Producer: Rare Character Whiskey
Available: Hokus Pokus Liquor, three Louisiana locations
Barrel Code: K45-035
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mashbill: 51% corn / 45% rye / 4% malted barley
Age: 7 years 7 months
Proof: 126.32°
Price Paid: $95.00
Format: Single Barrel Cask Stength
Introduction
The K45 code represents one of Rare Character’s most intriguing offerings—a “barely legal bourbon” that sits exactly at the 51% corn minimum required by the TTB to qualify as bourbon while loading the secondary grain ratio with 45% rye. Aged in a historic Kentucky warehouse, this 126.32 proof offering delivers a masterclass in balance, proving that high-rye bourbons needn’t sacrifice smoothness for complexity.
Appearance
The K45-035 displays a beautiful amber hue—bright and inviting without the deep mahogany tones associated with extended warehouse aging or warmer barrel locations. This coloration suggests the barrel aged in a cooler section of the warehouse, a telltale sign that we’re dealing with controlled maturation and minimal stress aging. The lighter amber is characteristic of Rare Character’s K45 releases and speaks to thoughtful barrel placement rather than aggressive wood extraction.
Upon swirling, the whiskey presents a thin but viscous film with exceptional gravity-defying legs—thick rivulets that cling to the glass with impressive persistence. This leggy character indicates both high proof and solid barrel integration, suggesting the wood and spirit have achieved good marriage despite the younger age.
Nose
The nose opens with a bright, unmistakable citrus note—classic orange peel layered with subtle lemon zest. The 45% rye content announces itself not through grassy or harsh herbaceous notes, but through candied rye sweetness and delicate floral undertones. There’s a surprising elegance here; the rye plays a supporting role to the citrus rather than dominating.
Beneath these bright notes sits a warming foundation of caramel and vanilla, suggesting good oak integration and proper barrel aging. The alcohol presence is warm but not sharp—appropriate for the proof point and suggesting this won’t evolve dramatically in the glass. A gentle rest in the copita settles nothing; the citrus persists while the caramel comes more into focus.
Palate
The K45-035 delivers immediate citrus gratification on entry—that orange peel note from the nose translates directly to the palate with impressive fidelity. This transitions quickly into layers of caramel and baking spice: cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg build progressively from the mid-palate onward.
What strikes me most is the balance—this is a high-rye bourbon (45%!) that refuses to become grassy or thin. The mouthfeel is full and oily, coating the palate with a pleasant thickness that belies the proof. This speaks to excellent barrel selection and proper maturation in that cooler warehouse section.
Underlying these spice notes is a candied rye and ginger quality and delicate graham cracker sweetness—the latter is particularly noteworthy in a high-rye bourbon and suggests either superior cooperage or a barrel that achieved ideal wood-to-spirit ratio. The flavors build rather than plateau, with complexity emerging across the mid-palate.
There’s no hot alcohol burn here, no thin, undernourished feeling. Instead, the 126.32 proof provides robust delivery of flavor without sacrificing sophistication. For comparison, this is notably more balanced than some of the high rye bourbons I’ve encountered with less rye in the mashbill, which at times can skew toward herbal or astringent territories.
Finish
The finish is where the K45-035 truly distinguishes itself. The candied rye and clove notes that appeared mid-palate now carry through with authority, lingering on the tongue with remarkable persistence. These spice elements gradually yield to dry oak and subtle char, creating a progression rather than an abrupt stop.
The finish is long and satisfying—a good 45-60 seconds before fading to a pleasant warmth and lingering spice. The oak never becomes astringent or aggressive; instead, it provides structure and a drying quality that keeps the finish engaging rather than cloying. Those graham cracker undertones continue into the finish, providing sweetness counterpoint to the oak dryness.
Context: The K45 Mashbill in Today’s Market
A Rare Kentucky Expression
The 51% corn / 45% rye / 4% malted barley mashbill is distinctly uncommon among Kentucky distilleries. While MGP in Indiana pioneered “barely legal bourbon” experimentation around 2013, Bardstown Bourbon Company appears to be one of the few Kentucky producers executing this mashbill at scale. The K45 code is sourced from Bardstown Bourbon Company in Nelson County, Kentucky—the same distillery producing Ten Day Bourbon’s acclaimed Single Barrels. When I tried this in store before discovering how much rye was in the mashbill, I thought this was 1792 Barton like my other bottle of Rare Character, because the flavors are so balanced.
