What Is The Compromise
The Compromise is exactly what the name suggests: a meeting point between the two great styles of American whiskey. Rather than choosing between bourbon's caramel richness and rye's spicy backbone, NBC and Nashtucky blended them in equal parts — 50/50 — at full cask strength with no proofing down and no chill filtration.
The bourbon side: a 9yr MGP Indiana distillate aged in a Kelvin cooperage barrel — the high-rye Kelvin recipe (60% corn, 36% rye) that NBC has built the Grateful Kelvin series around. Deep caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, dark fruit.
The rye side: a 7yr Kentucky straight rye from Nashtucky's portfolio — 100% rye mashbill, Kentucky distilled, with the herbal, peppery, dried-fruit character that Kentucky rye produces.
The result at 122.60 proof: aged oak and leather on the nose, rye bread and sweet spice, followed by a palate that opens with bourbon richness and finishes with rye's long, drying spice. The bottle's tagline puts it simply: "this cask-strength whiskey proves that opposites don't collide — they collaborate."
Shop The Compromise →Bottle Specs
The Bourbon Behind It: Grateful Kelvin MGP
The bourbon component of The Compromise comes from NBC's Grateful Kelvin program — 9yr MGP Indiana distillate using the 60/36/4 high-rye mashbill, aged in Kelvin cooperage barrels (Glasgow-made, heavier char). This is the same distillate and cooperage combination that powers the Grateful Kelvin single barrel series — NBC's most rye-forward bourbon program. In The Compromise, the 36% rye grain bill in the bourbon component bridges the gap between the bourbon and rye halves, creating a more seamless blend than a standard high-corn bourbon would produce.
The Rye Behind It: Nashtucky Kentucky Straight Rye
The rye component is a 7yr Kentucky straight rye from Nashtucky — 100% rye mashbill, distilled in Kentucky. Kentucky rye at this age develops a softened edge compared to younger releases: the pepper and herbal notes are present but rounded, and the dried fruit notes (apple, pear, cherry) that develop over 7 years in Kentucky oak add complexity rather than aggression. At 50% of the blend at cask strength, it's assertive enough to be felt without overwhelming the bourbon's richness.
Serving The Compromise
At 122.60 proof, The Compromise benefits from a few drops of water or a single ice cube — neither is required, but both change the experience. A few drops of water open up the nose considerably and soften the rye spice. The high proof makes it an exceptional cocktail base: spirit-forward drinks like a Manhattan, a Vieux Carré, or an Old Fashioned made with The Compromise deliver more complexity than any single component whiskey would. See NBC cocktail recipes →
The Compromise — #16 in America
NBC & Nashtucky · 122.60 Proof · Fred Minnick Top 100 American Whiskeys 2025
Shop The Compromise → Taste It at NBC Nashville