A Kentucky straight rye whiskey is the latest entry into The Macklowe collection.

In 2019, Julie Macklowe introduced her own brand of whiskey, focusing initially on American single malt as a luxury product. She explained to Forbes her preference for Scotch single malt and her motivation to create a high-end American alternative. Her latest venture aims to elevate rye whiskey with the debut of The Macklowe Silver Edition. This Kentucky straight rye, which doesn’t specify its age, is priced at $99 per bottle. Our exclusive tasting confirms it’s uniquely different from other rye whiskeys available today.

What sets it apart is its revolutionary finish in ex-American single malt barrels. After aging for at least four years in new charred American oak, the whiskey undergoes secondary maturation in barrels that previously aged Macklowe’s other whiskey releases. This process imparts a honeyed softness reminiscent of Highland scotch, a nod to Macklowe’s scotch influences. To achieve this unique blend, Macklowe enlisted master blender Brendan McCarron, renowned for his work at prominent distilleries such as Deanston, Ledaig, and Bunnahabhain.

Despite these innovations, the Silver Edition firmly maintains its rye whiskey characteristics. It features earthy, menthol aromas and a flavor profile that persists with notes of dill and fresh cracked peppercorn. The finish is long and reveals the depth of the rye, thanks to a mashbill composed of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. This complexity is enhanced by the single malt barrel finish, enriching the fruit-like qualities of the barley, producing a rich, robust profile where other rye whiskeys might feel dry and sharp.

“It was a great idea that I came up with in the shower,” Macklowe recalls of the rye’s unique finish. “I ran it by Brendan McCarron and he loved it. Our view is that everything should tie back to our core product.”

It also arrives in the market at an auspicious time for high end rye. A style of spirit that not long ago collected dust on shelves has undergone a complete transformation over the past decade. Popular brands like WhistlePig and Michter’s were the first to pave the way for ultra premium bottlings. But this month marks a new era for the “rye-naissance” as Beyoncé promises to make the drink even more mainstream with the introduction of her own SirDavis rye.

Just like Silver Edition, Beyoncé’s offering is one that’s engineered to resonate with scotch fans. SirDavis is finished in sherry barrels and uses an unusually high percentage of malted barley in its mashbill.

“I’d like to think that Beyoncé was inspired by my product,” says Macklowe. “It’s great to see someone else break the mold and it will shine a huge spotlight on this market. It also creates a huge opportunity for new drinkers to explore different luxury items. We’re creating a new taste profile for this category. A different product that didn’t exist before.”

The Macklowe Silver Edition rye will be available at local liquor stores starting later this month. Alternatively, you can experience it first at Jean-Georges in New York. The renowned chef, who manages several Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide, is a close friend of Macklowe and has secured a special allocation of 60 bottles for his flagship establishment.

Julie Macklowe, the founder of The Macklowe, alongside chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts.

Our community is dedicated to connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We encourage our readers to share their viewpoints and exchange ideas and facts in a safe environment.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service. We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

So, how can you be a power user?

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site’s Terms of Service.