100 Finest Rye Whiskeys, Ranked

Rye whiskey is the place the enjoyable’s at in American whiskey. Using rye grains (a wheat varietal) in place of bourbon’s corn brings a special taste profile to the whiskey. It’s typically earthier, extra floral, fruitier, extra natural, grassier, and sharper as a base ingredient. Add in varied yeast strains, native water, and new oak barrel ageing and you’ve got nearly infinite dimensions of taste notes that vary from darkly candy to shiny fruits to dankness to, sure, spice (although principally because of wooden affect).

As you possibly can see, of us, I like rye whiskey. So right this moment, I’m going to rank 100 great American ryes. And sure, I needed to minimize a lot to maintain at 100 entries.

American rye whiskey has to stick to fairly strict guidelines within the U.S. to be known as “straight rye whiskey”. Right here’s what to know earlier than we dive into the checklist:

• American rye whiskey needs to be made with a mash invoice (recipe) of a minimum of 51% rye grain.
• It should be distilled no greater than 160-proof (80% ABV).
• It should go into the barrel no greater than 125-proof (62.5% ABV).
• It needs to be aged in new oak containers (the form, dimension, or species of oak doesn’t matter).
• To be known as a “straight” rye whiskey, it has to age a minimal of two years and can’t be blended with every other spirits.

Past these guidelines, something is de facto attainable. Since American rye whiskey is so widespread, there are tons of variables from barrel-proof or bottled in bond bottlings and special barrel finishes to distinctive yeasts within the mash, native terroir-forward rye grains, and one-of-a-kind water sources that may have an enormous impact on the ultimate product. Then there are the passionate people who are making rye in all places from Kentucky to New York to Colorado to California and all factors in between — real aficionados whose dedication to craft actually interprets into their ultimate merchandise.

In 2023, each main title in whiskeys large or small is making the grassy juice in a method or one other. Jim Beam, Jack Daniel’s, Pappy Van Winkle, Elijah Craig, Balcones, Michter’s, Willett .. they’re all beneath alongside so many extra. And the “artful” smaller manufacturers are within the combine too. Which is all only a long-winded manner of claiming: It’s a good time to be a rye whiskey fan. There actually one thing for everybody on the market. So let me aid you discover the proper American rye whiskey so as to add to your assortment.

Additionally Learn: The High 5 Rye Whiskey Posts from the Final Six Months on UPROXX

100. Outdated Overholt Bonded Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $28

The Whiskey:

This rye hails from the Pennsylvania rye traditions of the early 1800s. The model was moved to Kentucky nearly 200 years later because of Beam. The whiskey within the bottle is a little bit of an enigma since Beam doesn’t disclose the mash invoice. It’s aged for 4 years and bottled at 100-proof per bottled-in-bond legal guidelines.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This leans a bit extra in direction of a high-rye bourbon than an out-and-out rye whiskey, with hints of vanilla, dry oak, and candy corn.

Palate: The style actually leans into the vanilla with a creamy pudding vibe main in direction of salted caramel, extra dry wooden, roasted almonds, and a ultimate spurt of heavy spice with a grassy edge.

End: The end stays dry and nutty because the spiciness is extra woody than peppery with a inexperienced edge.

Backside Line:

This can be a great spot to begin this checklist. This can be a very strong rye at a terrific worth level. It’s clearly constructed as a cocktail base, so use it accordingly to get a pleasant spicy/candy creamy basis into your drink.

99. Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky Bottled-In-Bond

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $28

The Whiskey:

This rye could be very a lot a bourbon drinker’s rye. The mash invoice is barely 51% rye with 37% corn and 12% malted barley. The juice then matures beneath the federal laws permitting it to be “bottled-in-bond” and is barely proofed all the way down to 100 proof with that tender Kentucky limestone water earlier than bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril on this one is daring with layers of cherry, vanilla, winter spices, and outdated oak staves.

Palate: The palate is basic rye with a sprinkling of black pepper subsequent to cinnamon sticks and cloves with a lush underbelly of vanilla cream that’s almost eggnog.

End: There’s a touch of orange that leads again to the cherry with a contact of outdated wicker and woody spice rounding issues out.

Backside Line:

This can be a very strong entry-point rye. It’s easy however does ship on essentially the most fundamental rye taste notes, which can prepared your palate for bigger-hitting and deeper ryes.

98. Sazerac Rye Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 45%

Common Worth: $34

The Whiskey:

Sazerac Rye is an entry-point whiskey and a throwback to the 1800s. The model was named after the famed Sazerac Espresso Home on Royal Road in New Orleans the place the Sazerac cocktail was born. At the moment, this expression is a real basic made at Buffalo Hint from their iconic rye mash invoice.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a vanilla base that helps anise, sasparilla, clove, cardamom, and a touch of purple peppercorn with a really tender minerality.

Palate: The palate has large Christmas-time vibes with candied fruits and nuts with loads of darkish spice alongside extra of that purple peppercorn with outdated pine wooden paneling lurking within the background.

End: The end is tender with candied fruits making a spicy cream soda with an outdated sweetgrass rope drying issues out that in the end results in a proofed end.

Backside Line:

That is one other nice possibility for mixing up cocktails. The deep darkish spices add a terrific dimension to any whiskey-forward elixir.

97. Woody Creek Distillers Colorado Straight 100% Rye Whiskey

ABV: 45%

Common Worth: $42

The Whiskey:

This Colorado whiskey is constructed from a mash invoice of 100% Colorado rye that’s grown up within the Rocky Mountains. The grain-to-glass whiskey is distilled on custom-built stills earlier than 4 years of resting in new American oak.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril runs deep with a way of darkish but candy purple cherry, leathery apricot, sourdough rye bread crusts with a touch of caraway, and this whisper of cinnamon and clove.

Palate: Bourbon cherry and darkish winter spice lead on the palate earlier than inexperienced natural botanicals and extra of that rye vibe come again with a way of toffee and vanilla.

End: The top leans into the candy facet with a contact of cherry and vanilla countered by chili pepper and inexperienced savory dry herbs.

Backside Line:

Should you’re searching for one thing just a little extra herbaceous after which that is the play, particularly should you’re searching for a cocktail whiskey within the Rocky Mountain State.

96. Noble Oak Double Oak Rye Completed with Port Wine Oak Staves

ABV: 48%

Common Worth: $36

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is constructed from Indiana whiskey that’s completed in Ohio. The “double oak” maturation course of implies that his high-rye mash was first aged in new American oak per regulation, after which re-barreled into outdated port casks for a ultimate relaxation. These barrels are batched and the whiskey is proofed with Ohio water earlier than bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a transparent grassiness on the nostril that’s like a freshly stuffed lawnmower bag subsequent to tender caramel, woody spices, and a whisper of oatmeal cookie dough.

Palate: The palate leans into the brown sugar and cinnamon of that cookie dough with a whisper of maple syrup subsequent to extra grassiness.

End: The top has a notice of bell pepper subsequent to extra of that moist oat really feel with a light sense of fennel-crusted rye bread.

Backside Line:

This has a freshness to it that performs properly in cocktails, particularly citrus-forward ones.

95. Bespoken Spirits Rye Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $54

The Whiskey:

This sourced whiskey is from MGP’s 95/5 rye, like so many ryes on the market. On this case, the whiskey is completed and bottled in California, giving it a distinctly West Coast vibe.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Drip espresso and caramel come by way of on a tannic nostril with a contact of brown spice and vanilla.

Palate: The palate has a contact of celery salt that results in caraway and rye bread vibes subsequent to loads of darkish citruses and stone fruit with a touch of soppy creamy honey.

End: The top has a tender and really fruity end with a touch of black pepper and cinnamon sticks.

Backside Line:

That is sort of funky and recent with an excellent natural saltiness that simply works. Nonetheless, we’re in cocktail territory although, so do that one in your subsequent Bloody Mary.

94. Milam & Greene Straight Rye Whiskey Completed in Port Wine Casks

ABV: 47%

Common Worth: $52

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is made in Indiana (at MGP) and shipped all the way down to Texas the place it’s batched. That whiskey is then refilled into port casks imported from Portugal. After a ultimate relaxation beneath the new Blanco, Texas solar, the barrels are small batched, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril is good and fruity with grapes and perhaps some blackberries subsequent to darkish chocolate laced with cinnamon and a lightweight mustiness.

Palate: The palate leans into lush vanilla with a robust and darkish fruit cake filled with clove, cinnamon, candied fruits, and nuts.

End: The end is shorter and just a little mild however delivers vanilla lushness beneath woody winter spices, roasted nuts, and a lightweight sense of spicy chewing tobacco.

Backside Line:

This has a pleasant stability of darkish fruit and sweetness that simply works, particularly should you’re trying to make an excellent fizzy cocktail.

93. Nice Jones Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 45%

Common Worth: $40 (Coming Quickly)

The Whiskey:

This can be a very native New York whiskey. The mash makes use of grains grown in New York earlier than the juice is distilled and aged on the craft distillery. The whiskey ages for 4 years earlier than batching, proofing, and barreling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This whiskey opens with a nostril filled with lemon and cumin with a dose of vanilla and pepper.

Palate: The palate is cinnamon sweet ahead with vanilla tobacco and lemon pepper mingling with a touch of outdated oak staves and perhaps some bitter cherry.

End: The top is mild however spicy with a rush of dried fruits and candy brown sugars.

Backside Line:

That is one other good commonplace rye that hits basic notes very clearly. Use it in cocktails.

92. Filmland Spirits Presents Ryes of the Robots Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 47%

Common Worth: $59

The Whiskey:

This brand-new whiskey blends Hollywood B-movies with sourced whiskey could be very new. The precise whiskey is a 95/5 rye/malted barley sourced whiskey from Kentucky. Past that, not a lot is thought. Although there’s been an unbelievable quantity of labor about writing a script and drawing up storyboards across the launch.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril opens with a pleasant mixture of darkish berries and outdated leather-based subsequent to cinnamon bark and clove berries with a touch of caramel.

Palate: The palate begins off fairly skinny however finally ends up hitting a mint chocolate chip vibe and a touch of black peppercorn with a touch of purple berries floating in vanilla-laced cream.

End: The top is fairly skinny with transient hints of oak staves and cinnamon subsequent to very delicate menthol tobacco.

Backside Line:

This has the funniest branding on the checklist. It’s additionally a strong entry-point rye with an excellent stability of basic flavors that play properly in cocktails.

91. Frey Ranch Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $60

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from Nevada is a single-estate spirit. Meaning it’s made with 100% rye within the mash invoice and that rye (Winter Rye particularly) got here from the Frey Ranch farmland. The spirit was then aged a couple of years earlier than only some thousand bottles have been stuffed.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This opens with a pleasant dose of outdated leather-based and black pepper subsequent to a touch of dry citrus rind — orange and grapefruit — with minor notes of honey and rum raisin.

Palate: The palate provides in a spicy and tart apple crumble with a line of dried rose and floral honey that offers approach to rye bread crusts and cinnamon/clove spice.

End: The top kicks the boost with recent ginger sharpness, darkish cacao, extra black pepper, and a tender and chewy tobacco vibe.

Backside Line:

This has a terrific stability of citrus and spice with a pointy pepperiness. The vibe could be very “whiskey bitter with a pointy edge” and, belief me, you’ll dig it!

90. Sagamore Spirit Rye Straight Whiskey

ABV: 41.5%

Common Worth: $43

The Whiskey:

This Maryland whiskey (although a part of it’s nonetheless sourced from Indiana) is 2 rye mash payments which can be put collectively for optimum ryeness. The high and low rye whiskeys are aged 4 to 6 years earlier than batching. The whiskey is then proofed with limestone water from a Maryland spring forward of the bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Winter spices and orange oils mingle with candied walnuts and deep umami, sort of like tomato paste.

Palate: The style marries dried orange peels with nutmeg and vanilla cream with extra candied walnuts and a touch of pecan.

End: The vanilla amps up with a cookie vibe that results in extra of these winter spices and an excellent dose of moist brown sugar with a moist wicker finish.

Backside Line:

This can be a nice gateway into Maryland’s deep-running and really outdated rye scene. Although that is clearly constructed as a cocktail base, it nonetheless carries clear notes that talk to the old-school regional fashion.

