Frank August Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey

Frank August Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey. Frank August, Lexington, Kentucky — Frank August's first regularly available rye whiskey expression, a small batch Kentucky straight rye bottled at 100 proof that extends the brand's honest craft philosophy from bourbon into rye, delivering the bold spice, pepper, and herbal character that rye grain produces alongside the refined, integrated character that Frank August's small batch approach creates.

Frank August built their reputation on bourbon — first with the flagship Small Batch at 100 proof, then with the experimental Case Study series. The Small Batch Straight Rye applies the same founding principles to rye: high proof (100 proof, not the 80–90 proof that most accessible ryes use), small batch blending for consistency and quality, and the Frank August commitment to letting the spirit speak for itself without artificial sweetening or other additives.

Kentucky straight rye requires a minimum 51% rye mash bill and aging in new charred American oak barrels — the same barrels and aging environment as Kentucky straight bourbon. The rye grain's natural spice, pepper, and dried herb character interacts with the oak's caramel, vanilla, and tannin contribution to produce the integrated, balanced rye profile that Frank August achieves at 100 proof. The higher proof preserves the rye character's assertiveness without the heat or harshness that lower-quality rye production can create.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Bold rye spice — pepper, caraway, and dried herb — with caramel and vanilla from the oak aging. The 100 proof carries the aromatics with authority. Clean and characterful.
• Palate: Rye spice leads with cinnamon and pepper, supported by the natural sweetness from corn and the oak's caramel contribution. The small batch blending creates a consistency and balance that single barrel ryes don't always deliver. Full-bodied at 100 proof.
• Finish: Warm and spiced with lingering rye grain and pepper. The 100 proof sustains the finish noticeably longer than lower-proof rye expressions.

Specs

• Producer: Frank August, Lexington, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, Small Batch
• ABV: 50% (100 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

Browse our full selection of rye whiskey at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Frank August Small Batch Straight Rye taste like? Bold rye spice with pepper, caraway, and dried herb on the nose alongside caramel and vanilla. Rye spice and cinnamon on the palate with caramel balance. Warm, spiced finish with lingering rye grain and pepper.
• How does the Straight Rye relate to Frank August's bourbon lineup? The Small Batch Straight Rye applies the same 100 proof philosophy and small batch approach as the flagship Small Batch Bourbon — same Frank August standards, different grain character. Where the Bourbon is corn-forward and sweeter, the Rye is spice-forward and drier. Both are bottled at 100 proof deliberately higher than most accessible expressions in their category.
• How does this compare to the Frank August Case Study: 03 Winter Cover Rye? Case Study 03 is a limited 3-barrel experimental release — rare, specific, and collectible. The Small Batch Straight Rye is the brand's ongoing, regularly available rye expression. For the collector: Case Study 03. For the everyday rye drinker who wants Frank August in a reliable format: the Small Batch Straight Rye.