The Surgeon’s Cut Comparison
Notably, Ten Day Bourbon’s 2024 Surgeon’s Cut used the exact same 51% corn / 45% rye / 4% malted barley mashbill. The 2024 Surgeon’s Cut (8 years 11 months, 124.6 proof, distributed in November 2024) received widespread praise, with reviewers noting its “grilled pineapple, cherry juice concentrate” nose and “stewed black cherries, cola, grilled peaches” palate—an interesting divergence from the more citrus-forward character of my K45-035 barrel.
This divergence is instructive: the 2024 Surgeon’s Cut had different barrel warehouse placement (resulting in darker fruit notes) and different stave char level, yet both expressions validate the mashbill’s capability to deliver balanced, sophisticated bourbon when properly executed. The fact that Ten Day’s official release earned an “Excellent” rating from experienced reviewers suggests the K45 profile is gaining recognition among serious bourbon enthusiasts.
For reference, the 2025 Surgeon’s Cut reverted to Ten Day’s original 78% corn / 10% rye / 12% malted barley mashbill, making the 2024 vintage (and by extension, comparable K45 barrels like my K45-035) historically important as potential collectible expressions of this rare mashbill recipe.
Why Citrus Dominates Over Grass
One question that likely comes to mind: why is this high-rye bourbon more citrus-forward than “grassy”—the typical complaint about high-rye bourbons? The answer lies in age and warehouse placement. At 7 years 7 months, this barrel achieved sufficient wood integration to round out rye’s herbal edges. The cooler warehouse location meant slower maturation, allowing subtle oxidation rather than aggressive water loss or heat stress that can amplify grassy notes.
The Single Barrel Series Verdict
The Whiskey: Rare Character K45-035 is a benchmark expression of high-rye bourbon done right. The 51/45/4 mashbill doesn’t coddle; it challenges. Yet this barrel meets that challenge with grace, delivering citrus brightness, baking spice complexity, and a finish that lingers without overstaying its welcome. At $95, it sits in an interesting market position—more expensive than typical Bardstown single barrel outlets ($80-85), but competitive with cask strength releases from established Kentucky distilleries and Rare Character.
Highly Recommended — This is a pour I’d return to. It’s thoughtful bourbon, not “fun juice.” It demands attention and rewards it. Sampling it a second time as I finished this review, a little oxygen in the bottle helped round out this bourbon to make it a tad more mellow and enjoyable.
The One Caveat: That Damn Wax Seal
I must address something that has become a point of genuine frustration after opening two Rare Character bottles: the wax seal is absurdly difficult to remove.
My K45-035 features the standard Rare Character heavy wax dip. Upon inspection after removal, I can see faint score lines near the top—suggesting an intended tear-away design. The problem? From the outside, these lines are completely invisible and non-functional. There is no surface indication that the seal is designed for anything other than complete knife removal.
In practical terms, this means: opening a Rare Character single barrel requires a sharp knife and deliberate force. You’re not peeling back a wax seal; you’re essentially excavating it. I’ve now opened two Rare Character bottles, and both required identical methodology—careful knife work to slice away the entire wax layer without damaging the cork, or cutting your fingers. There’s real risk of both if approached without care. The little knife on the wine opener in your bar is not going to cut it. I used a Swiss army knife.
This isn’t a catastrophic flaw, but it’s worth noting if you’re considering purchasing Rare Character single barrels as gifts. Your recipient will need either a sharp knife or patience (ideally both). The seal communicates “premium product,” but the execution doesn’t match the premium experience. A $10 bottle with this seal would frustrate me; a $95 bottle with this seal simply shouldn’t exist.
That said: the whiskey inside makes it worth it.
Final Thoughts
The K45 mashbill represents a genuine curiosity in the Kentucky bourbon landscape—a “barely legal” expression that refuses to be a gimmick. Whether through Rare Character’s K45 code or Ten Day’s High Rye/Surgeon’s Cut expressions, this 51/45/4 recipe is proving that high-rye bourbons can be sophisticated, balanced, and utterly enjoyable.
If you encounter a K45 single barrel from Rare Character, I’d recommend investigating the specific barrel proof and age—variation is significant even within the same code. My K45-035 at 126.32 proof and 7 years 7 months delivers precisely what I want in a high-rye bourbon: citrus brightness, baking spice complexity, and enough proof to deliver authority without harshness. I am generally prefer low rye bourbon, but this is high rye done right.
Bring a sharp knife to opening it. Bring an open mind to drinking it.