89. Hudson Whiskey NY Again Room Deal New York Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 46%

Common Worth: $62

The Whiskey:

The whiskey within the bottle of this New York whiskey is Hudson’s three-year rye. That whiskey is then completed of their former bourbon barrels that Hudson despatched to Scotland to age peated malt in. These barrels have been later despatched again to New York in order that this whiskey might end ageing in them.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Hints of orchard fruits — pear, peach, perhaps some tangerine — paved the way on the nostril with a touch of an almond shell.

Palate: The palate takes on a calmly smoked peach vibe as mint and vanilla kick round with a touch of winter spice and a skinny line of tobacco.

End: The top has an apple peel and core feels with a small notice of tannic wooden.

Backside Line:

This can be a good artful whiskey with a deep fruitiness. Test it out the subsequent time you’re up in New York.

88. Excessive West Double Rye Mix of Straight Rye Whiskeys

ABV: 46%

Common Worth: $35

The Whiskey:

Excessive West’s Double Rye is shortly changing into a contemporary basic. The Utah whiskey is constructed from a mix of 95% rye from MGP of Indiana and two-year rye from Excessive West’s Utah distillery with a mash of 80% rye and 20% malted rye. All of the whiskeys within the combine are a minimum of two years outdated earlier than they’re blended and proofed for bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril on this is filled with berries and orchard fruits with a touch of mint chocolate chip tying all of it collectively as delicate notes of sassafras, orris, and allspice linger within the background.

Palate: The palate pops with the identical shiny purple berries with a candy and creamy vanilla/caramel vibe subsequent to creamed honey, inexperienced tea, and menthol tobacco.

End: The top has a touch of spiciness that’s extra nasturtiums than peppercorn with a quick trace of burnt orange and eucalyptus subsequent to a floral honey sweetness.

Backside Line:

This Utah whiskey is a hardcore rye that lands very softly on the palate. It performs very properly with citrus and floral cocktails whereas additionally inching into straightforward, on a regular basis sipper territory.

87. Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 47%

Common Worth: $32

The Whiskey:

This can be a refined rye whiskey. The mash invoice solely has 51% rye grains subsequent to 35% corn and 14% barley. The new juice is then aged for a number of years earlier than being blended, proofed, and bottled with no age assertion.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s an actual sense of a darkish chocolate bar that’s minimize with dried chili and a contact of cinnamon that attracts you in.

Palate: The palate mellows that spice right into a Christmas spice combine whereas a honey sweetness and texture lead in direction of candy oak and the slightest wisp of pipe tobacco smoke.

End: The end takes its time as these spices preserve your senses heat and buzzing on the sluggish fade.

Backside Line:

That is the place you must begin your Kentucky rye whiskey journey. It’s a vital mixture of Kentucky sweetness with a grassy rye baseline that’s pure basic rye whiskey by way of and thru. All of that stated, that is nonetheless a cocktail base greater than a sipper however solely barely.

86. Center West Spirits Straight Rye Whiskey Darkish Pumpernickel

ABV: 48%

Common Worth: $46

The Whiskey:

This Ohio whiskey is made with darkish pumpernickel rye, Ohio tender purple winter wheat, yellow corn, and 2-Row barley malts. The juice is then aged for 3 years in new white oak earlier than it’s bottled with a contact of native Ohio water.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a way of slight sourdough rye funk on the nostril with a touch of pumpkin seed, caraway, candy cinnamon, vanilla husks, and a whisper of candied ginger.

Palate: The palate leans into that bitter funk and caraway as oolong tea, piney honey, and spicy, raisin-filled oatmeal cookies vibe.

End: The mid-palate kicks in arduous with the warmth as sharp cinnamon and chili dominate till a tender sense of vanilla, toffee, and darkish fruit leather-based mingle on the end.

Backside Line:

Should you’re searching for a cool, recent, and sort of dank whiskey, that is the play. It’s a thinker from high to backside however value taking your time with after which mixing into your favourite whiskey cocktails to see the way it modifications them. It’s plenty of enjoyable to play with is what I’m getting at.

85. 291 Small Batch Colorado Rye Whiskey Completed With Aspen Wooden Staves

ABV: 50.8%

Common Worth: $88

The Whiskey:

This award-winning rye from Colorado’s 291 Distillery is a contemporary basic. The whiskey is constructed from malted rye in a one-of-a-kind pot nonetheless. The new whiskey goes into new American oak with toasted aspen wooden staves for a 12 months earlier than batching and bottling as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril is lush and leans into wealthy darkish chocolate over dried cherry and cranberry with a touch of raspberry within the combine subsequent to apricot jam minimize with cinnamon and clove.

Palate: The style runs deep with salted darkish chocolate kissed with orange and purple chili subsequent to gingerbread, pecan maple syrup, and winter spices subsequent to a rush of rye bread crispiness, calmly dried dill, and a pointy sense of recent mint.

End: The salted darkish chocolate smooths out the end with a deep sense of outdated spice barks, moist marzipan, and a cool sense of natural rye.

Backside Line:

This Colorado artful runs deep. The flavour profile on this one is daring however balances by the top. Should you’re searching for a giant and brash quaint base whiskey, that is it.

84. Bradshaw Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 51.9%

Common Worth: $44

The Whiskey:

Terry Bradshaw’s rye whiskey is a praise to his new bourbon. The whiskey is made on the Inexperienced River Distilling Firm (now a part of Bardstown Bourbon Firm) from an undisclosed mash invoice. That whiskey ages for a mere two years earlier than proofing and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril opens with tender leather-based and Dr. Pepper spices subsequent to loads of vanilla and a deep sense of burnt popcorn (that’s barely tough).

Palate: The palate is oaky put white peach and brown sugar minimize by way of it with a way of refined winter spices and delicate peppercorns.

End: The top mixes tender vanilla with outdated oak as a butter toffee and spiced cherry tobacco finishes issues off on the senses.

Backside Line:

That is simply actually strong rye whiskey. It’s basic, tasty, and performs properly nevertheless you wish to drink it. You may’t beat that.

83. Ragtime Rye Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 56%

Common Worth: $60

The Whiskey:

This Brooklyn whiskey is constructed from grains grown in New York state. The juice is aged for a minimum of three years earlier than single barrels are hand-selected for his or her excellence and bottled with a contact of water.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This opens with a cherry-forward nostril subsequent to vanilla beans, burnt orange, a touch of outdated leather-based, and a whisper of lavender.

Palate: The palate is woody with a tender oak and outdated wicker vibe subsequent to candy orchard woods and a touch of white moss subsequent to a blackberry milkshake with a touch of vanilla.

End: The top leans into the blackberry and ties it to cinnamon and menthol tobacco on the end.

Backside Line:

This has a pleasant stability of floral, candy, and spiced that simply works. Seize one the subsequent time you’re in New York. Take it dwelling. Combine good cocktails with it.

82. Wild Turkey 101 Rye Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 50.5%

Common Worth: $28

The Whiskey:

That is the sibling bottle to the basic Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon. The whiskey is constructed from Wild Turkey’s commonplace rye mash invoice. It’s then aged in closely charred barrels for about six years. The whiskey is then batched and proofed all the way down to Wild Turkey’s signature 101-proof.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The peppery rye spice is minimize with rummy Christmas cake topped with wealthy vanilla ice cream subsequent to a transparent notice of toasted oak on the nostril.

Palate: The style leans into the spice with a rye model of the Kentucky hug, as hints of cedar, white sugar, popcorn, and charred bitterness lurk within the background.

End: Like Wild Turkey’s 101 Bourbon, the top is lengthy and scorching, with pops of peppery spice, creamy vanilla, and charred wooden. A really distant wisp of smoke acts as a button on the top.

Backside Line:

This is a superb rye whiskey at this worth level. It’s not simply important, it’s a quintessential Kentucky rye expertise you could shoot, sip, or combine. Get two.

81. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 45.2%

Common Worth: $35

The Whiskey:

This whiskey was a very long time coming. Grasp Distiller Chris Morris tinkered with this recipe for 9 years earlier than it was good. The whiskey has a reasonably low-rye mash invoice — for rye, that’s — with solely 53% of the grain within the recipe. The remaining is made up of native corn and malted barley. The whiskey then spends as much as seven years maturing at their Versailles, Kentucky facility earlier than its blended, proofed with tender limestone water, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This opens properly with tender inexperienced grass subsequent to a dusting of freshly cracked black pepper and dry cedar that’s countered by pear and marzipan.

Palate: That pear infuses into the marzipan on the palate as floral honey balances a rye pepperiness and trace of clove.

End: A whisper of recent mint drives the mid-palate towards extra of that sharp clove with a ultimate notice of honey-soaked pear on the skinny end.

Backside Line:

That is just about the identical because the entry above. Quintessential Kentucky rye that’s reasonably priced and findable. This leans just a little extra towards sluggish sipping however makes one hell of a cocktail too.

80. Templeton Rye Stout Cask End

ABV: 46%

Common Worth: $55

The Whiskey:

This 12 months’s brand-new Stout Cask End from Templeton out in Iowa is a basic 95/5 rye/malted barley whiskey. These barrels are vatted and re-barreled into chocolate espresso stout casks for an extra three months earlier than batching, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a mixture of cherry sweet and dried chili pepper on the nostril subsequent to a touch of creamy darkish chocolate and perhaps a touch of marmalade and dried apricot.

Palate: The palate has a lushness that’s accentuated by chocolate-dipped black cherry subsequent to Amaretto-spiked mocha lattes and a touch of darkish purple chili subsequent to outdated vanilla pods.

End: The top leans into the bitter espresso with a darkish chocolate vibe countered by vanilla tobacco, rum raisin, dried figs, and a touch of winter spice.

Backside Line:

Stout flavors play properly with rye and this whiskey is a good instance of it. The perfect half is that you just don’t need to go to Iowa to seek out that out since that is fairly broadly obtainable today.

79. Redemption Rum Cask End Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 47%

Common Worth: $45

The Whiskey:

Redemption is a Connecticut mainstay that sources its whiskey from MGP of Indiana. This MGP 95 is then completed in rum casks in partnership with Plantation Rum. They’re utilizing each Jamaican and Barbadian rum barrels which can be then blended for this fascinating rum cask end expression.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a mixture of rummy molasses that’s spiced with Christmas spices and vanilla, with a touch of tart fruit and sherried jamminess.

Palate: The style doesn’t actually deviate an excessive amount of from these notes and holds onto the molasses, spice, and vanilla whereas a contact of oak arrives late with a notice of citrus.

End: The top is short-ish and actually leans into the rummy nature of the spices and sweetness.

Backside Line:

Rum and rye go collectively so properly. This can be a nice instance that basically pushes the whiskey towards working wonders in a cool and recent cocktail with plenty of deep spice and fruit.

78. 291 M Colorado Rye Whiskey Completed with Aspen Wooden Staves and Maple Syrup Barrels

ABV: 63.5%

Common Worth: $108

The Whiskey:

291 out in Colorado is an award darling distillery and a crowd-pleaser as properly. This whiskey is made with shorter ageing in new American white oak with handled Aspen staves in that barrel to speed up the maturation course of. That whiskey is then transferred to outdated 291 barrels that have been used to age maple syrup in Wisconsin for Lincoln County Reserve Maple Syrup. Lastly, these barrels have been batched and bottled at cask power as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s an excellent sense of maple syrup on the nostril with blueberry pancakes, fig jam, and toffee candies subsequent to cinnamon sugar and a touch of burnt orange layered into caramel sauce.

Palate: The palate has a French toast vibe with loads of custardy lusciousness and nutmeg resulting in darkish chocolate and powdered sugar with a slight woody winter spice heat.

End: The top turns right into a cinnamon bomb that’s sort of like taking a complete field of Scorching Tamales to the face and chasing it with maple-syrup-soaked French toast and spiced apple cider.

Backside Line:

That is some deeply tasty whiskey that hooks you in with the sweetness of the maple after which drives dwelling a terrific rye profile. It runs deep and candy.

77. Leopold Bros Single Barrel Three Chamber Rye Whiskey 2022 Launch

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $249

The Whiskey:

The newest launch of Leopold Bros.’s famed Three Chamber rye is a stellar single barrel launch made in a bespoke nonetheless designed by Todd Leopold particularly to make this whiskey. The 2022 launch is made with Abruzzi rye and sourced from the most effective five-year-old barrels within the warehouse, in accordance with Todd Leopold’s master-level palate. As soon as a single barrel is chosen, the whiskey is then barely touched with water earlier than bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a artful sense of wealthy grain porridge minimize with maple syrup and rum-raisin subsequent to creamy Nutella and salted peanut shells on the nostril.

