Review #757 - Raconteur Rye Batch No. 3 'Miz Kiss'

Written By Me, My Wife & Whisky

Named 'Miz Kiss' for a kiss of Mizunara oak influence - this an 8 year old rye from Raconteur Rye and the Woodwork Collective, a relatively new non-distilling producer based in Louisville, Kentucky. They've sourced rye whiskies from a few different distilleries; this one comes from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery.

Mizunara is an oak species generally found in Japan that is used in some whisky maturation, but not too often - it's extremely expensive, and it's known for being difficult to work with, especially due to higher rates of leaking. Despite that, it's highly sought after due to the desirable flavors that it adds during maturation; often, sandalwood, coconut, and a variety of baking spices are suggested.

Rye whiskies are known for their strong backbone and quite a bit of natural spice - let's see how that interacts with the softer, sweeter flavors from this oak finishing cask.

Raconteur Rye Batch No. 3 'Miz Kiss'

USA - Rye

Price: USD 130 (2025)

Age Statement: 8 Years

Strength: 59.1% ABV

Cask Makeup: Finished in Mizunara oak casks

Details: Not chill filtered; batch no. 3

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 2 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes

Nose: Rich dark chocolate, menthol, molasses, mint syrup - almost like a mint chocolate chip ice cream. There's a creamy side, and we get boozy caramels and a hint of fudge; behind that, spices of paprika or chili powder, as well as some brown sugar and leather. It's brooding and quite rich.

Palate: The mouthfeel is medium-thick - this has nice texture and shows more age on the palate. A nicely rounded leather note accents the oak flavor, and we get some peppery spice and a bit of coffee. Strong rye notes come next: menthol and mint, then sweet dessert notes of hot cocoa, vanilla, and milk chocolate. The complexion is dark, and it's mildly tannic at times.

Finish: A bit of sweet grain, fizzy, creamy, with nice vanilla and mint notes. Oak has a decent influence too, and we get caramel, hard mint candies, dusty cocoa nibs, and mocha. In the finish, there's a nice combination of rosemary and soft peppery tobacco; this finish is medium-long.

Final Note: The first time we tried this rye, it was blind, and we didn't even pick up on the fact that this was a rye - those sweet, creamy notes (probably from the Mizunara?) in the nose almost gave this a 'malted' whisky sort of vibe. The rye character builds strongly in the palate, though, and instead of the herbal type of rye whisky, we found this to be more of a sweet, candied sort of rye.

We get tons of chocolate and caramel notes along with the mint, as well as a bit of coffee at times; this has a great, well-rounded oak profile and plenty of complexity if you let it open up in the glass. This is a great rye, a real treat with a dark complexion and a decadent side.

Value here is still around average due to the higher price point to go along with those great flavors; if you love ryes, a Raconteur with Mizunara finishing like this could be a great option for a unique pour.

Our Rating: 7.7 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 6.05

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.

Me, My Wife & Whisky
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