Whiskey Shots: A Review of Brookside Reserve Straight Rye

As a whiskey enthusiast, I always look forward to exploring new offerings from distilleries I like. Brookside Reserve Straight Rye is a product from Ross & Squibb, the same distillery behind Seven Sons Straight Rye, which I had the pleasure of reviewing last month. If you're curious about that experience, you can find the review here.

Here are my thoughts on the Brookside.

🥃90 Proof

🥃Age: Aged at least 24 Months

🥃Origin: Distilled and aged in Indiana

🥃Mashbill: Unknown

🥃Purchased for $18 at our local Tital Wine

🥃Tasted in a Copita Whiskey Tasting glass

Appearance

Brookside Reserve greets the eye with a very pale brown hue, its thin and runny legs swirling in the glass suggest a lighter body, setting the stage for what’s to come.

Nose

The nose on this rye is a bit elusive and requires some patience. Initially, I found it weak and difficult to pin down. After a bit of coaxing, faint notes of anise and brown sugar began to emerge, though they remained quite subtle. Just as I was about to move on, a fleeting whiff of dill added a touch of unexpected complexity.

Palate

True to the visual hints, the palate is quite thin and light. The flavors are dominated by ethanol, with no single note taking a strong lead. Anise makes the most significant impression, albeit a modest one, accompanied by whispers of caramel and subdued black pepper. The overall experience is delicate, perhaps too much so for my taste.

Finish

The finish is short and peppery, leaving a brief but noticeable tingle before fading away. It’s a conclusion that mirrors the rest of the whiskey—there and gone too quickly.

---

Considering the price point of Brookside Reserve Straight Rye, I can’t be too disappointed. It’s an affordable option, but it doesn’t deliver much in terms of robust flavor. It feels like a rye that needed more time in the barrel to develop the complexity I typically seek. When I'm in the mood for a Ross & Squibb rye, I'll be reaching for their Seven Sons Straight Rye, which offered a more satisfying experience.

I’d give Brookside Reserve Straight Rye a 2 out of 5 ⭐️s. While it has some nuances, it ultimately lacks the depth and character that make for a memorable rye whiskey. It might be worth a try if you're exploring different expressions or as a low cost mixer, but for a more fulfilling rye experience, I'd recommend looking elsewhere.

Keep sippin’, my friends!🥃