Palate: The style is lush and opens with a molasses-filled bran muffin artful vibe that results in a deep and murky apple cider, Cherry Coke, cloves, allspice, and creamy eggnog.

End: The end leans botanical and spicy with salted black licorice, cinnamon candies, shiny nasturtiums, and chewy apple-candy tobacco on the very finish with a flutter of dry prairie sweetgrass.

Backside Line:

This can be a actually artful whiskey for whiskey nerds. It’s additionally scrumptious any outdated manner you drink it.

76. Nonetheless Austin “The Artist” Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 49.8%

Common Worth: $50

The Whiskey:

This Austin whiskey is made with 100% Texas rye. The juice is loaded into the barrel at a decrease proof and “sluggish watered” all through the ageing course of in order that the whiskey comes out of the barrel already proofed and prepared for bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This opens with Wether’s Unique candies nonetheless within the wrappers subsequent to darkish cherry, fig jam, a whisper of espresso bean bitterness, and a contact of orange rind studded with cloves.

Palate: The style has a fruity saltwater taffy vibe subsequent to vanilla, dried apricot, a contact of ginger sweet, and a few darkish caramel.

End: The top leans into woody spices — cinnamon, cloves, and a few tender nutmeg — subsequent to burnt orange and candy caramel tobacco.

Backside Line:

This seems like digging by way of your grandma’s sweet dish whereas stealing nips from her whiskey cupboard. It’s a really nostalgic pour that works wonders in cocktails or poured for sipping.

75. Buzzard’s Roost Straight Rye Whiskey Smoked Barrel

ABV: 52.5%

Common Worth: $70

The Whiskey:

Buzzard’s Roost is a female-led Kentucky bottler. The whiskey on this bottle is double-casked rye from Indiana (MGP’s famed 95/5 rye). After 4 years of resting, the rye whiskey is re-barreled into new American oak that was toasted after which smoked as an alternative of charred for a ultimate maturation relaxation earlier than mixing and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril is wealthy and filled with nutty banana bread brimming with cinnamon and cardamom subsequent to salted caramel and moist vanilla cake kissed with tart cherry and a pinch of darkish chocolate.

Palate: The palate leads off with a touch of burnt orange that sweetens in direction of marmalade with extra of that vanilla and caramel accented by a campfire-singed marshmallow.

End: The top has a lightweight smudged sage vibe that circles again to that nutty and spicy banana bread with a buttery softness.

Backside Line:

This can be a nice rye from a model that’s actually shaking issues up proper now. The layer of “smoke” provides a terrific dimension that helps preserve issues recent and thrilling within the fashion. Drink it the way you prefer to drink your whiskey.

74. Pinhook Excessive Proof Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 58.2%

Common Worth: $45

The Whiskey:

Sourced from Fort & Key (a real whiskey nerd’s haven), this whiskey was constructed from a novel mash invoice. The juice is derived from a mash of 60% rye, 20% corn, and 20% malted barley. As soon as distilled, that whiskey rests for a minimum of 4 years earlier than it was batched and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a tender sense of orange blossom and floral honey on the nostril with a tart inexperienced apple pores and skin vibe subsequent to cinnamon, clove, and allspice, a contact of nuttiness, and a few caramel sweetness.

Palate: The palate leans into sticky toffee pudding with black-tea-soaked dates, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salted caramel with a touch of orange zest, walnut clusters, and lightweight chili pepper spiciness.

End: The top has a slight woody chili spice that leads again to the salted caramel and a lightweight sense of walnut cake minimize with plums.

Backside Line:

This can be a splendidly advanced whiskey that deserves plenty of time as a sipper or whiskey-forward cocktail base.

73. Wheel Horse Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 50.5%

Common Worth: $35

The Whiskey:

The newest batch from Latitude Beverage/Ocean State Distillers, which pulls its whiskey from the famed Inexperienced River Distilling Co. in Kentucky, is one other basic rye. The contract distilled whiskey is the quintessential 95/5 rye/barley mash. This one is aged for as much as three years earlier than it’s batched, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Chili salt and black pepper result in peach cobbler and a touch of vanilla frosting mingle on the nostril.

Palate: The palate is filled with winter spices that lean towards cinnamon and black licorice candies.

End: The end is all Crimson Hots with dashes of darkish chocolate, dry grass, and outdated vanilla husks.

Backside Line:

This can be a very succinct and basic rye. There are not any bells or whistles. However there doesn’t must be when a whiskey delivers completely on what’s promised.

72. Guero Rye Whiskey Aged 6 Years Completed in Cognac Barrels

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $107

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from Savage & Cooke is a Tennessee and California collaboration. The juice is a 51% rye that’s minimize with 45% corn and 4% malted barley within the mash. After a number of years of resting, the whiskey is re-barreled into Nice Champagne cognac casks for that ultimate relaxation. As soon as prepared, the barrels are batched and the whiskey is proofed down with native spring water from the Alexander Valley.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril opens with a way of Swedish Fish subsequent to orange marmalade on scones with a contact of rum-raisin, walnuts, and winter spices rolled into tender tobacco.

Palate: The palate layers pine-y honey with salted caramel, oatmeal cookies with walnuts, raisins, and loads of cinnamon and vanilla subsequent to a touch of Cherry Coke.

End: The top fades by way of woody cinnamon sticks and outdated star anise as apple-cinnamon tobacco folds in with dry sweetgrass and outdated cedar bark.

Backside Line:

That is rye with a deeper stability of fruit and woody spice that works wonders in a cocktail like a Manhattan or Sazerac.

71. Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 10 Years

ABV: 40%

Common Worth: $78

The Whiskey:

That is Beam’s high-end model and their high-end rye inside that model. The barrels are those that made it to 10 years and hit simply the best marks of taste and texture to be batched, proofed all the way down to a really accessible 80 proof, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: You’re met with aromas of peppery rye, refined toasted oak, and lingering vanilla on the nostril that results in Beam cherry with a touch of Coca-Cola subsequent to winter spice desserts filled with nuts.

Palate: The sip leads you right into a symphony of candy toffee minimize with eggnog spices and mincemeat pies with a pleasant underlying butteriness tied to vanilla.

End: It’s all completed with a flourish of warming cinnamon and smoky darkish chocolate subsequent to black pepper spice and tender clove tobacco.

Backside Line:

This hits each basic Kentucky rye notice so clearly. It’s well-built and actually tasty. It’s just a little low on the proof facet, which is why it’s so low on the rating. In any other case, it is a nice sluggish sipper for neat whiskey drinkers who’re searching for the simplest time ever.

70. Easy Ambler Contradiction Rye Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 46%

Common Worth: $43

The Whiskey:

This launch from Easy Ambler mixes some very attention-grabbing whiskeys collectively. The mix is 2 Tennessee ryes (one 70% rye, one 51% rye), MGP 95, and Easy Ambler’s personal rye which has a mash invoice of 88% rye. These whiskeys are then blended, proofed, and bottled within the hills of West Virginia.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril opens with a stewed cherry that’s heavy on woody cinnamon sticks subsequent to hints of vanilla pods and perhaps some dried florals.

Palate: The palate leans into the woodiness of the cinnamon persist with the purpose of feeling like a cedar field filled with spicy cinnamon tobacco as creamy vanilla results in a toasted coconut vibe.

End: The end lets the creaminess of the vanilla drive a candy edge because the spicy cinnamon tobacco is simply kissed with cherry syrup and darkish chocolate on the very again finish.

Backside Line:

Should you’re searching for a vital rye expertise, that is the purchase. It really works nevertheless you wish to use it.

69. Penelope Straight Rye Whiskey Completed in Tokaji Wine Casks

ABV: 53.5%

Common Worth: $85

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from Penelope actually leans into the specialty cask end. The bottom is a six-year-old MGP 95% rye. These barrels are shipped out to Penelope and so they re-barrel that whiskey into Hungarian Tokaji barrels for a ultimate relaxation. As soon as the whiskey hits the best spot, the barrels are blended and bottled with a contact of proofing water.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a way of delicate citrus oils on the nostril subsequent to tart inexperienced apples, rose water, loads of sharp cinnamon, and a contact of soppy brown sugar.

Palate: The palate leans into oatbread and prune jam with a touch of blackberry and fig lurking there someplace.

End: These fruits drive the top with a candy tartness that’s countered by delicate winter spices, orange rinds, a contact of anise, and tender vanilla toffee.

Backside Line:

That is one other succinct sip of rye that simply tastes nice.

68. Outdated Potrero Single Barrel Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 65.16%

Common Worth: $86

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is a little bit of a throwback with a West Coast vibe. The whiskey is 100% rye whiskey made at Hotaling & Co. in Potrero Hill, one among San Francisco’s most iconic spots for booze. As of this 12 months, the spirit is being distilled on the waterfront in San Francisco however nonetheless carries that Anchor Brewing heritage. With that transfer, the bottle additionally received a model new design that leans into San Francisco’s sea-faring historical past.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Molasses heavy bran muffins mingle with dry cinnamon sticks, Granny Smith apple skins, and Crimson Hots subsequent to rum-raisin and a twinge of an outdated oak stave and craft grain porridge with a caramelized edge.

Palate: The palate leans into ginger snaps with loads of cinnamon and nutmeg subsequent to vanilla pudding proper out of the cup and a dry sense of cedar kindling.

End: The top holds onto the dry woodiness with a layer of salted caramel raisins, candy porridge, and vanilla sweet on the very finish.

Backside Line:

That is enjoyable and artful in the most effective methods with a deep sense of the rye grains that made this whiskey entrance and middle. It’s a strong cocktail base — particularly with fruits — whereas additionally being an excellent on a regular basis desk sipper.

67. Outdated Elk Straight Rye Whiskey Completed in Rum Barrels

ABV: 50.5%

Common Worth: $89

The Whiskey:

This can be a five-year-old 95/5 (rye/malted barley) rye whiskey. The nuance right here is within the end. That 95/5 rye is re-barreled in 14-year-old Barbados rum barrels for a ultimate two to five-month-long of entirety. These barrels are then touched with water earlier than bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a transparent sense of grilled pineapple and clove on the nostril that results in woody tropical spices and an general really feel of rummy tropical cocktails with loads of spicy booze in them.

Palate: The palate leans into the woody spice bark with bitter orange, shiny lemon, and a touch of lime leaves earlier than delving into vanilla pods and a contact of heat tobacco.

End: The tobacco drives the end towards a whisper of mango and pineapple with a dried and nearly salted vibe earlier than ending up in a pleasant and rummy-spiced notice.

Backside Line:

Should you’re searching for tobacco-spiced rummy rye whiskey, that is the whiskey for you.

66. New Riff 100% Malted Rye Bottled In Bond Aged 6 Years

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $56

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from New Riff is a whiskey lover’s dream pour. The mash is constructed from 100% malted rye (most rye that’s used for whiskey is unmalted). Meaning extra sugars can be found within the grain because it goes by way of germination after which heating to cease that course of, which helps create plenty of sugars. The juice then rests for six years in new oak earlier than the barrels are blended, proofed down, and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a touch of figs and dates on the nostril that results in a spiced Christmas cake coated in powdered sugar frosting with loads of candied citruses, dried darkish fruits, and roasted nuts subsequent to vanilla pudding and dried pear skins.

Palate: The style has a touch of orange saltwater taffy on the entrance that results in a mixture of clove, allspice, and sassafras as darkish fruit leather-based and white peppercorns pop.

End: The top is lush and mellow with a touch of that pepper subsequent to darkish dried fruit layered right into a tobacco leaf alongside cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and darkish orange oils.

Backside Line:

Look, we’re already deep into this checklist and deep into excellent whiskeys. That is simply a superb craft whiskey with an extremely deep and basic vibe.

