Whiskey Review: Old Overholt 4-Year Straight Rye Whiskey

For this week's episode of Film & Whiskey, we’re revisiting one of America’s oldest whiskey labels: Old Overholt. This rye whiskey, recently updated to include a four-year age statement and bottled at 86 proof, is an evolution of the brand we last tasted back in 2020. That previous version was 80 proof and blended, with the oldest whiskey being only three years old. Now owned by Suntory as part of the Jim Beam portfolio, Old Overholt has seen multiple refreshes, including bottled-in-bond and 114-proof versions. But today, we’re keeping it simple and reviewing the newly standardized 86-proof, 4-year straight rye.

We picked up a one-liter bottle for about $21 in Kentucky, while a 750ml runs around $20 in Ohio. That makes this one of the most affordable straight ryes on the market. But how does it hold up in the glass?

Nose

Brad: I like the nose on this. It's all sorts of sweet mint, like a sweet mint-flavored gum. There's vanilla frosting on it. It's not overly complex. It doesn't dive into being very spicy the way I would want it to, but it's an overall pleasant nose. I'll give it a 7/10.

Bob: When I was in Korea, I fell in love with these chewy little cakes filled with pineapple. This nose reminds me of those: cakey, bready, and I got five minutes of just uninterrupted pineapple on the nose when I popped my bottle. I never get pineapple on whiskey. I just put down "pineapple cake and pineapple juice all day." It's like a rye made of dessert. 9/10.

Taste

Brad: That sweet mint continues to stick around. It has a nice, simple syrup pleasant sugariness to it. What stood out to me was that it didn't really get spicy. It reminded me of a Lorna Doone shortbread biscuit. Not very complex. I'll come down a bit from the nose: 6.5/10.

Bob: Over the last couple of days, that pineapple note has faded. Now it's more in the minty rye category. Almost no rye grain coming through, which makes me think this might be more of a 51/49 mash bill. It's pleasantly sweet with a spearmint gum thing going on, maybe a hint of fruitiness but not pineapple anymore. 7/10.

Finish

Brad: This is where it finally felt like a rye. The mint turned into a dill-eucalyptus thing. The shortbread stuck around, and the rye spice showed up at the end. As I let it sit, that rye note became more apparent. I'll bump it back up to a 7/10.

Bob: The finish is pretty good. Sweet and fruity with a touch of mint. There’s a little bitterness too. Brad mentioned eucalyptus—I started thinking Vicks VapoRub. There’s a medicinal vibe on the back end. Still, for a $20 whiskey, it has character. 7/10.

Balance

Brad: Not complex, not bad. A lot of nice, pleasant rye flavors that end with the rye spice. 7/10.

Bob: I’m more disappointed than I was a couple of days ago. The nose set me up for tropical fruits that didn’t deliver on the palate or finish. But overall, it’s balanced enough. 7.5/10.

Value

Bob: We usually judge value by what we can get in Ohio. If the 750ml really is $20, I’d give it an 8/10. The one-liter bottle we got in Kentucky for $21—even better. It’s not the world’s greatest budget whiskey, but it’s a darn good mixer rye that you can also drink neat.

Brad: Right there with you. $20, good flavors, works for neat pours or cocktails. 8/10.

Final Scores

Brad: I'm coming out to a 35.5/50.

Bob: I'm at 38.5/50. So on average, we’re sitting at 37/50.

Conclusion

Old Overholt 4-Year Straight Rye Whiskey is an affordable, flavorful pour that delivers more than its price point might suggest. With bright notes of mint, hints of fruit, and a shortbread-like base, this budget rye manages to stay interesting without overwhelming complexity. Our average score of 37/50 places it above our recommendation threshold of 35, meaning it’s a solid choice to try at a bar or even grab a bottle for your home shelf. While it might not blow you away, it certainly won’t disappoint—and for under $25, that’s worth celebrating.

Two thumbs up from the Film & Whiskey crew.