The Louisiana-based distillery Rice Whiskey will be available 365 days of the year, including Single-Barrel Program for select retailers
J.T. Meleck, the first American brand of whiskey to be made from 100 per cent rice and sold at a commercial level, now offers its Rice Whiskey with year-round availability. The brand also offers a single-barrel cask strength option for select retailers located in its home state of Louisiana.
“With our new American Rice Whiskey, we are offering our best, ready for you to share with family and friends,” explains Mike Frugé, founder and owner of Frugé Spirits. “We were patient in our process to release a rice whiskey that was the best it could be, authentic to our Louisiana brand and true to our family’s story. We’re giving what we have directly to you; we hope you enjoy it.”
Photo Credit: J.T. Meleck
J.T. Meleck Rice Whiskey was launched in 2021 as a limited holiday offering: the Small Batch Founder’s Edition. The whiskey came to fruition after the success of the brand’s first rice-based spirit, J.T. Meleck Rice Vodka.
After such a positive response following their rice whiskey release in July of 2022, Mike Fruge’ and his team tested their Single Barrel Program in four select Louisiana retailers in October. With picks selling out within a few days, it was an obvious choice to continue the program into 2023 throughout the state of Louisiana.
Whiskeys are commonly made from grains like barley, corn, rye and wheat. Few distillers use rice as part of their mash bill in the U.S., and no American brand has ever crafted a whiskey made 100 per cent from rice, at a commercial level. Every step of the process takes place in Louisiana, from farm to glass.
Like other American whiskeys, J.T. Meleck whiskey is aged for nearly five years in American oak, 53-gallon barrels. Each single barrel edition will have its own unique flavor profile, proof and yield (bottle count).
“Every single spirit that leaves the farm at JT Meleck has gone through a quality control process, meaning we have smelled, tasted and analyzed to make sure we are giving our fans a consistent spirit,” Fruge says. “When conducting this process for whiskey, the rice takes its own path in each barrel. Some barrels stand above the rest in terms of nose and flavor profile, distinguished not only from the batch but also from each other. We identify these barrels and offer them at cask strength to our retailers, who select a favorite to offer their customers. Their chosen barrel will become their single barrel pick, hand-selected.”
The J.T. Meleck American Rice Whiskey is 96 proof and sold in 750ml bottles at an SRP $47.
J.T. Meleck, the first American brand of whiskey to be made from 100 per cent rice and sold at a commercial level, now offers its Rice Whiskey with year-round availability. The brand also offers a single-barrel cask strength option for select retailers located in its home state of Louisiana.
“With our new American Rice Whiskey, we are offering our best, ready for you to share with family and friends,” explains Mike Frugé, founder and owner of Frugé Spirits. “We were patient in our process to release a rice whiskey that was the best it could be, authentic to our Louisiana brand and true to our family’s story. We’re giving what we have directly to you; we hope you enjoy it.”
J.T. Meleck Rice Whiskey was launched in 2021 as a limited holiday offering: the Small Batch Founder’s Edition. The whiskey came to fruition after the success of the brand’s first rice-based spirit, J.T. Meleck Rice Vodka.
After such a positive response following their rice whiskey release in July of 2022, Mike Fruge’ and his team tested their Single Barrel Program in four select Louisiana retailers in October. With picks selling out within a few days, it was an obvious choice to continue the program into 2023 throughout the state of Louisiana.
Whiskeys are commonly made from grains like barley, corn, rye and wheat. Few distillers use rice as part of their mash bill in the U.S., and no American brand has ever crafted a whiskey made 100 per cent from rice, at a commercial level. Every step of the process takes place in Louisiana, from farm to glass.
Like other American whiskeys, J.T. Meleck whiskey is aged for nearly five years in American oak, 53-gallon barrels. Each single barrel edition will have its own unique flavor profile, proof and yield (bottle count).
“Every single spirit that leaves the farm at JT Meleck has gone through a quality control process, meaning we have smelled, tasted and analyzed to make sure we are giving our fans a consistent spirit,” Fruge says. “When conducting this process for whiskey, the rice takes its own path in each barrel. Some barrels stand above the rest in terms of nose and flavor profile, distinguished not only from the batch but also from each other. We identify these barrels and offer them at cask strength to our retailers, who select a favorite to offer their customers. Their chosen barrel will become their single barrel pick, hand-selected.”
The J.T. Meleck American Rice Whiskey is 96 proof and sold in 750ml bottles at an SRP $47.
