Review: Tattersall Rye and Wheated Bourbon – Bottled in Bond (2024)
Tattersall Distilling opened in Minneapolis in July 2015 and quickly gained notoriety for its bar program. Minnesota statute only permits micro-distilleries to serve alcoholic drinks produced in-house, so they began playing with and creating vermouth, amaro, and gin. December 2021 saw the opening of a second location in River Falls, Wisconsin. Sadly, Tattersall permanently shuttered the Minneapolis location on November 30, 2024. All operations are now running out of River Fall, roughly 40 miles away from the original site.
With its whiskey program, Tattersall runs a sweet mash fermentation over 5 days. Vendome constructed a hybrid still with a stainless steel kettle and copper column. The whiskey is twice-distilled with the pot portion, as the column is deactivated. Distillate comes off the Vendome at 135 proof and enters the barrel at 120 proof. Tattersall uses barrels from Black Swan Cooperage with a heavy toast and #3 char.
The northern distillery not only boasts bottled in bond whiskey, but bottled in bond that surpasses the minimum standards. Fall of 2024 brings a wheated bourbon with 6 years of maturation and a straight rye with 7 years of oaken-slumber instead of the mandatory 4 years of age. Less than 100 cases of each were made. Could Tattersall be a contender for the next great bottled in bond from a craft distillery? Let’s find out!
Tattersall Bottled in Bond Straight Rye 7 Years Old (2024) – Drinkhacker last visited Tattersall’s rye in 2021 with an age statement of at least 2 years old, and the whiskey clearly showed its youth. Tattersall ferments a highly unique mashbill consisting of an 85% raw rye blend of AC Hazlet and Bono to go with 15% malted rye, all sourced within 50 miles of the distillery. The aroma opens with earthy cocoa powder and toasted pecan. The bouquet gathers depth as brown sugar, canned peaches, and raisin collide. Implementation of heirloom grains and malted rye clearly differentiate this nosing experience from bulk commodity rye whiskey. On the palate, spiced Mexican chocolate shines along with buttery brioche. Memories of my favorite Jamaican restaurant came to mind as fried plantains surface before dried cranberries arrive with a medium-heavy mouthfeel. The finish eventually launches with burnt brown sugar and creamy milk chocolate notes, after which subtle vanilla collaborates with a distinct floral note. Floral notes from the malted rye leave a lasting impression. Craft rye with an age statement of 7 years old is always worth noting, but Tatterall’s is especially noteworthy due to the mashbill. If you’re expecting a more traditional rye profile, this one will catch you a bit off guard. This bottled in bond is an excellent purchase and demonstration of the breadth of what rye can be. If you’re feeling adventurous and want something really different, this is it. 100 proof. A- / $65
Tattersall Bottled in Bond Minnesota Wheated Bourbon 6 Years Old (2024) – This offering sports a mashbill comprised of 55% yellow corn, 35% winter wheat, and 10% malted barley. Burnt brown sugar is the first sensation to greet the nose, followed by jammy cherry preserves. Visions of maple syrup and soft leather add depth to the overall olfactory experience. Buttery toffee is the first element to peek through on the palate as it melts into vanilla pudding. Notes of cinnamon-dusted French toast evoke breakfast cravings before making way for juicy apricots amidst a velvety mouthfeel. The finish lingers with the sweetness of toffee and dried apricots with the balance evoking mint. While the rye whiskey is a significantly different profile from traditional ryes, the bourbon is more attuned to traditional bourbon profiles, but in a good way, making it a safe bet for anyone who appreciates bourbon. 100 proof. A- / $65
Tattersall Bottled in Bond Straight Rye 7 Years Old (2024)
$65
