Straight Rye Whiskey · 70 / 23 / 7 Mashbill

Some stories leave a mark.

Scarlet Letter is a straight rye built from 70% Minnesota Heritage Red Rye, 23% corn, and 7% malted 2-row barley. The rye gives brine, cured baking spice and herbal lift; corn brings caramel, toasted nougat and vanilla. Malted barley draws those contrasts into balance.

70%Heritage Red Rye
23%Corn
7%Malted 2-Row Barley
Scarlet Letter Rye whiskey bottle, with its original scarlet R labelSome stories age better

What we carry reveals us.

In Hawthorne’s world, a single visible mark can suggest a much deeper private story. The scarlet “R” makes its own declaration: this is an unmistakably rye-led whiskey, with complexity that rewards a closer reading.

Minnesota Heritage Red Rye gives it a briny, savory edge, rich cured baking spices, and an herbal counterweight. Corn brings the familiar warmth of caramel, toasted nougat, and vanilla. Malted 2-row barley binds those elements into a balanced, finished spirit.

Illustrated label artwork · preserved from the original design
Original Scarlet Letter Rye parchment label, featuring an illustrated red R, engraved vines and Victorian ornament

The whole truth.
In three grains.

A precise 70 / 23 / 7 mashbill, with each grain contributing something recognizable to the glass. Rye writes the savory outline; corn supplies a warmer counterpoint; malted barley resolves the two into a coherent whole.

I · The savory foundation
70%

Minnesota Heritage
Red Rye

At 70%, Minnesota Heritage Red Rye sets the tone: brine, deep cured baking spices, and a lift of herbs. Its savory intensity gives the whiskey its edge without letting the spice become one-dimensional.

II · The warm counterpoint
23%

Corn

Corn brings the sweetness familiar to bourbon drinkers: caramel, toasted nougat, and vanilla. At 23%, it rounds the rye’s briny spice rather than covering it.

III · The quiet resolution
7%

Malted 2-Row
Barley

The final 7% of malted 2-row barley adds depth and balance. It connects the rye’s savory, herbal character to the corn’s sweeter notes, bringing the whiskey into focus as a finished work.

Rye: brine · cured baking spice · herbsCorn: caramel · toasted nougat · vanillaBarley: depth · balance · integration
Marked in RedOriginal Scarlet Letter Rye bottle and cream wax top

The mark is bold.
The whiskey is layered.

The scarlet “R” is worn openly: engraved vines, dark ornament, and parchment marked by time. The liquid offers a more private character—a briny, spice-rich rye with herbal definition, softened by corn’s caramel and vanilla warmth.

The tension between what first announces itself and what appears with attention is at the heart of Scarlet Letter. This is a straight rye built for a considered pour, not a hurried verdict.

70% Heritage Red Rye · 23% Corn · 7% Malted 2-Row Barley

A barrel for your own chapter.

Whiskey groups and licensed retailers can inquire about private single barrel selections. Tell us your market, expected bottle interest, preferred timing, and whether you favor briny herbal rye, cured baking spice, or a sweeter caramel-and-vanilla balance. All inquiries are subject to availability and applicable distribution rules.

Discuss a selection
Scarlet Letter Whiskey Co.

The mark stays.
The character unfolds.

Briny rye, cured spice, herbs, caramel, toasted nougat, and vanilla—in deliberate proportion. A strong first impression, with more to discover in the glass.

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