Rye Whiskey Review: Leopold Bros. Three Chamber Rye

Regardless of the many distilleries' marketing teams trying to convince you that every next "special" release is mind-blowing, the truth is often quite different. Sure, it may be good, but it's probably not worth the exorbitant price.

However, every once in a while, you come across a transformative dram. Something that changes your entire perspective of what flavor possibilities exist. Leopold Bros. Three Chamber Rye is one of those whiskies.

The Three Chamber Rye Whiskey is unique because it's made with a three chamber still, based on a pre-prohibition design lost to the ages. Through meticulous research, Leopold Bros. recreated the chamber still and created an accurate representation of pre-prohibition rye whiskey.

I don't do a ton of reviews. The review market is a bit saturated for my taste. But my goal is to guide whisky explorers on their journey, including pointing out the sights all tourists need to experience. Leopold Bros. Three Chamber Rye is one of those attractions. It's a more expensive bottle at $200-$300, so it's undoubtedly a "special occasion" whiskey. But I feel this whiskey is well worth the price if you can afford it.

Tasting Notes

Nose: The nose is complex and constantly changing. When you open the bottle, it's like opening a beer. Yeast and cereal notes dominate. It's like opening the bread machine or oven to reveal a fresh, warm loaf of rye bread. As you inhale deeper, white pepper and nutmeg notes come into focus—hints of leather and hoppy menthol dance into the nose. Some sweetness begins to surface as the glass sits like a raspberry jam spread onto the warm rye bread.

Palate: The three chamber still carries the oils and viscosity of rye into the final distillate. The mouthfeel is creamy, with the strong rye notes from the nose carrying through the palate. Holding in the mouth brings out a candied licorice note. The finish brings a strong yeast flavor, displaying a sourness not typically found in whiskies. The oils stick with you, the flavors lasting long after you swallow.

Final Thoughts: Liking this whiskey will depend on how much you like rye bread. Its strong cereal and yeast notes will likely throw some off. However, this is an absolute treat for rye lovers and is worth at least one try. If you love sour beers, you'll likely enjoy this dram. I'd give the Leopold Bros. Three Chamber Rye Whiskey a 94/100.