Frank August Winter Cover Rye
Overall Score: 6.75/10
Overall Value: 2/5
Distillery: Sourced (Undisclosed)
Classification: Straight Rye Whiskey
Company: Frank August
Release Date: Winter 2024
Proof: 106.25
Age: NAS
Color: Amber
MSRP: $125 (2024)
Mashbill: Blend of 3 barrels
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose is immediately sweet, with an unmistakable bubblegum note—reminiscent of classic Bubbalicious or fruit-striped gum—blended with vanilla, cinnamon, and a touch of rye spice. A floral quality adds some complexity, though it doesn't quite reach the level of top-tier ryes. There’s also a faint hint of evergreen, providing a subtle nod to traditional rye characteristics.
The mouthfeel on the palate is buttery and smooth, carrying forward the bubblegum sweetness from the nose. While the initial sip is pleasant, the flavors lean towards an artificial sweetness that may offend some. There’s a light vanilla Tootsie Roll quality, but the expected rye spice takes a backseat.
The finish is where the spice starts to show up, but it remains on the sweet side. A touch of cinnamon lingers, but it lacks the depth and complexity found in standout ryes. A faint oak presence emerges at the very end, but it’s subtle at best.
As a 3-barrel batch, this Winter Cover Rye presents an interesting but ultimately underwhelming profile. While the marketing around Case Study 3 builds intrigue, the MSRP of $125 makes this a tough sell.
At half the price, this would be a fun and unique pour, but given the competition at this tier, it struggles to justify the cost. If you can find it on sale, it might be worth trying, but otherwise, there are better ryes available at a lower price point.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 7/10
Value: 2.5/5
THE NOSE:
The nose smells like bubblegum, akin to Bubbalicious, the old Zebra gum, or that gum that would come in a roll like tape.
So, on the sweet and fruity side almost grape juice and vanilla. The evergreen pine profile that accompanies some rye whiskeys is subtle but present.
THE TASTE:
The mouthfeel is buttery, and that same bubblegum flavor from the nose is certainly present.
Which unfortunately comes across a bit like artificial sweetener with a hint of vanilla tootsie roll.
THE FINISH:
This is where the rye spice begins to make itself known, however it remains on the sweet side rather than dry.
There is a hint of cinnamon that lingers on the finish well after the pour is gone.
BUY OR PASS?
This pour would make me pretty happy at $60, but at double that price I find it a bit lacking.
I do think it’s unique, and the overall bubblegum flavor can be fun but it is very hard to justify the price personally.
The Hunter Says
Score: 6.5/10
Value: 1.5/5
THE NOSE:
The sweetness hits first, backed by a mild rye spice and a touch of cinnamon. It reminded me of the nose on Willett 4-Year Rye, but it doesn’t quite have the same depth.
There’s a floral note here—maybe even a little potpourri-like—that’s hard for me to pin down but adds some interest.
THE TASTE:
Sweet and balanced, but not syrupy. It’s pleasant enough, with a bit of spice coming through, but there’s no complexity to speak of.
It doesn’t do anything wrong, but at $125, I was hoping for more depth and distinct flavors.
I kept trying to pull something specific from the palate, but it just didn’t deliver.
THE FINISH:
The sweetness lingers, with maybe a faint hint of oak, but not much else.
It’s a simple finish without anything memorable to hold on to.
BUY OR PASS?
For a $125 bottle, I expected much more, especially given the promising marketing.
While there’s nothing bad about this rye, it doesn’t bring anything special to the table, and it struggles to compete with bottles in the $30-$50 range, like 1792 Small Batch. It’s fine, but far from what I’d expect at this price point.