65. Hen Cock Rum Barrel Rye Island Rooster Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 47.5%

Common Worth: $200

The Whiskey:

This contract-distilled whiskey (by Bardstown Bourbon Firm) from Hen Cock is from 25 hand-picked four-year-old Kentucky rye casks (with a mash invoice of 95/5). These barrels have been vatted after which re-barreled in Caribbean rum casks for six extra months of maturation. Lastly, the whiskey was bottled with a contact of proofing water.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This opens with a touch of bitter orchard fruit subsequent to recent grains, mild molasses sweetness (with a twinge of tannic oak) subsequent to a light dose of dried and woody chili pepper.

Palate: The palate begins off with a bitter apple sweet sweetness subsequent to rum-soaked raisins with extra of that tannic molasses, an excellent layer of vanilla creaminess, buttery toffee, and a touch of purple peppercorns.

End: The top lets the butteriness of the toffee take over as crusty rye bread flour mixes with darkish sugars.

Backside Line:

This rummy rye additionally performs very well in fruity-spicy cocktails or simply over a glass filled with ice. Your selection.

64. Blue Run Emerald Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 58.35%

Common Worth: $110

The Whiskey:

The newest launch from Blue Run is their second rye launch, Emerald Rye. The whiskey is contract distilled at Fort & Key in Frankfort, Kentucky. The restricted run yielded solely 189 barrels that have been expertly blended and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Woody winter spices — clove, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon — lead on the nostril with a touch of creamy toffee and vanilla cake that’s countered by chili spices and a pinch of cumin, nearly like a garam masala.

Palate: The palate has a thick buttery caramel sweetness with a pointy chili pepper recent spiciness subsequent to stewed apples and pears with sultanas, woody winter spice, and minimize with a touch of clove brandy.

End: The top has a leathery vibe with a buttery apple crumble tobacco vibe with a touch of outdated cedar bark and spiced barks rolled up with burnt orange and dried tart cherry.

Backside Line:

This has develop into the cornerstone of Blue Run’s line as a result of, properly, it’s scrumptious whiskey that deserves your time. Pour it beat, add some rocks, or combine up your favourite cocktail. You’ll not be disenchanted.

63. Outdated Bones Rye Whiskey 10 Yr Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 55%

Common Worth: $99

The Whiskey:

This Indiana whiskey was aged for 10 lengthy years earlier than it was completed. The batched whiskey — a basic 95/5 rye — was re-filled into Apera barrels (an Australian sherry) for a ultimate contact of maturation. The whiskey was then bottled with a tiny contact of water.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril is daring with darkish burnt orange and vanilla cake frosted with toffee and rum raisin countered by delicate winter spices and a way of outdated oak staves in a cellar.

Palate: The style has a mint chocolate vibe that drives the palate towards orange blossoms and recent honey that’s minimize with black pepper and chili powder with a touch of outdated oak including a woody underbelly.

End: The top leans candy with toffee and caramel subsequent to honey-dipped apple subsequent to apple cider tobacco rolled with cedar bark.

Backside Line:

This seems like Christmas in a glass. Reserve it for then and also you’ll be in fairly fine condition pouring all season lengthy.

62. Woodinville Straight 100% Rye Whiskey Completed in Port Casks

ABV: 45%

Common Worth: $70

The Whiskey:

Following within the footsteps of Woodinville’s beloved Port Cask Completed Bourbon, this 12 months’s Woodinville 2022 Harvest Season choice is a 100% Washington rye whiskey end in Ruby Port Casks for 4 months of further mellowing. Lastly, these barrels are batched, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a spiced plum jam really feel to the nostril with a touch of dried nasturtiums and a touch of outdated boot leather-based and dry cedar bark.

Palate: The palate dips some dried bitter cherries into salted darkish chocolate with a touch of rye bread crusts simply kissed with caraway and fennel resulting in a light line of apple cores and stems.

End: The top has a tender mixture of vanilla fruit cake with loads of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon subsequent to raisins, dates, and prunes with a touch of chili pepper heat.

Backside Line:

It’s loopy that this good of a whiskey will not be even within the high 50. That is glorious whiskey, of us. Should you’re in Seattle, it needs to be the one factor you drink whereas there. Nicely, perhaps add some native wine in there too.

61. Easy Ambler Founders’ Cask Power Sequence Rye Aged 5 Years Batch Two

ABV: 61.6%

Common Worth: $54

The Whiskey:

This 100% West Virginia whiskey is constructed from a mash of 88% rye and 12% malted barley — no corn wanted right here, of us. The barrels are left to age within the Appalachia hills for 5 lengthy years earlier than coming collectively in tiny batches and bottled as-is at cask power.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a touch of leather-based and pine tar on the nostril with a touch of tart purple berry and burnt toffee.

Palate: The palate opens with a bourbon vibe with darkish cherry, tender vanilla cream, and lightweight outdated oak staves with a touch of bitter darkish cacao.

End: The top leans into cinnamon bark and clove layered right into a vanilla tobacco leaf that’s braided with moist cedar, dry leather-based, and outdated bouquet garni with a lightweight sense of an outdated cheese cellar lurking on the very backend.

Backside Line:

Yup, it’s scrumptious. Cocktails, neat, on the rocks…all of it works.

60. Doc Swinson’s Alter Ego Solera Technique Straight Rye Whiskey Completed in Rum Casks

ABV: 47.5%

Common Worth: $46

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is a mix of basic Indiana 95/5 rye/malted barley whiskey with a really low-rye mash whiskey made with 45% corn, 51% rye, and 4% malted barley. As soon as blended, these whiskeys are added to Doc Swinson’s solera system the place they’re completed in a mixture of rum casks from St. Croix, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, and Jamaica. Because the barrels are emptied, new whiskey is added to maintain the solera technique going indefinitely.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Quince jam and stewed pears paved the way on the nostril with a way of apple cider spiked with cinnamon bark and allspice berries subsequent to a light candy oakiness and grassiness.

Palate: Grilled peaches drizzled in caramel combine with the syrup from a can of fruit cocktail subsequent to smudged wild sage, pineapple rinds, burnt orange, and a way of candy moist herbs.

End: These candy herbs drive the end towards a way of spiced cherry subsequent to vanilla cookies with a pleasant dose of winter spice.

Backside Line:

This bottler out in Washington has this magic contact with barrels that appears nearly unbelievable. They’re at all times so good and this one doesn’t disappoint. The one downside is that these promote out quick so act shortly.

59. Kentucky Owl Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 11 Years Restricted Version Bayou Mardi Gras XO Cask

ABV: 51.4%

Common Worth: $500

The Whiskey:

The newest restricted version from Kentucky Owl celebrates Mardi Gras with a small launch of rum-finished whiskey. The whiskey within the bottle is 11-year-old Kentucky straight rye that then spends one other 12 months in Bayou Rum XO casks from Louisiana.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a tender leatheriness on the nostril with a way of outdated rye bread, candy butter, and winter spices layered right into a vanilla cake.

Palate: The style is on the sweeter finish with darkish cherry and stewed plum subsequent to orange marmalade, allspice berries, creamy vanilla pudding, and a gentle sense of dry and outdated herb gardens.

End: The plush finish layers in that candy butter and creamy vanilla with a way of clove tobacco, sharp and spicy root beer, and luxurious eggnog with loads of nutmeg.

Backside Line:

It doesn’t need to be Mardi Gras to take pleasure in this whiskey. It’s top-of-the-line releases from Kentucky Owl shortly and value including to your assortment.

58. FEW Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled In Bond

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $55

The Whiskey:

This brand-new rye from Illinois’ FEW Spirits is a follow-up to final 12 months’s Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon from the model. The whiskey is constructed from a mash of 70% rye, 20% corn, and 10% malted barley. That scorching juice is then mellowed in each commonplace 53-gallon barrels and smaller 30-gallon barrels for about 4 years earlier than batching, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril opens with a mixture of salted black licorice, cherry root beer, and mint chocolate chip subsequent to outdated porch wicker and boot leather-based.

Palate: The palate has a pleasant stability of cinnamon sweet with darkish milk chocolate simply kissed with dried chili flakes and woody allspice earlier than a touch of black cherry tobacco kicks in.

End: That tobacco vibe continues on the end because the allspice, candy cinnamon, and cherry counter a slight sense of entire black peppercorns.

Backside Line:

This can be a basic and really sharply spiced rye. It pairs amazingly properly with a bowl of salty buttered popcorn and film evening.

57. Pikesville 110 Proof Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 55%

Common Worth: $49

The Whiskey:

This can be a actual throwback rye whiskey. Pikesville Rye was on the middle of the Maryland rye whiskey scene till Prohibition put it within the grave. Heaven Hill saved the model and moved the manufacturing to Kentucky whereas holding onto the whiskey’s traditions of longer ageing and better proofing.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril pulls you in with a mixture of darkish cocoa powder packed right into a cedar field with a contact of rye bread, caraway seed, and salted butter with this skinny line of spiced honey.

Palate: The style leans into clove and salted black licorice with that spiced honey leaning just a little floral subsequent to a contact of dry singed cedar bark.

End: The top mellows considerably in direction of a vanilla pudding spiked with eggnog spices and a contact extra of that darkish chocolate shaved overtop with a touch of spiced caramel sauce.

Backside Line:

This feels such as you’re ingesting whiskey with Don Draper in 1959. It’s a novel vibe that’s 100% value testing, mixing with, and having fun with all summer season lengthy.

56. Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 50.4%

Common Worth: $53

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is a part of Kentucky Owl’s new accessible line of whiskeys (its earlier releases have been very unique and costly typically). The whiskey is contract distilled at Bardstown Bourbon Firm. The whiskey is constructed from a basic 95% rye and 5% malted barley mash. That ages for a minimum of 4 years earlier than bottling as is.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Citrus and inexperienced spices open up the nostril towards plenty of sweetness — honey, caramel, apple sweet — earlier than hitting a lightweight dry sweetgrass notice.

Palate: The style opens with a heat hit of winter spices with sharp cinnamon and a touch of black pepper earlier than a dry forest moss vibe strikes the style towards outdated leather-based and dried apricot with extra honey and sweet.

End: The top is extra heat than spicy with extra honey as a counterpoint and a touch of vanilla tobacco.

Backside Line:

If the Kentucky Owl above is just too pricy, give this one a attempt. It’s reasonably priced, findable, and tastes fairly rattling good.

55. Frey Ranch Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel Power

ABV: 68.73%

Common Worth: $99

The Whiskey:

This model of Frey Ranch is the farm and distillery in a single bottle. The whiskey is made with 100% Winter Cereal Rye grown on the ranch by Colby Frey, who additionally oversees harvesting and processing the grain for mashing. After a number of years of ageing, single barrels of rye are chosen for these releases and so they’re bottled with none fussing in any way.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a lightweight sense of outdated orchard wooden and useless leaves (which may simply be my open window) with a twinge of potpourris, dried Italian seasoning, and a touch of strawberry soda.

Palate: The palate leans into the candy purple berry vibe with a pleasant mixture of spiced vacation cake, outdated leather-based, moist marzipan, and even some dried fig.

End: The top will get heat just a little woody with almond shells, singed apple wooden (and perhaps hickory?), a contact of root beer, and extra of that outdated leather-based.

Backside Line:

That is rattling close to good craft rye whiskey. It’s floral, funky, and natural in all the best methods. If that’s your jam, what to do.

54. Russell’s Reserve 6-Yr-Outdated Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 45%

Common Worth: $36

The Whiskey:

Russell’s Reserve is the place we actually dive into the “great things” with Wild Turkey. This expression is a collaboration between Grasp Distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell, who search by way of the middle minimize of barrels of their rickhouses for the precise proper minimum-six-year-old ryes. The top outcomes are a window into the Russells’ shared palate for the whiskey.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This a refined rye with hints of crusty rye bread soaked in apple honey paired with a touch of vanilla, a contact of caramel, and delicate orchard fruit.

Palate: The palate is all a few spicy and candy Christmas cake filled with dried fruit, nuts, and spicy minced meat pie with a flutter of black pepper.

End: The oakiness shines late because the winter spice, vanilla/caramel sweetness, and singed cedar fade away towards a contact of apple cider tobacco.

Backside Line:

That is the subsequent step in your Wild Turkey rye whiskey journey. It’s simply extra refined and deep than the 101 however nonetheless seems like an older and wiser sibling of that whiskey.

53. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 45%

Common Worth: $36

The Whiskey:

This launch from Jack asks “what would straight rye whiskey style like if it was given the ol’ Lincoln County remedy?” Jack’s mash invoice makes use of 70% rye mash invoice and water from the close by Tennessee mountains. They then deal with the new distillate as they’d a regular Tennessee whiskey, with sugar maple charcoal filtration earlier than barreling and ageing.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: That is very mellow with tender layers of wealthy vanilla pudding, peach/apricot, rum-raisin, and cinnamon-heavy oatmeal cookies on the nostril.

Palate: The palate lets the cinnamon sharpen a bit because the silky vanilla takes over and results in applewood, floral honey, and a touch of nutmeg.

End: The mid-palate lets the fruity sweetness fade as a vanilla/cinnamon tobacco chewiness results in an outdated oak stave.

Backside Line:

This is likely one of the most underappreciated whiskeys on earth. This can be a nice rye whiskey (at this worth level) that works amazingly properly nevertheless you wish to use it.

52. Pursuit United Blended Straight Rye Whiskeys Completed in Sherry French Reserve Oak

ABV: 54%

Common Worth: $75

The Whiskey:

This brand-new rye from the crew over at Bourbon Pursuit is a masterful mix. The whiskey is hewn from Bardstown Bourbon Firm’s 95/5 Kentucky rye batched with two Sagamore Spirit ryes — one a 95/5 and one 52/43/5 rye/corn/malted barley. These whiskeys are batched and re-barreled right into a French sherry reserve cask for a ultimate relaxation earlier than batching, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a way of darkish fruits — black cherry, dates, rum raisin — on the nostril that results in tender and candy oak subsequent to worn leather-based, mulled wine, and brandy-soaked fig minimize with nutmeg and clove.

Palate: The style is extra on the woody facet of the spice with a transparent sense of old-school mulled wine with candy vanilla and star anise over orange rinds and raisins with a slight chili heat beneath.

End: The chili heat drives the end towards a tender red-wine-soaked oak that’s spiced with orchard barks and fruits subsequent to vanilla/cherry tobacco simply kissed with darkish chocolate.

Backside Line:

That is one other whiskey that’s simply actually good. It’s additionally changing into much more broadly obtainable nationwide so get y’all some.

51. Excessive West Rendezvous A Mix of Straight Rye Whiskeys

ABV: 46%

Common Worth: $69

The Whiskey:

This Utah whiskey is a mix of Excessive West’s personal 80% rye and 20% malted rye combined with MGP’s basic 95% rye and 5% malted barley rye. As soon as blended, the whiskey is proofed down and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Good winter spices — clove, anise, cinnamon, nutmeg — draw you in on the nostril as hints of outdated pears, burnt orange peels, and new leather-based mingle.

Palate: The palate has a touch of fig and purple chili pepper with a whisper of Cream of Wheat on the mid-palate.

End: The end fades by way of apricot jam and walnut bread with a touch of brown sugar icing and loads of dry apple cores.

Backside Line:

This can be a large step up for Excessive West rye (although not the mountaintop but). It’s simply easy-drinking whiskey and works nevertheless you wish to drink it.

50. 15 STARS Nice Aged Rye First West A Choose Mix of Straight Rye Whiskeys

ABV: 52.5%

Common Worth: $89

The Whiskey:

This new launch from 15 STARS is a mix of six, seven, and eight-year-old ryes from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. That mix informs the title “First West” as these states have been thought-about the “West” throughout the early days of the US within the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a deep winter spice — clove, anise, cinnamon, nutmeg — subsequent to Earl Gray tea, dried cranberry, dried cherry, and a touch of bitter plum.

Palate: Apricot jam over buttermilk scones dusted with cinnamon results in dry oolong tea leaves, candy sage, creamed honey, and a contact of ginger tobacco simply kissed with darkish chocolate sauce.

End: That sharp gingery tobacco drives the end with a bitter chocolate underbelly towards lush cherrywood and bitter plum sauce with a touch extra of these opening winter spices.

Backside Line:

Sure, that is nice too. It’s very uncommon although and shall be arduous to seek out exterior of Kentucky. Should you do snag a pour, take your time and benefit from the goodness that runs deep on this one.

Intermission. Should you’ve made it this far, thanks for studying. Each whiskey beneath this level is great. Discover the one which speaks to you and go together with it.

49. Redwood Empire Emerald Big Rye Whiskey Cask Power

ABV: 58.2%

Common Worth: $70

The Whiskey:

This brand-new whiskey from cult-favorite Redwood Empire out in Sonoma, California, takes their tried-and-true technique of mixing California, Indiana, and Kentucky whiskeys to the subsequent stage. The mix ended up being a calmly wheated rye with a mash invoice of 94% rye, 5% malted barley, and a mere 1% wheat. The barrels have been all a minimal of 4 years outdated (with some reaching previous six years) when batched and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This opens with a tender leatheriness that’s embued with dry chamomile tea, burnt orange, darkish cherry bark, and outdated cinnamon sticks that spent an excessive amount of time in mulled wine with a touch of bitter cherry and tart apple.

Palate: The palate amps up the tea leaf vibe with lush Earl Gray subsequent to darkish chocolate-covered espresso beans flaked with salt and perhaps some dried nasturtiums that construct out the spices towards a spiced winter cake.

End: These baked winter spices lead again to a tender creamy espresso dusted with nutmeg and darkish chocolate powder and layered right into a spiced tobacco leaf rolled with cedar bark.

Backside Line:

This can be a must-buy the subsequent time you’re in Northern California.

48. Sagamore Spirit Reserve Sequence 8-Yr-Outdated Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 55.7%

Common Worth: $86

The Whiskey:

This latest spring reserve launch from Sagamore Spirit is an eight-year-old rye constructed from locally-grown Maryland grains. The whiskey was batched and bottled as-is to spotlight the deep maritime ageing in Maryland.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril attracts you in with dried cherries dipped in darkish chocolate and sprinkled with floor clove and allspice after which dipped in outdated vanilla syrup made with burnt pods and orange peels.

Palate: A tender cherry sweetness performs with a basic winter spice combine — assume cinnamon sticks, anise, clove, orange rind, holly — subsequent to ginger rock sweet, peanut butter cookies, and a touch of rum-raisin.

End: That candy/rummy dried fruit drives the end towards clove-laced plum jam, peanut brittle, vanilla oils, and a whisper of pine resin layered into rum-raisin tobacco.

Backside Line:

This is likely one of the greatest Maryland rye whiskeys on the shelf right this moment. Make it the cornerstone drink throughout your subsequent go to to Baltimore.

47. Jefferson’s Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey Completed in Cognac Casks

ABV: 47%

Common Worth: $59

The Whiskey:

This launch from Jefferson’s leans on masterfully chosen barrel picks. The sourced whiskey is picked from single barrels of cognac-finished rye whiskey and bottled with a contact of proofing water at Jefferson’s Kentucky bottling facility.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Delicate outdated leather-based and meaty raisins with an excellent dose of sharp cinnamon minimize with floral and recent honey with a light creaminess.

Palate: The palate is plummy and filled with lush vanilla with a plum pudding vibe subsequent to a touch of orange studded with cloves whereas tender nutmeg smoothes every thing out.

End: The top brings the recent honey again and laces it with wealthy and nearly burnt orange oils subsequent to a mixture of outdated cedar bark and dry cinnamon wrapped in dry tobacco.

Backside Line:

That is an amazingly good seafood pairing whiskey, particularly with recent oysters. You’re welcome.

46. Cascade Moon 13-Yr-Outdated Straight Rye Whisky

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $399

The Whisky:

The whisky within the bottle is rye whisky that spent 13 years chilling within the cool Cascade Hole warehouses in Tennessee (the place George Dickel is made). The barrels for this bespoke mix have been hand-selected by Cascade Hole’s normal supervisor and distiller Nicole Austin for his or her perfection. They have been then proofed all the way down to 100 proof and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril is extremely recent with bursts of inexperienced apple, freshly minimize sweetgrass, darkish citrus oils, semi-dry roses, and recent cinnamon sticks.

Palate: The palate leans into the inexperienced apple with a tart edge because the spices kick up a wintry vibe earlier than a savory notice arrives with a touch of dill, anise, and perhaps some rosemary. On the mid-palate, the citrus comes again with a shiny orange and grapefruit contact that turns into moist black peppercorns, white moss, and an echo of dried inexperienced tea leaves.

End: The end lets that inexperienced tea vibe settles into the earthiness and savory herbs because the sip slowly fades out, leaving you with a whisper of dried wicker deck furnishings.

Backside Line:

That is funky, uncommon, and female-led whisky that rises above whiskey usually, not simply rye whiskey. Search for it the subsequent time you’re in Tennessee.

45. Catoctin Creek Ragnarök Straight Rye Whisky

ABV: 46%

Common Worth: $99

The Whisky:

This collaboration brings collectively Virginia’s Catoctin Creek with thrash steel legends, Gwar. The whiskey within the bottle is basic Catoctin Creek rye aged in new white oak and completed in sugar maple and cherrywood casks. The barrels are blended and proofed earlier than bottling in specifically labeled bottles with steel die-cast toppers representing every member of the band.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This one opens with a touch of buttercream on the nostril with a bespoke cola spiciness, a touch of bitter orchard fruit, and loads of darkish but candy wintry spice with a dry cedar edge.

Palate: The palate opens with tender vanilla subsequent to some cardamon and cinnamon with a bitter quince vibe.

End: The top is a component heat and woody spices and half tender brown sugar with a buttery edge and a few mild darkish and sharp cinnamon.

Backside Line:

This can be a no-brainer purchase should you’re into rye and Gwar.

44. Journeyman Distillery Final Feather Rye Whiskey

ABV: 45%

Common Worth: $52

The Whiskey:

This Michigan whiskey is a little bit of a rye outlier because of a novel recipe. The mash is constructed from 60% rye and 40% wheat, making this one of many solely high-wheat ryes in the marketplace.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a wealthy caramelized sense of grains and toffee on the nostril subsequent to vanilla cake with orange frosting and dusted with nutmeg and cinnamon.

Palate: The palate is lush, with a way of marzipan dipped in darkish chocolate with touches of vanilla, orange, and rose oils subsequent to woody cinnamon bark and apple cores.

End: The top has a touch of vanilla tobacco subsequent to toffee coated in almonds with a touch extra cinnamon resulting in cloves and sweetgrass.

Backside Line:

Should you go to Michigan and don’t do that, you failed your journey to Michigan and have to return.

43. Thomas H. Helpful Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey BTAC 2022

ABV: 65.45%

Common Worth: $1,499

The Whiskey:

This 12 months’s Thomas H. Helpful Sazerac Rye was distilled again within the spring of 2016 with a mixture of Minnesota rye, Kentucky corn, and North Dakota malted barley with among the iconic Kentucky limestone water. The new juice went into new white oak from Unbiased Stave from Missouri with a #4 char stage (55 seconds). These barrels have been racked in warehouses I, L, and M on flooring 2, 4, 5, and 6. After six years and 4 months, 31% of the whiskey was misplaced to the angel’s share earlier than these barrels have been batched and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: That is tannic from the bounce with a nutty sense of an outdated almond cookie subsequent to buttery biscuits with marmalade and a trio of outdated saddle leather-based, star anise, and lemon meringue pie with a flutter of dried flowers within the background.

Palate: The palate lights on hearth with excessive ABVS. Then, these florals pop on the palate as candied orange and spiced vacation cake result in a darkish chocolate brownie, some burnt orange, and candy cinnamon with a peanut brittle sweetness.

End: The top is piney and filled with dried roses, orange rinds, and incense.

Backside Line:

That is daring slap-in-the-face rye whiskey that’s tremendous floral and funky. It’s not for everybody however that by no means means it isn’t amazingly properly made.

42. Balcones Texas Straight Rye Whiskey 100 Proof

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $40

The Whiskey:

This rye is Texas in a bottle. The expression is manufactured from 100% rye from a mixture of Elbon Rye sourced from Northwest Texas in addition to crystal, chocolate, and roasted rye. The juice is then aged for slightly below two years in a scorching Texas rickhouse and minimize with Hill Nation spring water and nothing else.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Cherries dipped in chocolate assist black tea bitterness, mild oak char, and a rush of cracked black pepper.

Palate: The pepper leads the best way because the bitter chocolate leans into an oolong inexperienced tea vibe because the sip features a creamy and buttery toffee style.

