116 proof, 58% ABV, sourced from MGP. 90% rye plus malted barley and possibly corn. Aged at least two years. ~ $72 per 750ml bottle.
Heat up front, rye spice, and fruit. The fruit element is fairly complex, and is somewhere between candied orange and roasted peach. Perhaps a bit tough to imagine, but there it is.
The signature James Pepper Rye spice, followed by orange marmalade and graham cracker. The whiskey has a medium body with a pleasant and lingering finish.
I call this a win. The classic James E. Pepper flavors amplified by a slightly higher proof and secondary aging. It’s great neat or with a couple of ice cubes. Also, as a bigger whiskey, would definitely play nice in cocktails. The Old Pepper is significantly more expensive than their standard rye, but certainly worthy as a treat to yourself or as a gift to a whiskey fan.