Review: Hemingway Rye Whiskey

Hemingway Rye is a bold and thoughtful tribute to one of America's most legendary writers—Ernest "Papa" Hemingway. Distilled with precision and character, this rye whiskey is a blend of 90% 6 year old Indiana straight rye and 10% 4 year old Kentucky straight rye, following a high-rye mash bill that delivers a spicy, robust profile.

The whiskey opens with rich notes of caramel, toasted oak, and baking spices, followed by hints of dried fruit and vanilla on the finish. It’s smooth yet punchy—much like Hemingway’s prose. Whether sipped neat or with a splash of water, Hemingway Rye offers a satisfying balance of strength and subtlety.

What makes this bottle even more intriguing is its namesake. Ernest Hemingway had a well-known relationship with spirits—rum, absinthe, and whiskey were all part of his life and his writing. He famously drank mojitos and daiquiris in Cuba, but he also appreciated the depth and simplicity of a good whiskey. His adventurous life—from Paris to Key West to Havana—was often accompanied by a drink in hand and a story in mind.

Hemingway Rye doesn’t just borrow a name—it channels the spirit of a man who lived with intensity, wrote with clarity, and drank with purpose. It’s not just a whiskey—it’s a narrative in a glass.