Wildwood Spirits Rendition Rye at 45% ABV, 90 proof; Indiana-sourced Rye whiskey bot — at $65, the question is whether it delivers on its promise. I sat down with a pour to find out.
Nose
The whiskey is pungent with acetone at the forefront. You have to force your nose to delve deeper and push on to discover the unique bouquet. Right underneath the acetone is freshly peeled Granny Smith apple. The brightness then becomes warmer and more subtle as almond extract washes over. Afterward, a touch of maraschino liqueur comes through with orange blossom water. The whiskey comes off as an undiluted cocktail despite the harshness of the acetone at the beginning. The notes that make the 5-year-old Rendition Straight Rye Whiskey feel like a cocktail in a bottle bave the advantage here. It makes a wonderful old fashioned, especially with a splash of soda, but on its own, it feels like drinking a bottle of almond extract from the pantry. I was just happy that the acetone from the nose wasnt as present on the palate.rnrnOverall, Liedholm did pick a swell barrel based on his sommelier skills, and I love the pepper that comes through from it in a highball, but for the price, I wanted better.
Palate
Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by Whiskeyful or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
The Bottom Line
Wildwood Spirits Rendition Rye is a perfectly respectable whiskey that does what it sets out to do. At $65, the value is reasonable — it will not blow your mind, but it will not disappoint you either. A reliable choice.
