Whiskey Review: Bulleit Rye Whiskey

Introduction

We’re back with a pour that helped shape our early days of whiskey tasting: Bulleit 95 Rye Whiskey. Despite its name, this rye is not 95-proof but clocks in at 90 proof. The “95” refers to the mash bill: 95% rye and 5% malted barley, a classic MGP recipe that Bulleit helped popularize.

This bottle is a staple on most whiskey shelves and bars, and for good reason: it’s widely available and priced around $28 in states like Ohio. It doesn’t carry an age statement, but industry chatter puts the youngest whiskey in the blend somewhere around four years. We’ve tried a lot of rye since starting the podcast, and going back to Bulleit feels like stepping into a time machine. This was one of the first rye profiles that trained our palates. The big question now: does it still hold up?

This review is taken from our episode "Cinderella Man (2005) / Bulleit Rye." Click the link to listen to this review in audio format.

Nose

Brad: This is a mint bomb. Maybe the mintiest whiskey I’ve ever smelled. There’s an overpowering toothpaste vibe here, and honestly, I don't have many other notes. It’s mint toothpaste through and through.
Score: 6.5/10

Bob: Yeah, I get that. To me, it smells a little young, almost yeasty, but it’s definitely covered up by that dill and mint. I also get something like pine needles, maybe even a woodsy, herbaceous note. I like the scent, but it does feel like it's covering up for a younger whiskey.
Score: 7/10

Taste

Brad: This tastes really young. It’s super effervescent and kind of disappears quickly. The mint toothpaste note sticks around, and I get a bit of rye spice, but not enough to get excited.
Score: 5.5/10

Bob: I turned on this pretty quickly. It drinks like a one- or two-year whiskey: super grainy and youthful. I’m not enjoying this at all.
Score: 5/10

Finish

Brad: The finish is the same. It gets a little ashy at the end, and that youthful grainy character kind of overwhelms everything else.
Score: 5/10

Bob: I actually think the finish bounces back a bit. That youthful note dissipates and I’m left with a sweet touch, which feels about right for a $20 rye. If I could isolate the finish from the rest of the experience, I’d say it’s pretty on-point.
Score: 7/10

Balance

Brad: I’ll give it a 6/10 here. The flavor is consistent across the pour; it is what it is. I don’t enjoy it much, but it’s balanced.

Bob: Same. 6/10 from me. I’ll say this: we visited Bulleit not long ago, and they did something really cool: let us drink rye straight from the barrel. That was good rye. They also have a 10-year rye that’s solid. But this product just isn’t hitting. It feels like the base model.

Value

Bob: I’m seeing this priced at $28 in Ohio. That’s not bad at all. Still, there are better ryes in this price range: Old Overholt (either 86 or 100 proof), Sazerac Rye, and others. It’s fairly priced, but not the best in its class.
Score: 6/10

Brad: Everything you said is accurate. You can get better ryes for the same or even lower prices.
Score: 5/10

Final Scores

Bob: 31/50
Brad: 28/50
Average: 29.5/50

Conclusion

At a combined 29.5/50, Bulleit 95 Rye falls below our typical recommendation threshold. For reference, 35/50 is where we begin offering a soft recommendation to try it at a bar, maybe even buy a bottle. 40/50 means go get one now. This pour, unfortunately, just doesn’t approach that territory.

If you’re curious and find a pour for $5 or $6 at a bar, it might be worth it for nostalgia or comparison’s sake. But even at a budget-friendly retail price, we don’t see much to write home about here.

For the same price, or even less, you can find more compelling rye whiskeys that bring more complexity and better balance to the glass. Our advice? Reach for something like Sazerac Rye or Old Overholt 100 instead.