Pikesville 6 years

About the Pikesville 6 years

Pikesville 6 years is a straight rye whisky from the United States, distilled and matured by Pikesville in Kentucky. This is one of American whisky's great survival stories. Pikesville first appeared in Maryland in the 1890s, born in a small distillery near Baltimore. Prohibition wiped out nearly the entire Maryland rye industry. Pikesville alone kept the name alive. It eventually became the last Maryland rye standing before production later moved south. Heaven Hill acquired the brand and now produces Pikesville 6 years at its Kentucky distillery. The whisky rests in extra-aged barrels chosen from prime warehouse spots. Six years in oak gives it real depth without losing its edge. It comes to bottle at a robust 55% ABV, well above standard strength. That extra proof carries the rye spice further and keeps the finish long. Fans of bold, high-proof rye whisky tend to seek this one out. Pour Pikesville 6 years neat and the nose opens with oak, cinnamon, and a touch of clove. Rye spice sits right up front, backed by chocolate and orange peel. Vanilla and tannic wood notes build underneath, a sign of real time in the barrel. Fresh fruit and a faint floral note add lift. Then the medicinal, camphor edge that classic Maryland rye is known for reappears. Meatycereal grain character grounds the whole glass. The finish leans woody and warmly spiced, with sweet vanilla trailing the last of the clove. It is a rye whisky built for sipping slowly, not for mixing into anything else. Pikesville 6 years rewards patience. Each glass shows why Pikesville earned its reputation long before Heaven Hill revived it. This bottling is a genuine piece of pre-Prohibition American rye history. It has been distilled and proofed for today's palate.