Whiskey Acres Farm Crafted Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey 750ML

Whiskey Acres Farm Crafted Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey 750ML is a 100-proof estate-distilled rye whiskey from DeKalb, Illinois, bottled at 50% ABV in a 750ml format. This grain-to-glass expression earned a Double Gold medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, cementing its reputation as one of the Midwest's standout rye whiskeys. Produced from grain grown, harvested, and distilled on the same family farm, it stands as a genuine single-estate American whiskey.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 Proof)  |  Origin: DeKalb, Illinois, USA  |  Bottled in Bond (4+ Years)  |  Distillery: Whiskey Acres Distilling Co.

Production & Heritage

Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. operates on a multi-generational family farm in DeKalb, Illinois, roughly 65 miles west of Chicago. The distillery holds the distinction of being only the second operation in the United States to earn the American Distilling Institute's "Certified Farm Distillery" designation, meaning every grain is sown, grown, harvested, distilled, barreled, and bottled on the same property. This Bottled in Bond expression is built on a 75% rye and 25% corn mashbill, made entirely from the farm's 2016 rye crop. As a Bottled in Bond product, it meets the strict federal requirements of being the product of a single distilling season, from one distillery, aged a minimum of four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at exactly 100 proof.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich vanilla and butterscotch lead the nose, followed by a subtle herbal quality. There is a warm sweetness underneath that invites immediate comparison to well-aged bourbon.

Taste: The entry is notably creamy for a rye, coating the palate with brown sugar and layered baking spices — cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of clove. Mid-palate, a delicate dill note surfaces alongside a gentle grain sweetness from the corn component. The 100-proof backbone provides structure without harsh heat, earning this whiskey its reputation as a "bourbon drinker's rye."

Finish: The finish is impressively long, with baking spices lingering alongside a subtle kick of white pepper. It trails off clean with residual warmth and a faint echo of butterscotch.

How to Drink Whiskey Acres BiB Rye

At 100 proof, this rye rewards neat sipping or with a single large ice cube to open the creamy mid-palate further. A few drops of water coax out additional sweetness without diminishing the spice. It also shines in cocktails: a Manhattan, where its butterscotch and baking spice notes complement sweet vermouth beautifully; an Old Fashioned, where the brown sugar character reduces the need for added sweetener; and a Sazerac, where the dill and white pepper backbone stand up to absinthe and Peychaud's bitters.

Best For

• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who values farm-to-bottle provenance
• Adding a Double Gold–winning rye to a home whiskey collection
• Hosting a blind tasting comparing Bottled in Bond expressions
• Mixing craft-forward cocktails that demand a full-bodied, high-proof rye

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Whiskey Acres BiB Rye taste like? It leads with vanilla, butterscotch, and brown sugar before transitioning into baking spices and a subtle dill note, finishing long with white pepper. The overall profile is creamy and approachable, often described as a "bourbon drinker's rye."

How does Whiskey Acres BiB Rye compare to Rittenhouse Rye Bottled in Bond? Both are 100-proof Bottled in Bond rye whiskeys, but Whiskey Acres uses a 75% rye and 25% corn mashbill from a single estate harvest, giving it a notably creamier, sweeter profile. Rittenhouse, produced by Heaven Hill in Kentucky, tends to lean spicier and drier with a higher rye percentage in the mashbill.

Is Whiskey Acres BiB Rye good for sipping neat? Yes — despite its 100-proof strength, the creamy mouthfeel and balanced sweetness make it very approachable neat. A few drops of water further soften the palate without losing complexity.

Where is Whiskey Acres BiB Rye made? It is distilled at Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. on a family-owned farm in DeKalb, Illinois, about 65 miles west of Chicago. The distillery is one of only two in the U.S. to hold the American Distilling Institute's Certified Farm Distillery designation.

What foods pair well with Whiskey Acres BiB Rye? Smoked pork ribs complement the brown sugar and baking spice notes. Sharp aged cheddar mirrors the butterscotch richness. Pecan pie echoes the vanilla and caramel undertones. Dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage contrasts the rye's sweetness. Cornbread with honey butter bridges the corn component in the mashbill.

What sizes does Whiskey Acres BiB Rye come in? The standard offering is the 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Whiskey Acres BiB Rye worth the price? This expression positions in the premium craft whiskey tier, and the estate-grown single-crop provenance, Bottled in Bond designation, and Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition all support its value within that segment.

Why Whiskey Acres BiB Rye?

What separates this whiskey from nearly every other rye on the market is verified, end-to-end estate production — the rye and corn in this bottle were planted, grown, harvested, distilled, aged, and bottled on the same Illinois farm. That claim is backed by the American Distilling Institute's Certified Farm Distillery designation, a distinction shared by only one other distillery in the country. The Double Gold medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition validates that the provenance story is matched by liquid quality. For drinkers who want a Bottled in Bond rye with genuine agricultural transparency and a creamy, spice-forward profile that overdelivers at 100 proof, this is a compelling and distinctive choice.