Every Batch
Tells a Story
Decode
Single Barrel | 12 Years | 95/5 Indiana Mashbill
We are Raconteur Rye
Raconteur Rye is a collaboration between spirits author and blogger David Jennings (a/k/a Rare Bird 101) and James Symons of the WoodWork Collective. What began as a project to create a rye with a flavor harkening back to whiskeys of the past, evolved into a brand obsessed with creativity, craftsmanship, and quality. Each batch of Raconteur Rye is unique - a story brought to life through hours of experimentation and careful evaluation. Each bottle tells a tale, each glass a new chapter … from our hands, to yours.
Our Releases
Every batch is a conversation
Gemini — A Dual Release
Gemini I: Indiana 95/5
A 95% rye, 5% malted barley mashbill sourced from Indiana. We finished it through a progression of Mizunara oak, 48-month seasoned American oak, and ex-rye barrels. The result layers sandalwood and coconut over the bold herbal rye underneath—more complexity than any single finish could achieve alone.
Gemini II: Kentucky 95/5
Same 95/5 mashbill, different origin—Kentucky-sourced and finished exclusively in Mizunara oak. Darker, more intense, and oak-forward in ways that surprised even us. Where Gemini I is about layered finishing, Gemini II is about one wood doing extraordinary work.
"Both start from the same place. They end up telling very different stories."
— David Jennings
After years of writing about whiskey, I figured it was time to throw my hat in the ring. Through Raconteur Rye I discovered that whiskeymaking is another form of storytelling.
Transparency
We tell you exactly what’s in the bottle. The mashbill, the barrels, the proof. No mystery juice. No vague “handcrafted” claims. Just the work, laid out honestly.
What We Believe
Rye isn’t just our foundation, it’s our identity - proudly displayed in bold on each and every Raconteur Rye label. But what you taste isn’t simply a batch of the same lot of straight rye barrels, it’s hard-earned through time, distinctive cooperage, and meticulous blending.
Go Deeper
The details behind what we do
Raconteur Rye Gemini I 126.6 proof
What We Actually Do Differently
The honest version
Finishing-Forward
Single Barrel Selections
Alongside our blended releases, we occasionally pull individual barrels that stand on their own. These aren’t outtakes—they’re barrels with enough character that blending them felt like it would dilute something worth experiencing by itself.
Each one is different. That’s the point. A single barrel is a snapshot of what a particular piece of wood did to a particular whiskey over a particular stretch of time. No two are alike, and we don’t try to make them alike.
When they’re available, they go quickly. We’ll always be upfront about what’s in them and why we pulled them.