Spirits | United States | Matchbook Distilling | Metamodernity Cherry Wood Rye
NOTES
From Leslie -
Metamodernity Cherry wood is a Single Malt Empire Rye made from malted danko rye that is smoked with cherry wood in the drying process. This delicate process is done by Valley Malt in Hadley Massachusetts with danko rye grown by Thor Oeschner in the Finger Lakes.
When the malt arrived to Matchbook, we milled it, mashed it, fermented it, double pot distilled it and barrel aged it. While it was aging, a local arborist offered us some air dried cherry wood. Stephen got to work on it - milling it and shaping it -- into a gorgeous, warm, pink pair of barrel heads. He then nestled them into a deconstructed barrel. It was filled with the cherry wood smoked single malt where it rested for an additional month.
Empire Rye is a new designation / appelation -- the requirements call for 75%+ NY Grain, a 75%+ NY grown rye with 25% other grain. Distilled to no more than 160 proof and aged for a minimum 2 years in charred new oak. The whiskey must be mashed, fermented, distilled barreled and aged at a single NY distillery. We're honored to join this new tradition with our first release of an Empire Rye, Metamodernity Cherry Wood.