Not to overshadow George Washington’s key role in the Declaration of Independence but 250 years after America’s birth who could have imagined one of his unsung lasting contributions would be apple brandy barrels from his home-based Mount Vernon Distillery. Whiskey Jypsi did, that’s who. And to celebrate two and a half centuries of independence, the award-winning whiskey producer has captured history in a bottle with Legacy Batch 003: “The Declaration,” their third limited-edition release in the Legacy Series.
“Before bourbon there was rye,” said Ari Sussman, whiskey maker at Whiskey Jypsi, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. “Rye was the whiskey of revolutionaries, and Maryland Style Rye was what George Washington himself distilled at Mount Vernon.”
When Whiskey Jypsi co-founders Raj Alva, an entrepreneur and board member of golf lifestyle brand Greyson Clothiers and acclaimed country musician, Eric Church, joined forces after a chance pairing on the golf course, they agreed to resist any industry rules other than producing the best products regardless of complexity or cost. Sourcing from one of the oldest and most historic distilleries in America to produce “The Declaration” is a perfect example of that spirit.
“We’re not just distilling and putting it in a bottle,” said Alva. “Everything we have has some sort of creativity in it. Each product in the Legacy line is different as a result of taking whiskies and finishes from all over the world. We had an Indian single malt, a Japanese Mizunara oak, and this year partnered with George Washington’s distillery.”
“The Declaration,” bottled at 57.8% ABV, is a sophisticated, modern reimagining of that historical mash bill, blending rare and aged stocks of whiskeys to create a complex and balanced profile meticulously constructed from three distinct components:
• 60% Rye: A blend of 8- to 12-year-old 95/5 rye sourced from Indiana, delivering the foundational spice, maturity, and classic rye grain character, which is then finished with a top note from apple brandy barrels sourced directly from Washington’s distillery at Mount Vernon.
• 30% Corn: 20- to 25-year-old Canadian corn whiskey, which was re-barreled in new American oak for two and a half years to add exceptional depth, vanilla, and cocoa notes.
• 10% Malt: An 8-year-old American single malt from Virginia, which provides a fragrant, floral, and biscuit-forward aromatic top note to round out the blend.
“Blending is an art but in a crowded niche market, at the end of the day it comes down how the story is told.” said Alva. “Then it’s a matter of liquid to lip, just getting people to taste it and spreading the word.”.
Whisky JYPSI Legacy Batch 003: “The Declaration” is available in limited quantities with an SRP of $199.99. For more information, visit www.whiskeyjypsi.com.
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