13th Colony Maple Spiral Rye Review: Worth $60?

13th Colony’s maple wood spiral rye is worth chasing at its roughly $60 MSRP. We found a thick, flavorful 113-proof rye with a surprising root beer note and maple sweetness that lets the rye character shine.

At a glance

• Proof: 113
• Mash bill and source: 95% rye and 5% malted barley, sourced from MGP in Indiana
• Age: No age statement. We think 5 to 6 years, though online estimates range from 4 to 6 years.
• Wood treatment: Finished with maple wood spirals, according to the label
• Release: Limited release for 2026
• Price: About $60 MSRP; our bottle cost about $65 with tax
• Tom’s rating: A solid red on our scale
• Steve’s verdict: Worth chasing at MSRP

Maple wood spirals and Georgia roots

The label says “finished with maple spirals,” but we think of this treatment more as an infusion. We also wouldn’t call it a toasted rye. It has toasted aspects, but the maple wood gives it its own character.

We appreciate that 13th Colony is open about the MGP source. That familiar Indiana 95/5 rye mash bill gives us a clear starting point for judging what the maple wood adds.

13th Colony is based in Georgia and has a strong, almost cult-like following. Its distillery releases and extra single barrels give people reasons to visit. We’ve come to expect unusual flavors and different takes on whiskey from them.

Last year, they released a bourbon treated with maple wood spirals, which we didn’t try. We also remember hearing about a rye last year, though we don’t know whether it was this same version or a distillery-only release.

Nose: baked raisins, honey and graham cracker

We’d heard this bottle could have an alcohol-heavy nose. Neither of us found that, despite the proof.

Instead, we got vanilla sugar, baked raisins and honey, with graham cracker alongside them. The raisins stood out right away. There’s also a clear rye bread note and a little toastiness, though the honey itself didn’t smell toasted.

The nose feels lighter than the darker flavors that follow.

Palate: root beer, dark fruit and rye spice

The biggest surprise was root beer. That note showed up immediately, and once we noticed it, it made sense. Think homemade root beer, with that sarsaparilla or sassafras character.

Alongside it, we found dark fruit and dark chocolate. Toasted rye bread carries over from the nose, while rye spice becomes clearer toward the back of the palate. Brown sugar adds another layer of sweetness.

The maple wood sweetness stays subtle. It doesn’t overpower the rye or turn the whole pour into a maple showcase. We liked how those flavors worked together.

The mouthfeel is thick and sticky, with the kind of weight we often enjoy in bourbon. It hangs around and changes as we sip. The front feels lighter, then the flavor grows heavier.

Finish: warm oak, clove and cocoa

We both put the finish in the medium-to-long range. It brings clove spice, warm oak and a cocoa bitterness that connects with the dark chocolate on the palate.

The oak stays on the tongue. That chocolate bitterness works well here, adding something we enjoyed instead of simply making the finish harsh.

There’s warmth, but we didn’t find it overly hot. Steve thought it drank a little above its stated proof, especially without much of a warm-up beforehand.

Drinking value and a bottle that needs shelf space

Tom landed on a solid red because this is a good rye for the money. He didn’t find it wildly different from everything we’ve tasted before, but the added flavor worked for him.

Steve kept reaching for another sip. The nose carried into the palate, and the dark fruit, rye spice and wood sweetness held his attention. For him, this feels more like a Friday night special pour than a daily sipper.

Availability looked reasonably decent where we shop. We found a bottle, and we know other people who found it too. Still, we wouldn’t assume this release will sit around everywhere for long.

The bottle itself deserves a practical warning: it takes up serious shelf space. We like that 13th Colony sticks with its distinctive shape, but it’s wide, possibly wider than Blanton’s. If your whiskey shelves are already crowded, finding a home for it could be awkward.

$90 to $100 is too much

We wouldn’t buy this bottle at $90. Around $100, we’d pass. Our enthusiasm depends on finding it close to its regular price, where we both think it earns the hunt.