Blaum Bros. Straight Bourbon

Most craft distilleries start by sourcing whiskey from established producers while their own stocks mature. Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. in Galena, Illinois did the opposite. Brothers Matt and Mike Blaum opened their doors in 2013 with a commitment to distill everything themselves from day one, even if that meant waiting years before releasing their flagship bourbon. This bottle represents that patience paying off: grain-to-glass straight bourbon aged a minimum of four years, produced in true small batches of just eight barrels at a time. The mash bill runs 72% corn, 23% rye, and 5% malted barley, with grains sourced primarily from Illinois farms. That 23% rye is notably higher than many Kentucky standards, landing this squarely in high-rye territory without tipping into rye whiskey classification. Distillation happens on a hybrid pot still, and the spirit goes into barrel at 117.5 proof in air-dried white oak. After aging, it's bottled non-chill filtered at an even 100 proof, preserving texture and flavor that would otherwise get stripped away. The rye presence drives the profile from start to finish. The nose opens with sweet corn and caramel, but quickly reveals baking spice, clove, cinnamon, and ginger, plus undertones of vanilla and leather. The palate brings toasted rye bread and roasted peanut alongside caramel and dried orange peel, with that spice thread carrying all the way through to a medium-long finish that lands on bittersweet chocolate and maple. At full proof, there's genuine weight and warmth without crossing into harsh territory. This works beautifully alongside grilled pork chops with apple compote, roasted duck breast, or a board of aged cheddar and spiced nuts. It also holds up in a Manhattan or Old Fashioned where you want the whiskey to speak clearly through the modifiers. For those tracking regional American whiskey beyond the usual suspects, Blaum Bros. offers a compelling case study in what happens when a small operation controls every step of production and lets time do its work.