Frey Ranch employs humidifiers, but even so, they kept it from being a total tannic mess and instead delivered a nice sweet spice bomb.
Seriously, the spice just keeps coming on this one, especially on the finish. The Gospel Straight Rye is fun and quirky to drink on its own, I’ve enjoyed several glasses of it neat, but it also works very well in an Old Fashioned. In fact, when making one you can go light on the bitters because this brings almost all the spice you’ll need.
SCORE: 3/5 (above average, worth checking out ~ B- | 80-82)
*Disclosure: The bottle for this rye whiskey review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
The Gospel Rye Review $50
Overall
3.1- Nose (3.5)
- Palate (3)
- Finish (3)
- BBF (3)
