Five & 20 Deep Water Straight Rye Whiskey

A seven-year rye that tastes like orange marmalade.

That's how Joe Nelson, Five & 20's director of distilling and brewing, describes it: the orange marmalade his grandmother put out at breakfast, with raspberry and red fruit behind it. Five & 20's official notes start with heavy caramel and rye spice, then orange zest coming in late. VinePair scored it 91 and found baking spice, black plums and fresh herbs.

The name is a Mazza family saying: "If you're gonna drown, it may as well be in deep water." The Mazzas have made wine on Lake Erie since 1972, and Five & 20 is their distillery. Their Straight Rye gets about two years in the barrel. Deep Water starts as the same 80% New York rye and 20% malted barley and gets at least seven, which is the deep water.

Nelson thinks a lot of cocktail rye passes off alcohol burn as rye spice. Five & 20 wanted a rye you'd sip on its own. For the long-aged version they run a slightly wider cut at the still, keeping more of the flavorful edges of the run, so seven years of oak don't bury the rye. The grain comes from farms around Westfield, in what Nelson calls rye country, and it was rye country long before bourbon took over.

It's 99 proof. Nelson drinks his rye with a splash of water, and this one holds up to it. If you've written off rye as too hot to sip neat, start here.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: heavy caramel and rye spice, with a hint of orange zest coming in late
• Palate: chewy caramel first, then deep wood
• Finish: long, wood and rye spice together

Those are Five & 20's notes.

Bottle Specifications

• Category: Straight rye whiskey, small batch
• Age: Minimum 7 years
• Mash bill: 80% New York rye, 20% New York malted barley (same as Five & 20 Straight Rye)
• Cask: Charred American oak, no finish
• Proof / ABV: 99 proof / 49.5%
• Distillery: Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing, Westfield, New York
• Bottle size: 750ml

Poured by Whiskey-of-the-Month Club Explorer members in August 2026.

FAQ

How is this different from the Five & 20 Straight Rye?
Same grains, same fermentation, same yeast. Deep Water gets at least seven years in the barrel instead of about two, a slightly wider cut at the still to stand up to that time, and a higher proof (99 against 90).

Is there corn in it?
No. It's rye and malted barley only.