October’s Whisky Journey: Three American Whiskies, Three Very Different Stories
When most people think of American whiskey, a few familiar names probably spring to mind. Bourbon, Tennessee whiskey, perhaps a classic rye or two. American whiskey is a much bigger world than the bottles you usually find lining the supermarket shelves.
This month, we’re heading across the Atlantic for three very different American whiskies: an eight-year-old Tennessee bourbon, a Tennessee straight rye inspired by the King of Rock & Roll, and an American single malt from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
Three whiskies. Three styles. Three very different approaches to making whiskey.
And if you’re interested in understanding why whiskies can taste so different from one another, this is a pretty good place to start.
What’s in the October Whisky Tasting Set?
James Cree’s 8 Year Old Cattle Ranch Whiskey – a 40% ABV Tennessee bourbon with eight years of maturation.
Elvis Whiskey The King Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey – a 45% ABV rye whiskey created by Grain & Barrel Spirits in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Blue Ridge Toasted Barrel Finish from Virginia Distillery Co. – a 46.5% ABV American single malt made from 100% malted barley and finished in toasted virgin oak.
The interesting part isn't simply that they're all American.
It’s that they show just how broad the American whiskey category has become.
James Cree’s 8 Year Old Cattle Ranch Whiskey
Let’s start with the oldest whisky in the box. At eight years old and bottled at 40% ABV, James Cree’s Cattle Ranch is a Tennessee bourbon with a surprisingly interesting story behind the name.
The whiskey is made from a mash bill of 80% corn, 10% rye and 10% malted barley. Like other Tennessee whiskeys associated with the state's traditional production methods, it undergoes the Lincoln County Process, where the new make spirit is filtered through sugar maple charcoal before going into oak. It is then matured in new American oak barrels, giving the whiskey plenty of opportunity to pick up the flavours we associate with American bourbon: vanilla, caramel, toasted oak and baking spices.
Who was James Cree?
The James Cree name isn't simply a fictional cowboy invented to make the bottle look suitably American. The brand takes its inspiration from James E. Cree, a Scottish-born businessman who later became associated with cattle ranching in New Mexico in the late nineteenth century.
Cree was involved in bringing Aberdeen Angus cattle from Scotland to America, helping establish a ranching legacy that eventually became the inspiration for the Cattle Ranch whiskey name.
What can you expect in the glass?
The combination of a high corn content, new oak and eight years of maturation gives this whiskey a rich, sweet profile. Expect aromas and flavours around orange, caramel, vanilla, fudge, milk chocolate and toasted oak, with a little pepper and spice adding balance.
It’s a good example of how maturation can shape bourbon. The grain provides the starting point, but eight years in new American oak adds a whole new layer of flavour.
Elvis Whiskey The King Tennessee Straight Rye
If James Cree takes us into the world of traditional bourbon, our second dram turns the volume up. This is Elvis Whiskey The King Tennessee Straight Rye, produced by Grain & Barrel Spirits.
The whiskey was launched as part of a partnership between Grain & Barrel Spirits and Elvis Presley Enterprises, with the range paying homage to the King through its expressions and branding. Beneath the famous name is a style of whiskey that deserves attention in its own right.
What is rye whiskey?
Rye whiskey is made using rye as the dominant grain in the mash bill.
In this case, The King uses 95% rye and 5% malted barley, which is a very different starting point from the corn-heavy James Cree.
Rye tends to bring a different character to whiskey. Rather than simply delivering sweetness, it can contribute notes of spice, pepper, herbs, citrus and a slightly drier character, and makes rye a brilliant comparison dram alongside bourbon.
The King is bottled at 45% ABV and has flavours including toasted oak, butterscotch, vanilla wafer and a gentle peppery note.
And why Elvis?
The connection goes beyond simply putting a famous face on a bottle.
The expression is named The King, one of Elvis Presley's best-known nicknames, while the label incorporates details associated with his career and legacy.
Grain & Barrel Spirits launched the Elvis Whiskey collection in 2021, with the whiskey sourced and blended by an experienced team before being bottled in Tennessee.
