Bhakta 1928 Straight "Calvados & Armagnac" Rye Whiskey 750ml

Bhakta Spirits was founded in 2020 by Raj Peter Bhakta, the entrepreneur who earlier built WhistlePig into one of the defining names in premium American rye before departing that company in 2019. Rather than distilling from scratch, Bhakta built his new venture around sourcing rare and often decades-old spirit stocks, including Armagnac vintages that reach back to the late 1800s. The brand operates out of Vermont and has become known for eye-catching, history-driven releases that blend American whiskey traditions with old-world French brandy. The 1928 expression continues that approach, built around the romance of the Roaring Twenties and a genuine cache of vintage Armagnac from that year.

This release starts with straight American rye whiskey, which is then blended with rare aged Armagnac and finished in Calvados casks sourced from Normandy. The result draws on three distinct traditions at once: rye's grain-forward spice, Armagnac's long, oxidative aging character, and the apple-driven richness that Calvados barrels contribute during finishing. The finished whiskey is bottled at 50% alcohol by volume, or 100 proof, giving it enough weight to stand up to the layered blending behind it.

In the glass it shows a golden orange hue. The nose leads with custard, caramel, and vanilla, while the palate brings oak, warm baking spice, and more vanilla, rounded out by notes of baked apple and poached pear from the Calvados influence. The finish is long, closing on lingering oak and soft, mellow tannins. This is best suited to slow sipping neat rather than mixing.