Far North Roknar Minnesota Rye Waterford Store Pick

Located 25 miles from the Canadian border, in Hallock, Minnesota, Far North is on the family farm of farmer/distiller Mike Swanson. The Red River Valley Swanson farm has been continuously farmed by Swansons since 1917. It is a thousand acres of jet-black, abundantly rich soil that produces exceptional rye and heirloom corn. 

This seed-to-glass approach is most significant in their rye. Most rye used in spirits is made in a grain elevator and sold in bulk. Not only do producers not know where it's coming from, but they don't even know what types of rye they are using. 

Swanson found an heirloom variety of winter rye - AC Hazlet - to be the most agreeable to this farm and the style of whiskey he wanted to make, and his whiskies are built around this single variety. Swanson's prowess with rye is so well-known that when Whistlepig (no slouches in the rye department) decided they wanted to start growing their own rye a few years ago, the first person they consulted on the project was Mike.

Last Year, we did an email offer on their 100% Rye the same week Whiskey Advocate released their American Rye Issue.  The article featured the Swanson Farm, and, of the whiskey, they wrote "Most of us will never see it". In the world of allocated small production whiskey, this is as limited as it gets. 

Far North's tasting notes describe a nose of brown sugar, orange peel and a hint of freshly sawn oak that transitions to a palette of dried currants, almonds and vanilla. The finish lingers with baking spices.  Ours? It's one of the best ryes we've tasted in the past year, and you'll be happy to have it in your home bar.  Get it while you can.