From Sparrow’s rye list, the Leopold 3 Chamber Rye is one of the most distinctive American whiskeys you can sip in Kirkland, a small-batch Colorado rye with a genuinely historic story behind it ($55 by the pour, or $82.50 for a larger pour).
About Leopold 3 Chamber Rye
Leopold Bros is a family-owned distillery in Denver, Colorado, founded by brothers Todd and Scott Leopold. Their Three Chamber Rye is made on the only working three-chamber still in the country, a type of still that was popular among American whiskey makers for well over a hundred years but had not been built since the 1910s. After Todd Leopold tracked down an old turn-of-the-century document describing the design, the brothers had Vendome Copper and Brass Works construct a new one. The rye itself is built around Abruzzi rye, an older, lower-starch grain closer to what distillers used a century ago. It is a real labor of love and a piece of living whiskey history.
Tasting Notes
Rye whiskey is known for its spice-forward, peppery backbone, and a three-chamber distillation tends to keep more of the grain’s character in the glass. Expect a fuller, more textured, savory style of rye with baking spice and a long, dry finish. This is a whiskey to slow down with.
What to Pair It With
This is a sipping whiskey. Enjoy it neat or over one large cube, or let it shine in an Old Fashioned. From the Sparrow dinner menu it stands up beautifully to the American Wagyu steaks or the Sparrow-Smoked Rack, and it is a perfect after-dinner pour in our 21+ lounge at the quartzite bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Leopold 3 Chamber Rye?
It is a rye whiskey from Leopold Bros in Denver, Colorado, distilled on the only working three-chamber still in the United States, a historic still design last built in the 1910s.
How much is a pour of Leopold 3 Chamber Rye at Sparrow?
At Sparrow in Kirkland it is $55 by the pour, or $82.50 for a larger pour.
Find it on the Sparrow beverages menu near the Michter’s Rye. We are in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside, so reserve a table and come taste it.