It’s a good reminder that not every whiskey brand is built around a single distillery with generations of family history. Modern whiskey is a much broader landscape, with brands, blenders, producers and bottlers all playing a part.
Blue Ridge Toasted Barrel Finish Virginia Distillery Co.
Our third American whiskey comes from Virginia Distillery Co., located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Blue Ridge is an American Single Malt, made from 100% malted barley. That puts it much closer to the traditional grain used for Scotch single malt whisky than to the corn-heavy mash bills normally associated with bourbon.
What exactly is American Single Malt?
The category has been developing rapidly in the United States, and in January 2025 the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau formally established standards for American Single Malt Whisky. Among the requirements are that it must be made from 100% malted barley, produced at a single US distillery, and matured in oak in the United States.
Virginia Distillery Co. has been working in this space for years, using traditional single malt techniques while putting its own American spin on the style. Its whiskies are made using 100% malted barley and Scottish-style copper pot stills, with maturation taking place in a variety of casks.
What makes Blue Ridge different?
The Blue Ridge expression begins its life in first-fill bourbon barrels before being finished in virgin toasted oak barrels sourced from the Blue Ridge Mountains.
When whisky is moved into a different cask, the interaction between spirit and wood can introduce another layer of flavour. In the case of Blue Ridge, the toasted oak helps contribute flavours such as caramel, vanilla, baked notes and baking spice, while the malted barley brings a different underlying character.
Three American Whisky Styles Explained
So, what can these three bottles actually teach us about whisky?
Quite a lot.
Although they're all American, they begin with different grains and use different approaches to production and maturation.
Tennessee Bourbon
James Cree’s Cattle Ranch
Bourbon is defined by its mash bill, with at least 51% corn, and it must be matured in new, charred oak containers. Corn brings sweetness, while the new oak contributes flavours such as vanilla, caramel and toasted spice. Tennessee whiskey adds another piece to the puzzle, with the Lincoln County Process traditionally involving charcoal filtering before maturation.
The result can be a rich, mellow and approachable style of American whiskey.
Rye Whiskey
Elvis Whiskey The King
Rye whiskey must contain at least 51% rye in its mash bill. Rye tends to push the flavour profile in a different direction, often bringing more spice, pepper, herbal notes and dryness than a corn-led bourbon. The Elvis expression takes that idea considerably further with its 95% rye mash bill. If bourbon is the sweet and rounded member of the family, rye is often the one arriving at the party wearing a leather jacket.
American Single Malt
Blue Ridge Virginia Distillery Co.
American Single Malt uses 100% malted barley. That makes it immediately interesting for anyone who enjoys Scotch single malt, but the similarities stop there. Different climates, stills, maturation conditions and casks mean American single malt can develop its own personality. Blue Ridge takes that even further by finishing its whisky in toasted virgin oak from Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. So, while the grain might sound familiar to a Scotch drinker, the finished whisky is unmistakably American.
Why American Whiskey Is Worth Exploring
American whiskey has traditionally been dominated by a handful of famous styles and brands, but there is now an enormous amount happening beyond those familiar names.
New distilleries are experimenting with grains, cask types, maturation techniques and finishing. American single malt is developing into a category of its own. Rye continues to attract drinkers looking for something with more spice and character. And bourbon producers are constantly finding new ways to experiment while working within the rules that define the category. That makes America a fascinating place to explore if you're interested in whisky. And it's exactly the sort of whisky exploration we enjoy bringing to Lactodorum.
Discover Something Different with Lactodorum
The October tasting set is designed for exactly this sort of exploration.
Three American whiskies that you might not normally pick up on a supermarket run. Three different styles. Three opportunities to discover something you didn't know you liked.
And you don't have to stop with October.
Our Lactodorum whisky tasting sets are created around a different theme each month, bringing together whiskies from different distilleries, producers and regions.
If you enjoy discovering new drams rather than reaching for the same bottle every time, you can also join our monthly whisky subscription and have a new tasting journey delivered to your door every month.
Because there is a very big world of whisky out there.
You might as well explore it one dram at a time.
Cheers
Comments