Midwest Farm Boy Rye: How Liberty Pole Spirits Took the Concept of the NFL Draft and Applied it to Whiskey
- Nick Anderson
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
“The farmer is, after all, the only man in our economy who has to buy everything he buys at inflated retail, sell everything he sells at depressed wholesale, and pay the freight both ways."
–John F. Kennedy
Nestled right where the industrial East meets the agricultural Midwest lives Liberty Pole Spirits in Washington, Pennsylvania. Known locally for being a craft distillery with a strong focus on reviving the historical significance of Pennsylvania rye, they've been gaining strong national traction as all eyes are on Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL draft. While I was just one taster out of countless visitors to the Liberty Pole tasting room, there was some fierce competition between the prospects that the Hough family put forth for consideration.
While I wasn't able to visit my friends at Liberty Pole for this particular project, I'm deeply grateful to Jim for including me in the draft experience. He sent along a 2-ounce sample of each of the possible barrels available for community selection and requested honest feedback on each. I had a blast documenting my own evaluation process, choosing to taste blind (on camera), resulting in a surprisingly accurate analysis of each whiskey before revealing the details of each barrel at the end of the YouTube video below. You're going to want to keep an eye out for "The Local Kid" too, I reckon.
There was one prospect who stood out to me the most. One barrel worth bottling above all else, and of course... it was a Pennsylvania rye. This historic category has long been something I have savored and enjoyed. From Liberty Pole's modern recreation of the Old Monongahela rye to the vintage whiskeys that continue to refine and educate my palate, PA rye is a historical whiskey worth celebrating, advancing, protecting, and certainly sipping. It's for that reason I am grateful to be able to revisit the winning barrel of the 2026 Liberty Pole whiskey draft: "Midwest Farm Boy."
For the whiskey nerd like me, the level of detail that Liberty Pole put forth on all their prospects was one of my favorite parts about this draft, including a short bio, measurables & stats, strengths, and character intangibles. For the Midwest Farm Boy prospect, the following details were included:
Bio:
Name: “Midwest Farm Boy”
Barrel ID: # 766
Position: Rye Whiskey
Measurables and Testing:
Entry Date: 3/17/2021
Entry Proof: 108.4
Current Age: 5 yr
Current Proof: 111.08
Mash Bill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Rickhouse Location: 3rd Floor
Strengths:
Notes: Spearmint, Strawberry, Nutmeg
Summary: A True Sweet & Herbal Rye
Character/Intangibles:
High Whiskey IQ
Sneaky Fast Despite Slow 40-yard Barrel Roll Time
Durable Book-End Type
In accordance with my editorial policy, I retasted this whiskey three times on a sober palate for a thorough examination of its quality. Let's find out just how far Midwest Farm Boy is going to go in this league, shall we? Will he be a one-season wonder, or is this rye destined for the record books?
Company on Label: Distilled, aged and bottled by Liberty Pole Spirits, Washington, PA
Whiskey Type: Pennsylvania straight rye whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: 95% rye and 5% malted barley
Proof: 111.5° (55.75%)
Age: 5 years
MSRP: $66
Further identification: "Midwest Farm Boy" came out of barrel 766 which aged on the 3rd floor from its fill date of 3/17/2021 until it was ready for bottling on 4/29/2026 as part of the 2026 single barrel draft
Nose: Right away this glass is inviting, layering light dulce de leche tones over milk chocolate and lemon buttercream frosting. After a bit of rest, the depth becomes even more apparent as a brightness and liveliness come through in the tiramisu and lemon posset gourmand tones. It's a lovely whiskey to nose with rye character on full display without the traditional spice profile that most modern distillers have fallen into. Coming back from a sip, I find a whiskey that is still so creamy and functionally complete. Late in the glass, interesting complexities of grapefruit and gunpowder really elevate this experience. The empty glencairn smells of ice cream cone and lemon gelato.
Palate: My first sip toes the perfect line between boldness and approachability as lemon tea meets the effervescence of ginger ale. A layer of thick creaminess swings in on the back end, reminding me of the last sip of a cappuccino. Another larger sip and swish elevates chewy granola bars loaded down with chocolate chips—instantly transporting me to one of my favorite trail snacks to carry in my hiking pack, likely getting a little squished packed next to a good bottle of whiskey. The linger here is just as chewy, with some of those oily characteristics of the whiskey continuing to be both expressive and impressive. As the liquid level fades, the flavors do not—resinous cedar, fig, and pumpernickel bread meet in bold harmony. My last sip is profound in its balance and complexity, layering the chocolate tones with red fruit into tropical fruit before settling back down into the sticky-sweet realm of the patisserie... this is why I love rye whiskey. The finish draws out long, like a Hail Mary throw that you just know is going to be caught.
TL;DR: A truly lovely expression of rye whiskey with the complexity that could... go... all... the... way!
Rating: 4.5/5
I like this even more than the sample I selected as part of my draft pick. It has matured. Developed. Improved. Midwest Farm Boy is surely destined to take his team to the championship this year, with each sip hammering home highlight-reel quality with a clear winning attitude.
Comments