End: The sip then barrels in direction of its finish with a flourish of roasted peanuts and extra of that tea bitterness and a ultimate trace of salted darkish chocolate-covered raspberry.

Backside Line:

That is such a transparent and concise rye that simply delivers. It’s a vital purchase should you’re in Texas.

41. Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Tennessee Rye Whiskey

ABV: 68.65%

Common Worth: $72

The Whiskey:

The whiskey on this bottle is drawn from single barrels of the great things. The whiskey in these barrels was made with Jack Daniel’s rye mash invoice of 70% rye, 18% corn, and 12% malted barley that’s fermented with Jack’d proprietary yeast and lactobacillus earlier than operating by way of column stills. The new juice is then slowly — actually one drip at a time — filtered by way of 10 ft of sugar maple charcoal made on-site on the distillery. As soon as filtered, the whiskey is stuffed into new American oak barrels and left to relaxation till each was good for a barrel-proof bottling run.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril runs deep with a touch of dried purple chili pepper that builds towards tender and recent pipe tobacco minimize with pear and packed into an outdated leather-based pouch as just a little little bit of outdated sweet wrapper a notice of fizzy chinotto soda with a rock sweet sweetness and a touch of dry candy cedar.

Palate: Candy darkish fruits and grilled peach open the palate as a dramatic heat begins to construct towards razor-sharp clove, cinnamon, and mace with a really slight woody bark presence earlier than singed marshmallows come into play and the warmth hits 9-point-holy-shit on the Richter Scale.

End: That warmth fades fairly shortly on the again finish as notes of outdated boot leather-based and apple pores and skin tobacco mingle with a faint whisper of creamy almond and ginger rock sweet subsequent to a fleeting notice of dried ancho chilis soaked in scorching water.

Backside Line:

That is one other slap-you-in-the-face pour that runs so deep. When you get previous that brashness, you’re rewarded with a devilishly scrumptious Tennessee rye. It’s additionally on cabinets proper now, so get it earlier than it’s gone for an additional 12 months.

40. Catoctin Creek Rabble Rouser Rye Whiskey Bottled In Bond

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $96

The Whiskey:

This contemporary basic from Catoctin Creek is constructed from a 100% rye mash. The juice is distilled at a decrease proof, which lets the graininess shine by way of in the long run product, which is aged for 4 years earlier than mixing, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril opens with a deep and candy purple fruitiness that offers approach to a lightweight winter spice combine, some caramel, and perhaps a touch of Cream of Wheat minimize with brown sugar.

Palate: There’s a lightweight however darkish orange citrus vibe on the palate that results in lemon pepper, vanilla pudding cups, and extra of that winter spice with a touch of bitter espresso bean.

End: The espresso notice drives the end towards clove buds and cinnamon bark with a creamy porridge artful sweetness counterpoint.

Backside Line:

This whiskey simply works. It’s not fancy or overwrought. It’s simply good.

39. Rabbit Gap Boxergrail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 47.5%

Common Worth: $52

The Whiskey:

This artful distillery makes its rye with 95% rye and malted barley proper in Louisville (and by way of contract distilling). The 95/5 rye scorching juice is aged for 3 years in closely toasted and charred barrels earlier than batching, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This has an attention-grabbing nostril that’s half spicy pork stew (chili, umami, fats) with shiny peaches, vanilla, and summer season wildflowers as a counterpoint.

Palate: The palate has a touch of outdated cedar subsequent to cream soda, white pepper, and crusty rye bread with a touch of caraway seed and perhaps some dry fennel.

End: The end brings in closely spiced chewy tobacco packed into an outdated cedar field with creamy vanilla and a touch extra of that powdery white pepper.

Backside Line:

That is one other one which feels prefer it needs to be very commonplace however is a lot extra. There’s some type of magic at play as a result of that is some nice whiskey at an excellent worth level that punches above its class.

38. Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 47%

Common Worth: $59

The Whiskey:

This new whiskey from Redemption goes deep on the “wine lees” technique to attract out flavors from the spirit and wooden. Very principally, when MGP is contract distilling Redemption’s 95% rye, they take the backset or “whiskey lees” that often could be redistilled and as an alternative put that into the barrel to activate the wooden earlier than the “coronary heart minimize” of rye distillate goes into the barrel for its ageing interval. The barrels are then rolled and rotated all through that ageing spell earlier than vatting, non-chill filtering, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril has a way of bitter orange subsequent to pecan and walnut shells with hints of dried apricot, dried apple chip, and floral honey.

Palate: The palate leans into the nuttiness with a way of pecan waffle cooked in butter subsequent to eggnog lattes and singed marshmallows with a touch of caraway rye bread crusts and a touch of fennel.

End: The top is lush with a touch of apple pie in a lard crust subsequent to salted popcorn with a touch of brown butter earlier than a woody sense of dried figs and outdated cedar results in a whisper of cinnamon-orange on the end.

Backside Line:

That is one other whiskey that runs so deep and delivers a lot. Get it, like it, get extra.

37. Russell’s Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Single Barrel

ABV: 52%

Common Worth: $69

The Whiskey:

This hand-selected single-barrel expression hits on some fairly large basic rye notes with Kentucky bourbon vibes beneath all of it. The whiskey is chosen from the middle cuts of the third by way of fifth flooring of the Wild Turkey rickhouses. There’s no chill filtering and the expression is barely barely touched by water earlier than bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril is filled with darkish orchard fruits, tender vanilla pods, outdated oak staves with a touch of outdated barrel home funk, and a mixture of spicy orange rind subsequent to freshly cracked black pepper and sharp cinnamon powder.

Palate: The palate leans into the cinnamon and layers it into chewy and buzzy tobacco with hints of vanilla sweetness, cherry bark woodiness, and sharp fancy root beer vibes.

End: The top pings on that outdated musty rickhouse yet one more time as a humidor filled with vanilla, cherry, and cinnamon-spiced tobacco fades in direction of a wealthy and buttery toffee with a touch of rye fennel on the very backend.

Backside Line:

That is one other large step on the Wild Turkey rye whiskey journey (although not the highest but). We’re to the purpose of the checklist the place I can confidently say that if I needed to solely drink this whiskey for the remainder of my life, I wouldn’t be mad in any respect.

36. Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 7 Years

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $36

The Whiskey:

This new whiskey from Beam marks the massive age-statement return of their iconic Knob Creek Rye. The whiskey on this case was aged seven years earlier than batching, slight proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Traditional Beam caramel sweetness with a vanilla underbelly drives the nostril towards rye bread crusts, a touch of dried savory herbs, apple blossoms, and a whisper of soppy leather-based gardening gloves.

Palate: The spiciness arrives after lush vanilla cream and salted caramel with a dose of freshly cracked purple peppercorns, dried purple chili, and sharp winter brown spices subsequent to a spiced oak.

End: The creaminess, sweetness, and spiciness coalesce on the end with a deep sense of fruit orchards filled with fall leaves and apple bark.

Backside Line:

This simply received a large launch and shall be among the many greatest new whiskeys of the 12 months.

35. Outdated Ezra Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 7 Years

ABV: 57%

Common Worth: $83

The Whiskey:

This new rye whiskey from Outdated Ezra, which often focuses on bourbons, is a seven-year-old rye mix. The whiskey is a batch of barrels from a 51% rye whiskey and a basic 95% rye that aged for seven lengthy years earlier than bottling at full proof with charcoal filtration.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Hints of outdated leather-based and burnt citrus drive the nostril towards recent honey and vanilla cake with a touch of outdated oak and cellar funk.

Palate: The palate leans into the tender vanilla with a touch of burnt orange and leathery spice earlier than some ABVs begin buzzing on the tongue.

End: The top has a pleasant layer of orange and clove tobacco with a touch of outdated oak and vanilla honey cookies.

Backside Line:

That is one other whiskey that doesn’t overdo something however lands each notice clear and completely.

34. Legal guidelines San Luis Valley Straight Rye Bottled-In-Bond 7-Yr

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $85

The Whiskey:

This grain-to-glass distillery from out in Denver, Colorado is a basic 95/5 rye/malted barley mash. The whiskey is left alone within the excessive elevations for seven years to mellow in oak earlier than it’s batched, proofed all the way down to 100-proof, and in any other case bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This pops with cherry Dr. Pepper on the nostril subsequent to dried black currants sipped in honey and darkish chocolate dusted with a whisper of clove and anise.

Palate: The palate has a slight savory fruitiness sort of like honeydew or inexperienced mango subsequent to menthol tobacco, Nutella, and black licorice.

End: The top arrives with a dry herbs vibe subsequent to extra menthol dipped in salted darkish chocolate and minimize with anise heavy mulled wine with a fleeting sense of cedar and smudging sage.

Backside Line:

The quantity of whiskeys from the checklist that it’s a must to try to/or purchase the subsequent time that you just’re in Colorado is getting lengthy.

33. Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 42.4%

Common Worth: $44

The Whiskey:

Michter’s well-crafted whiskey is warehoused till the deeply charred new white oak barrels hit simply the best second in each texture and style. These barrels are then hand-selected and bottled one after the other with a contact of Kentucky water.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Peppery rye and a touch of citrus open this one up earlier than deep fatty nuttiness, dry espresso beans, tender darkish chocolate sauce, and a twist of sharp spearmint dance by way of the nostril.

Palate: There’s a distant line of toffee candies dipped in roasted almonds subsequent to a brioche smeared with Nutella and dipped right into a recent cup of espresso with delicate notes of white pepper, floor chili powder, and perhaps a whisper of honey.

End: The end leans into woody winter spice barks and buds — assume cinnamon, clove, and allspice — with a way of entire purple peppercorns soaked in molasses, a whisper of walnut cake, and a skinny line of toasted marshmallows dipped in darkish chocolate.

Backside Line:

That is glorious. On each liquor retailer shelf (a minimum of on the good ones). And it’s amazingly well-priced not just for a rye however a single barrel whiskey.

32. Stellum Rye Fibonacci Mix #1

ABV: 57.56%

Common Worth: $99

The Whiskey:

This new whiskey from Stellum (a part of Barrell Craft Spirits) celebrates the Fibonacci sequence — that’s the sequence of numbers which can be the sum of the earlier two numbers. To imitate this, the blenders at Stellum chosen six rye barrels and blended them with every barrel changing into the sum of the final two barrels. The outcomes have been bottled with none proofing or fussing.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril on that is basic with outdated oak subsequent to orange-laced honey with a touch of spicy chocolate and a touch of chilly tomato soup creating this skinny umami line behind every thing.

Palate: The palate has a pleasant ABV kick that results in spiced apple fritters with pear pores and skin and stem vibe earlier than a touch of buttercream counterpoints forest moss and a few Earl Gray.

End: The top has a pleasant and basic cherry and vanilla vibe with a touch of chili warmth and outdated tobacco in a cedar field.

Backside Line:

That is so good, I’d purchase a case and simply drink that for the remainder of the summer season.

31. BLACKENED Rye The Lightning Kentucky Straight Rye Double Cask Completed in Madeira and Rum Casks

ABV: 45%

Common Worth: $95

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from Metallica and grasp distiller and blender Rob Dietrich is constructed from barrels Dietrich picked himself. These barrels have been between 5 and eight years outdated after they have been batched after which re-filled into rum and Madeira barrels and blasted with music for a ultimate maturation. The ultimate result’s constructed from a mixing of these barrels with a contact of water to carry it all the way down to proof.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril opens with a tender layer of prunes and dates with a touch of tart berry subsequent to suede, pine resin, and an echo of dry straw.

Palate: The palate is a component black pepper and half leathery prunes with a creamy vanilla underbelly and extra of these darkish berries.

End: The top comes with extra layers of floor almonds, outdated cinnamon sticks, minty honey, and a contact of uncooked sugar sweetness with a lush end.

Backside Line:

You don’t need to be a fan of Metallica to take pleasure in this.

30. Excessive West A Midwinter Nights Dram Mix of Straight Rye Whiskeys

ABV: 49.3%

Common Worth: $140

The Whiskey:

Annually, this restricted drop varies barely. This launch was a mixture of MGP rye (95% rye) and Excessive West rye (100% rye) completed in French oak barrels that held ruby and tawny port. The barrels picked for this batch have been between 4 and 7 years outdated with the older barrels coming from Indiana and the youthful ones from Utah.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This can be a fairly advanced nostril with bitter berries subsequent to dried apricot, woody and barely candy cinnamon, French toast, and a gentle notice of one thing umami (dried mushrooms maybe).

