Third Wind High-Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Distillery - Third Wind Distilling

MSRP - $45

Proof - 94

Age - Minimum of 4 years

Mashbill - Not Disclosed

Tasting Notes

• Nose – The first scent that hit my nose was honey, followed by a burst of citrus. As I spent more time with the pour, I started to pick up on orange peel, slightly burned, like when you’re garnishing an old fashioned.

• Palate – The palate is light and sweet. I had a hard time picking out a specific flavor profile, which surprised me since this is a high-rye and I usually pick up rye spices pretty easily. I did catch hints of cinnamon and a little clove, but overall I was expecting more spice from a high-rye.

• Finish – The finish is very light, with no dominant flavors lingering on the palate. It offers a clean, refreshing mouthfeel, leaving just a subtle warmth that fades quickly, making it feel crisp and easy.

• Overall – I enjoyed this pour, but when breaking it down by each component, nothing really stood out to me. I do think that with some age this could turn into something special.

Food Pairing - This would work really well in an old fashioned or with some apple cider.

Nav’s Personal Thoughts – For day two, I wanted to feature a bottle from a local distillery here in Bay City—Third Wind. This family-owned distillery released their high-rye back in 2022, and I’ve just now had the chance to grab a bottle. A high-rye bourbon contains at least 20-35% rye in the mash bill, which gives the bourbon a more robust, spicier profile compared to traditional bourbons. The rye helps cut some of the sweetness typically found in bourbon, bringing forward notes of pepper, herbs, and sometimes even a bit of mint. With this particular pour, I still picked up some of those sweet, rich flavors, but the rye didn’t come through as much as I’d expected. That said, I think with a little more age, this could turn into something special. For now, though, it’s a good sipper. As for pairing, I highly recommend using it in an Old Fashioned or mixing it with apple cider—the flavor profile really shines in those cocktails, and you might not even realize you’re sipping on one!