History in a Bottle: Leopold Bros, beautiful rendition of the long lost Maryland style Rye.

Leopold Bros. is an independent family owned distillery in Denver Colorado. These guys preform every step of production on-site…every single step. From the floor malt, mill, and mash to the distillation, ageing and bottling. Needless to say, these folks are the hands on type. They also have the largest floor malting facility in the US where they malt their barley.

Leopold’s Spirits are small batch, made from scratch, with all natural ingredients and eco-brewing techniques. They received the ‘Distillery of the Year’ award in 2015, from the American Distilling Institute.

In the Whiskey World there are two classifications of Pre-Prohibition American Rye. one is Pennsylvania Rye, a traditionally spicy, oaky, dry Whiskey. The other is Maryland Rye, which unlike its spicy friend, is rather fruity and floral. For their Maryland Rye Whiskey, Leopold hand selects a variety of yeast strains, creating a very distinct taste profile.

Maryland Rye hasn’t been made in the U.S. for decades, so its a pretty big deal for Leopold. Traditionally barreled at 98 proof, they stick to the rules when it comes to this classic drink. Harbouring woody Rye notes on the nose, and flavors of vanilla, sugar, citrus, pine, with cocoa and clove notes on the palate. The finish rounded with rye, vanilla, chocolate, and wood notes.