Palate: The palate will get extra savory with a rhubarb vibe as darkish chocolate with a critical woody spiced edge meets outdated leather-based laced with years of tobacco, lush vanilla cream, and salted caramel.

End: The top is as silky as eggnog with a whisper of black tea bitterness and minty tobacco rounding issues out.

Backside Line:

That is the mountaintop for Excessive West. That is the one whiskey you 100% wish to add to your assortment from the model.

29. Blackwood Small Batch Toasted Rye Whiskey Barrel Power

ABV: 58.2%

Common Worth: $150

The Whiskey:

This rye is sourced from expertly picked barrels for a really small batch providing. The mash is a basic 95/5 rye/malted barley invoice. The barrels are near seven years outdated earlier than a handful got here collectively to create this barrel-strength bottling of solely 620 bottles.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril is a straight-up basic with a way of cherry and cinnamon tied to recent and chewy tobacco with a way of outdated cedar bark braided with dry sweetgrass and smudging sage with a lightweight sense of pear sweet and cream soda.

Palate: The style leans into spiced cherry tobacco and stewed pear with a touch of marmalade and peach cobbler subsequent to a touch of black-tea-soaked dates, salted whiskey-laced toffee, and clotted cream earlier than a purple chili pepper spiciness kicks in with a way of cinnamon and cherry bark.

End: The woodies of the orchard fruit and spice drive the nice and cozy end — however by no means scorching — towards an expensive and creamy finish filled with sharp but candy tobacco, a whisper of dank resin, and echoes of outdated fruit orchards.

Backside Line:

This little Kentucky model is barrel-finishing some actually nice rye whiskey and going to explode very quickly. Till then, add this to your checklist of must-try whiskey the subsequent time you’re in Kentucky.

28. Bardstown Bourbon Firm West Virginia Nice Barrel Firm Blended Rye Whiskey

ABV: 55%

Common Worth: $149 ($20 off)

The Whiskey:

This nationwide launch is a collaboration with Bardstown Bourbon Firm and West Virginia Nice Barrel Firm, some of the attention-grabbing cooperages within the recreation proper now. The whiskey within the bottle is a mix of 95/5 rye from Indiana that’s about seven years outdated and a 12-year-old 100% corn whiskey from Ontario. The mix was then refilled into infrared toasted cherry oak barrels for a ultimate maturation run earlier than delicate proofing and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril opens with a wealthy cinnamon bark touched with apple cider, sharp spearmint, and marzipan with a tender layer of chamomile tea minimize with honey and rose water lurking beneath.

Palate: The palate is lush with a thick cherry stew over clotted cream and scones subsequent to smoldering apple, cinnamon, and cherry bark, a way of outdated candy oak staves, and cellar funk.

End: The top has a dried cranberry dipped in darkish chocolate vibe subsequent to extra of these spice and orchard barks with this fleeting sense of tannic sharpness and cherry cola spice.

Backside Line:

This nationwide launch from Bardstown Bourbon Firm has a captivating barrel end that provides a lot to the rye. Should you’re searching for one thing fully new and recent, that is it.

27. Starlight Distillery Outdated Rickhouse Huber’s Bottled-in-Bond Indiana Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $60

The Whiskey:

This rye from craft distiller Starlight Distillery — a part of the Huber Farm and Vineyard in Southern Indiana — is all about that ultimate mix. The small batch is constructed from a bunch of four-year-old barrels and simply proofed to spotlight the whiskey in these barrels.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The whiskey opens with a nostril filled with white pepper countered by stewed apples with a twinge of bitter cherry tossed in smoked sea salt earlier than a touch of creamy espresso and summer season herb gardens arrive.

Palate: The palate has a creaminess that leans towards mocha lattes with a tobacco spiciness, cedar bark, and extra of that stewed orchard fruit with an underlying white pepper spiciness.

End: The top leans into that white pepper with loads of heat apple cider spiked with clove and cinnamon over vanilla cake minimize with salted toffee and creamy espresso simply kissed with chocolate tobacco.

Backside Line:

Starlight is the final word insider’s whiskey distillery. Should you’re in Louisville, take a day and drive as much as the distillery. Purchase this and their brandies. They’re all nice.

26. Barrell Seagrass

ABV: 59.2%

Common Worth: $84

The Whiskey:

The whiskey on this bottle is a mix of rye whiskeys from Indiana, Tennessee, and Canada. These whiskeys have been aged in Martinique rhum, rhum agricole, apricot brandy, and Madeira casks earlier than vatting at Barrell in Kentucky. The thought was to harness the flavors of wooden that aged whiskey subsequent to the ocean to carry that coastal x-factor into the mixing course of for this rye whiskey.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril leads in direction of apple and cherry candies, Werther’s, bruised peaches, and a lightweight dried rose potpourri in a tender leather-based pouch.

Palate: The style opens with a slight contact of that peach adopted by pears and savory melon whereas a touch of bitter grapefruit arrives on the mid-palate with a notice of cinnamon, fennel, and inexperienced (nearly oily) thyme.

End: There’s a return of the pear sweetness on the very backend of the style however it’s a must to hack by way of a really heat, dry, and nearly chewy woody spice nature subsequent to a touch of just about white grape soda vibe and cream soda (and perhaps a contact of root beer) and apple cores with the stem and seeds.

Backside Line:

Sure, this has Canadian whisky within the combine. However I’m keen to miss that for such an amazingly well-balanced and deeply hewn pour of whiskey. These items is simply nice.

25. Angel’s Envy Ice Cider Cask End Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 53.5%

Common Worth: $900

The Whiskey:

This rye is an outlier because of a really distinctive end. The whiskey is commonplace, contract-distilled 95% rye that spent seven years within the barrel. That whiskey was then transferred into ice cider casks (from Eden Specialty Ciders in Vermont) the place it rested for an additional 364 days. The ice cider casks, which held a dessert arduous cider with plenty of sweetness constructed into the French oak, are then emptied and the whiskey is bottled with a contact of water as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This opens with a mild notice of what seems like chilly leather-based layered on dry straw, bitter candies, and a distant trace of pine bins filled with apple tobacco.

Palate: The style opens with a touch of moist wicker subsequent to freshly pressed apple cider that feels hazy and a chewy apple tree bark.

End: The mid-palate veers away from the apple towards vanilla candies with just a little chew to them, tender winter spice (assume nutmeg and clove), and a whisper of quince jam on a buttery brioche.

Backside Line:

Should you’re searching for a show-off bottle that additionally tastes dope AF, that is the one to purchase. Nicely, this and a pair extra on this checklist that I haven’t gotten to but…

24. Outdated Forester Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 61.5% (varies)

Common Worth: $299

The Whisky:

This launch from Outdated Forester is their signature rye in a single barrel format that’s filtered by way of retailers on to you. It’s bottled with none filtration or slicing with water, highlighting Outdated Foresters as clearly as attainable.

Tasting Observe:

Nostril: The lemon actually shines on the nostril to the purpose that it turns right into a pudding with hints of burnt sugar and salted caramel backing it up.

Palate: The palate takes a bunch of cinnamon sticks and soaks them in apple, cherry, and plum juice then dries them out whereas hazelnut builds to an nearly Nutella stage and that dried dill simply sneaks in.

End: The mid-palate actually leans into the cinnamon and hazelnut till daring cinnamon attaches to a dry cedar field for very dry and peppery tobacco that’s simply touched with mint.

Backside Line:

These are pricy however are 100% definitely worth the funding.

23. Nashville Barrel Firm Hand Chosen Straight Rye Whiskey Cask Power

ABV: 57.25%

Common Worth: $98

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is constructed from a particularly small batch of Indiana rye with a mash of 95/5 (rye/malted barley). The handful of barrels within the combine was round six years outdated when blended by the crew at Nashville Barrel Firm. Past that, this was bottled as-is with zero fussing.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a tender, cherry-froward nostril with hints of outdated boot leather-based, apple-cider-soaked cinnamon sticks, and black tea leaves with a touch of star anise and clove soaked in a scorching toddy.

Palate: The palate is thick and juicy with cherry vanilla spiced vacation cake — heavy on the darkish cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg — with a touch of orange creamsicle that fades in direction of a singed herbaceous notice nearly like burnt caraway or coriander seeds.

End: The top packs on the heat with a spicy tobacco buzz filled with darkish cherry and woody winter spices.

Backside Line:

Should you depart Nashville with out visiting this place and shopping for one among these whiskeys, it’s a must to return and proper that instantly.

22. Blue Run Single Barrel Double Oak Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (Barrel: #68594)

ABV: 53.85%

Common Worth: $199

The Whiskey:

Blue Run Double Oak Single Barrel Rye Whiskey is a brand new line of 10 single barrels which can be dropping simply in time for Father’s Day. The whiskey in every case is a double oak end Kentucky rye that’s first aged in basic American white oak that’s completed in one other new American white oak barrel — each of which have been toasted and charred to a stage #3 (medium deep). These whiskey barrels have been then bottled 100% as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Shiny dried purple chili peppers mingle with tender leather-based, a twinge of toffee sweetness, tender purple berries, and a whisper of umami.

Palate: Caramel and woody vanilla rush to a contact of cherry bark and ABV heat subsequent to creamy winter spice and a touch of sharp purple chili warmth.

End: The top is a protracted and heat hug with a way of dried brown spices with a scorching edge, delicate nuttiness, and a basis of buttercream minimize with sassafras chips.

Backside Line:

That is actually nice rye whiskey with a deep profile that leans half basic and half recent. The candy/spicy stability is spot on and delivers a enjoyable and recent rye whiskey sipping expertise.

21. Uncommon Character Single Barrel Sequence Straight Rye Whiskey Completed In Amburana Casks

ABV: 57.64%

Common Worth: $104

The Whiskey:

This can be a area of interest whiskey firm began by Peter Nevenglosky and Pablo Moix. The whiskey is a single barrel of whiskey that was hidden away as an “experimental” cask till the Uncommon Character crew rescued it and gave it to the world. The experiment on this case was ageing basic rye in Brazilian Amburana casks to see how a non-oak wooden end would work with rye whiskey.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a tender and fatty nuttiness from the wooden on the nostril that’s half Brazil nut and half macadamia nut with a wealthy and sharp woody spiciness that’s filled with dry ginger, large strips of cinnamon bark, and handfuls of clove and allspice berries subsequent to tender creamed vanilla and almond paste minimize with orange oils and darkish cacao waxiness.

Palate: The palate pops with that woody spice and barky florals with a contact of tart purple berry, burnt orange, and dry wild sage subsequent to white chocolate and this sense of a hippy den filled with incense, oils, and outdated throw rugs.

End: The top amps up the woody spice in direction of a pointy cinnamon bark and dry star anise with a contact of cream soda and outdated straw bales earlier than a nutty spiced pipe tobacco arrives with a fleeting sense of fruit boiled all the way down to a thick syrup.

Backside Line:

This was my favorite pour of rye in 2022. It’s nonetheless fairly rattling good in 2023 too.

20. George Dickel Leopold Bros. Collaboration Mix Column Nonetheless & Three Chamber Nonetheless A Mix of Straight Rye Whiskies

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $109

The Whiskey:

The mix is constructed from four-year-old rye made in Denver at Leopold’s distillery of their bespoke three-chamber column nonetheless. The mash invoice is 80% Abruzzi Rye and 20% Leopold Flooring Malt. That’s blended with George Dickel’s un-released new column nonetheless rye, which is a 95% rye minimize with 5% malted barley.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril has clear notes of shiny florals subsequent to a touch of porridge minimize with maple syrup with a really delicate dusting of darkish cacao powder and tender leather-based.

Palate: The palate opens with touches of holiday-spiced orange oils and rosewater main in direction of mild marzipan subsequent to a prickly bramble of berry bushes hanging heavy with darkish, candy, and barely tart fruit.

End: The mid-palate holds onto the candy and meaty date whereas bitter but floral Earl Gray tea with a wholesome dollop of recent honey leads in direction of a end filled with extra of that powdery darkish cacao simply touched by dry chili flakes, including a slight heat to the backend.

Backside Line:

That is one other hardcore whiskey nerd whiskey. If you wish to go deep, then get this bottle.

