Review: Peter E. Hart Rye and Wheated Bourbon
Peter E. Hart is a newcomer non-distilling producer with bottling operations at Left Bank Whiskey in Louisville. Lizzy and Aaron Haynes pay tribute to her ancestor, Peter E. Hart, who was a Union Sargeant from Bristol, Tennessee. Hart fought at the Battle of Perryville in October 1862 and returned to purchase a farm in 1892. Eight generations later, Hart’s family still occupies his farm.
Peter E. Hart enters the whiskey market with Peter E. Hart Kentucky Rye and Peter E. Hart Limited Edition Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon. The United States abolished the daily whiskey ration for soldiers in 1832, but during the Civil War, soldiers continued to hunt for whiskey at every opportunity. Is the whiskey named in honor of Peter E. Hart worth hunting in modern days? We tried both.
Peter E. Hart Kentucky Rye – The Haynes family initially purchased rye whiskey distilled at Wilderness Trail with one year of maturation and let it continue to mature at Left Bank Whiskey in Louisville. The rye mashbill is the standard utilized by Wilderness Trail, consisting of 56% rye, 33% corn, and 11% malted barley. Starting as standard Wilderness Trail, the rye entered the barrel with a #4 char at 105 proof. The youngest whiskey in the blend has matured for at least 3 years, but the average age of the blend is 4.5 years old. After crafting the blend, the whiskey was transferred to a freshly dumped bourbon barrel that was smoked for 8 hours for a finishing period of 3 months. Hart notes that the whiskey entered the finishing cask on a hot day and was dumped on day with a temperature of 43 degrees Fahrenheit, at a cask strength of 109 proof.
The uniquely finished rye whiskey opens with aromas of freshly drizzled honey, meshing with lemon pudding. Brown sugar couples with wintergreen to add layers of depth. As the nose opens with time, slightly oxidized red apples add a fruity character. The smoked cask isn’t distinguishable on the nose, but a wisp of smoke is the first note to appear on the palate. As the smoke passes, lemon zest mingles with Cherry Pepsi and a trace of anise, riding a medium viscosity mouthfeel. The finish carries a lively kick of rye spice, softened by butterscotch. Delicate floral notes surface, but are met with hints of smoke that leave the final impression.
Peter E. Hart Kentucky Rye is a perfectly enjoyable rye whiskey with the interesting twist of smoke, but I didn’t enjoy it more than rye under Wilderness Trail’s branding at a similar age and price point. If you enjoy smoky notes in your whiskey, this is worth seeking out. For most consumers, simply going with Wilderness Trail is the better option. 100 proof. B / $67
Peter E. Hart Limited Edition Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon – In 2024, I reviewed another newcomer NDP for Drinkhacker, Limestone Farm Private Stock Kentucky Straight Bourbon and stated that it was arguably the best bourbon I tried in 2024. The wheated bourbon bottled by Peter E. Hart originates from the same contract distillation run as the Limestone Farm release above. While the phenomenal Limestone Farms bourbon was from a very small batch of barrels, Peter E. Hart is a single barrel with just under 9 years of total maturation. Mike Safai is one of the original partners of Rabbit Hole and had New Riff run contract distillation with a unique mashbill that was originally intended for use in a wheat beer: 70% corn, 10% honeyed wheat, 10% honeyed malt, and 10% distillers malt. The intriguing distillate went into the barrel with a #3 char at 110.6 proof. While the bourbon exited the barrel at 124 proof, it was bottled at 112 proof at a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
The bouquet opens with a touch of freshly ground coffee beans and roasted almonds. Layers of a light brown sugar add a gentle sweetness along with figs. The overall aroma composition is beautifully balanced. The intricate perfume leads to high expectations on the palate. Blackstrap molasses opens the gustatory experience, followed by toasted almonds. Well-worn leather adds an earthy component, as burnt orange peel follows. The wheated bourbon comes with a velvety texture that clearly makes known the high malt content. On the finish, sweet tobacco dances with plump raisins as the the dram transitions to notes of Terry’s Dark Chocolate Oranges. This is the kind of finish you wish would last forever.
The whiskey contracted by Mike Safai is just now starting to hit the market, including under Safai’s own branding with a $300 price tag. The batched Limestone Farms Private Stock remains fantastic and understandably shares many common features with Peter E. Hart’s single barrel, but Peter E. Hart emerges as the better option with an asking price of $123 compared to $190 for Limestone’s product. At $123, Peter E. Hart Limited Edition Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon is something that should be purchased without hesitation, should you encounter a bottle. 112 proof. A / $123
Peter E. Hart Kentucky Rye
$67
