Proof & Precedent Debuts 11-Year-Old Illinois Straight Rye at 121.6 Proof, and Bourbon Lens Calls It a Top Rye of 2026

Proof & Precedent, a new whiskey brand, has released an 11-year-old straight rye whiskey from Illinois. The bottling is a small batch blend of Illinois ryes at 121.6 proof (60.8% ABV). Bourbon Lens host Jake Lewellen reviewed it on the latest episode of Five Minute Fridays.

The brand’s first release was blended with Brian Haara of Sippin Corn, Matt Kusek, and Marcus Neiman. Lewellen describes Neiman as “one of my best friends in the entire world.”

Tasting notes: fruit-forward with bourbon-like depth

Lewellen found the nose fruit-forward, with apricot and peach, brûléed sugar, and candied oranges. He also noted warm baking spices and honeysuckle, and said it smelled “hot toddy-ish” in the glass.

On the palate the fruit shifts to a fruit-cocktail-syrup character, with warm baking spices that lean toward star anise. The finish carries heavy oak influence.

Lewellen said the whiskey avoids the heavy spice or spearmint some drinkers dislike in rye. “Even though it’s a higher rye mash bill from a rye whiskey perspective, it does have some bourbon characteristics on the back end, which I think is great for a bourbon drinker,” he said.

Part of a larger rye moment

Lewellen placed the release among a wave of notable rye bottlings. He cited Angel’s Envy’s Peach Brandy Cask finished rye, Silverthorn’s 13-year-old, Dark Arts’ 15-year-old, and a new batched rye from Joseph Magnus.

“Rye whiskey can be great, especially in that 10 to 15 year spot where we think bourbon a lot of times, rye whiskey is also phenomenal there as well,” Lewellen said.

The verdict

“I put this up there with the top rye whiskeys I’ve had here in 2026,” Lewellen said. He called it a whiskey rye fans will enjoy and encouraged drinkers to give new distilled products (NDPs) a chance. The bottle is available through [Seelbach’s, confirm retailer].

Watch the full review on the Bourbon Lens YouTube channel or listen wherever you get your podcasts. For weekly tastings and bourbon news, visit www.bourbonlens.com.

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