It seems that the angels are very thirsty over at Old Forester, because the distillery just announced the latest High Angels’ Share expression, part of its limited-edition 117 Series. And this time it’s a rye whiskey and not a bourbon that the angels are lapping up.

Old Forester is a Kentucky brand and distillery with a long history. It’s owned by parent company Brown-Forman, the same company that controls other major whiskey brands like Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve. There’s an outpost on Whiskey Row in Louisville with a bar and a very small still making some whiskey, but the lion’s share of the bourbon and rye that it bottles is produced at the much larger Shively distillery, where other brands like King of Kentucky and a large amount of Woodford are also made.

The 117 Series launched in 2021, and this new whiskey brings it full circle—the first release was the 110-proof High Angels’ Share Bourbon, selected by Jackie Zykan who was master taster at the time (she has since left Old Forester and moved onto other whiskey ventures). Other 117 Series releases have included 1910 Extra Old, Whiskey Row Fire, Scotch Cask Finish, and whiskeys that were matured in individual warehouses. The name 117 is a reference to Old Forester’s historic 117 West Main Street address, where it operated from 1882 to 1919 (technically the address is now 119 West Main Street, but that’s pretty close).

The “high angels’ share” designation refers to the fact that the whiskey selected for these releases had a very high evaporation rate, which is often referred to as the angel’s share. Old Forester’s whiskey is matured in heat-cycled warehouses where the temperature is controlled, but that can still result in particular barrels losing a lot more water than others, and the result is a higher proof, highly concentrated whiskey. This new rye, the first of this style to bear the High Angels’ Share name, was bottled at 110 proof like past bourbon releases.

We were able to sample this new whiskey, and there is a deep concentration of flavor here. It reads much more like a rye than other expressions in this category from Old Forester, with prominent notes of fruit and spice as you sip. Those are complemented by flavors like burnt orange peel, cinnamon, cocoa powder, vanilla, and black pepper. And at 110 proof, there’s some warming heat on the finish (and the start), but nothing overwhelming.

Old Forester High Angels’ Share Rye is available now at the distillery and select Kentucky retailers (SRP $65) in 375-ml bottles. And keep an eye on the secondary market, it will likely show up there as well at some point.