19. New Riff Balboa Rye Bottled In Bond Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $59

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is constructed round heritage rye from Indiana, Balboa rye, which was popularized within the Nineteen Forties. The juice is hewn from a 95/5 rye/barley recipe and aged for as much as 5 years earlier than batching, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a hint of saltwater taffy on the nostril (or perhaps simply the wax paper wrappers) subsequent to an nearly buttery chili rub with an excellent dose of salt and purple pepper spice that’s each lush and deep.

Palate: The palate leans right into a spicy orange marmalade as a medley of dry grasses, woody spices, and creamy vanilla mingles on the senses.

End: The top is a spiced cherry cola subsequent to extra woody spice (clove and allspice berries particularly) with an expensive touchdown on waxy mint taffy, tender capsicum spice, and dry cedar bark braids.

Backside Line:

With the ability to purchase this bottle on the distillery makes a visit to Cincinnati 100% value it.

18. Kentucky Peerless Double Oak Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 54.65%

Common Worth: $149

The Whiskey:

This new expression from awards-darling Kentucky Peerless takes its success with Double Oak Bourbon and applies it to its phenomenal rye whiskey. The rye is an area candy mash whiskey (made with 100% new batches of elements each time) and ages for round 4 years in new oak. Then the whiskey is re-barrelled into a brand new American oak barrel for a end run. As soon as these barrels hit the precise proper second, they’re batched and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There are roasted chestnuts on the nostril that results in a deep sense of pitchy recent firewood, candy cinnamon bark, and darkish burnt orange rinds with a lightweight second of vanilla-laced marzipan.

Palate: Crème brûlée results in recent oak staves, extra cinnamon bark, and a rush of dry wild sagebrush subsequent to orange pekoe tea leaves, a touch of uncooked brown sugar cubes, and a chewy tobacco spiciness layered into an outdated leather-based pouch.

End: That chewy tobacco drives the end with a heady buzz from the ABVs (no burn although) because the sharp cinnamon, tender marzipan, and darkish orange oils ebb and stream till the very finish.

Backside Line:

This is likely one of the greatest craft whiskeys in Kentucky, interval.

17. Bardstown Bourbon Firm Origin Sequence Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Completed in Toasted Cherry Wooden and Oak Barrels

ABV: 48%

Common Worth: $69

The Whiskey:

This whiskey — from Bardstown Bourbon Firm’s personal Origin Sequence — is their basic 95/5 rye that’s aged for nearly 5 years. Then the whiskey is completed with alternating toasted American oak and toasted cherry wooden staves within the barrel. As soon as the whiskey is good, it’s batched, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril is basic with recent cherry layered with nasturtiums, cinnamon sticks, and tender cedar planks simply kissed with clove, nutmeg, and anise earlier than mild purple peppercorns and brandy-soaked cherries dipped in salted darkish chocolate kick in.

Palate: The palate follows the nostril’s lead with a lush mouthfeel that’s filled with spicy stewed fruits and ciders mixing with creamy vanilla and nutty bases over refined chili pepper spiciness far within the rear of the style.

End: The top pushed the woody spices towards an apple cider/choco-cherry tobacco combine with a cedar field and outdated leather-based vibe tying the entire style collectively.

Backside Line:

This whiskey is a shining instance of the good stuff taking place at Bardstown Bourbon Firm. It additionally makes a imply Sazerac.

16. Stellum Rye The Lone Cypress

ABV: 57.67%

Common Worth: $99

The Whiskey:

Named for one of many world’s most well-known timber, this whiskey is all about discovering the funky forest within the taste profile of a brand-new rye whiskey. The mix was created by the superior crew at Barrell Craft Spirits to intensify woodier notes earlier than it was bottled at cask power.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a lightweight pine resin vibe on the nostril with a bushel of dried savory inexperienced herbs — assume sage, thyme, rosemary, tarragon — subsequent to outdated leather-based and dried bitter cherries tossed in kosher salt.

Palate: The palate has a notice of that pine with a tender orange rind subsequent to a spiced winter cake with dried fruit, walnuts, and wintry spices.

End: The top is barely heat because of excessive ABVs with a way of these salted cherries and pine resin resulting in a dry end.

Backside Line:

There’s no extra succinctly basic rye on the checklist.

15. Nelson Bros. Whiskey Aged 15 Years Rye Whiskey

ABV: 54.2%

Common Worth: $299

The Whiskey:

This late version 2022 whiskey is constructed to spotlight deep mixing prowess. The whiskey is constructed from solely eight barrels of 15-year-old Indiana rye. These barrels have been despatched all the way down to Nashville the place the Nelson Bros. Whiskey crew constructed an iconic rye with them, leaving the whiskey at cask power and unfiltered to spotlight the perfection in these barrels.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a way of an outdated axe deal with and worn leather-based gloved on the nostril with moist Earl Gray tea leaves, vanilla pound cake with poppy seeds, and cinnamon candies crumbled over gingerbread on the nostril.

Palate: A deep earthiness drives the palate from vanilla cream and stewed apple drizzled with darkish chocolate and caramel towards spicy mint tobacco, cedar kindling, and outdated cellar grime with a touch of that outdated wooden axe deal with and leather-based once more.

End: The top leans into the sharp mint tobacco and dips it into sticky toffee pudding cake batter and packs it into an outdated cedar field wrapped up in wild sage, tender leather-based, and burnt sweetgrass rope.

Backside Line:

That is my favourite Tennessee rye proper now. It’s scrumptious.

14. Willett Distillery Kiamichi A Household Reunion Whiskey Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 54%

Common Worth: $149

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from the brand new Kings of Leon’s collaboration is their entry level to the trio of bottles launched late final 12 months. The whiskey is a 12-barrel mix a mixture of two Willett rye mash payments that have been aged in each char 5 oak (a really heavy alligator char) and 24-month cured oak from Hoffmeister Cooperage. These extraordinarily uncommon barrels have been then batched and simply kissed with water after which bottled in solely 2,780 bottles.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This nostril is attractive with refined notes of tart cherries tossed with flakes of salt subsequent to darkish plum jam laced with tender cinnamon, floor clove, and nutmeg, vanilla pound cake with poppy seeds, purple and orange nasturtiums, floral honey, and salted cashews.

Palate: The style is fruity however strikes extra towards pineapple cores, peach skins, and lemon pith subsequent to a tender dry sweetgrass braid snarled with wild sage and cedar bark with notes of pine-infused honey, outdated black tea leaves, and cinnamon sticks which have simply been singed on the mid-palate.

End: The top is lush and fantastically layered with actual sourdough rye crusts, honey-dipped Graham Crackers, darkish chocolate-dipped bitter cherries, and a touch of walnut bread with loads of wintry spices and butter.

Backside Line:

These Kings of Leon collabs are implausible whiskeys. Get them should you love the band, or Willett, or simply rattling high-quality whiskey.

13. Michter’s US*1 Restricted Launch Barrel Power Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 54.6%

Common Worth: $250

The Whiskey:

This uncommon Michter’s expression is pulled from single barrels that have been simply too good to batch or minimize. As soon as the barrels hit the precise proper taste profile, each is filtered with Michter’s bespoke system after which bottled as-is on the power it got here out of the barrel.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Darkish cherry and butterscotch candies pop on the nostril subsequent to bitter purple wine combined with mulled wine spices — numerous cinnamon, clove, and star anise — subsequent to tart apple skins, apple bark, and a touch of singed marshmallow between calmly burnt Graham Crackers.

Palate: The palate leans into spices in a refined manner with a nutmeg/eggnog vibe subsequent to wealthy vanilla ice cream and smoked cherries with a minor notice of recent pipe tobacco and singed cedar bark.

End: The top provides some dried purple chili and sharp cinnamon to the tobacco with a pinch of freshly cracked black pepper and a supple sense of a recent fruit bowl with plenty of purple berries.

Backside Line:

No notes. Excellent.

12. 291 All Rye 100% Rye Malt Colorado Whiskey Completed with Aspen Wooden Staves

ABV: 66.3%

Common Worth: $115

The Whiskey:

This Colorado whiskey is made with a 100% rye mash invoice — 50% Colorado malted rye (from Root Shoot Malting) and 50% German rye malt — on a bespoke nonetheless. The new juice is then aged in new oak with signature toasted aspen wooden staves added to assist refine the ageing course of. Lastly, the barrels have been batched and bottled 100% as-is, yielding only one,000 bottles.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril opens with darkish fruit leather-based, darkish black tea leaves, cinnamon bark, and a fistful of dry dill and marjoram with a whisper of salted caramel sweetness.

Palate: The palate has a cinnamon toast vibe subsequent to extra of that darkish black tea with a touch of clove-spiced plum jam, freshly cracked black pepper, and extra of that salted caramel.

End: The plumminess drives the end with a touch of cracked almond shell and darkish dill subsequent to recent flat-leaf parsley and a contact of sweet-sour cherry packed in sawdust.

Backside Line:

That is the Colorado that it’s a must to come dwelling with.

11. Orphan Barrel Scarlet Shade Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 45%

Common Worth: $199

The Whisky:

The brand new Orphan Barrel from Diageo is a really uncommon launch. The whiskey within the bottle is a 14-year-old rye that was distilled in Indiana after which left to age on the famed Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. These barrels have been batched and proofed earlier than bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril is a vanilla bomb with a way of buttercream and salted caramel ice cream subsequent to recent darkish berries, a touch of zucchini bread with walnuts and clove, and a gentle sense of cedar cigar humidors.

Palate: The bark-heavy winter spices amp up on the palate as plums, peaches, and pears get stewed and result in a pointy marmalade with a touch of salted darkish chocolate-covered espresso beans subsequent to coffee-laced tobacco with a whisper of black cherry.

End: The top leans into the spice and tobacco because the orchard fruit actually amps up with a deep vanilla cake base minimize with actual vanilla pods and a lightweight sense of outdated oak staves in a dusty cellar with a mud ground.

Backside Line:

This can be a wild journey and a formidable rye. It’s additionally a one-of-a-kind whiskey so act quick if you wish to snag a bottle at a good worth.

10. Hemingway Rye, 1st Version A Mix Of Straight Rye Whiskeys Completed In Rum Seasoned Olorosso Sherry Casks

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $109

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is a novel one. The mix is made up of two whiskeys — 94% is a nine-year-old 95/5 (rye/malted barley) Indiana rye and 6% is a four-year-old 95/5 Kentucky rye. These whiskeys have been batched after which re-filled right into a rum-season Oloroso sherry cask for a ultimate relaxation earlier than batching, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Wealthy and outdated oak mingles with salted caramel, darkish maple syrup, and sheets of darkish fruit leather-based subsequent to a tender sense of caraway rye toast with a tender creamed vanilla butter and a lightweight contact of cherry compote.

Palate: That cherry takes on a barely tart and salted aura on the style because the salted caramel results in enormous sticks of cinnamon bark, clove-studded oranges, and a smudging bundle full of untamed sage, sweetgrass, and cedar bark.

End: These smoldering botanicals linger on the end as a tender cinnamon cake with salted toffee drizzle and a whisper of darkish chocolate-covered espresso beans counter the rye dank.

Backside Line:

The brand new child of the block hit it out of the park with the primary batch. Should you’re into Papa, then it is a must-buy. It’s additionally value it should you identical to to sip actually good whiskey.

9. Barrell Rye Singel Barrel (S1B4)

ABV: 56.9%

Common Worth: $100

The Whiskey:

This ReserveBar barrel choose is from a single barrel of Indiana rye (95/5) that spent seven years resting earlier than it was bottled. The whiskey when into the bottle fully as-is from the barrel.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril opens with a way of ache au chocolate subsequent to cardamom pods, earthy spice barks, darkish burnt orange, and a fleeting sense of cherry by means of tart black currants, cloves, and salted black licorice.

Palate: The darkish chocolate from the pastry drives the style towards a salted toffee dipped in roasted walnuts with a lightweight sense of orange marzipan, lemony hops, and tender mossiness with a whisper of mustard seed, and perhaps some coriander seed.

End: There’s an umami vibe that’s nearly toasted cinnamon bark with dried forest moss subsequent to candy and spicy cherry syrup over chocolate-lemon balls with a flake of salt and a sprinkle of dried lavender subsequent to recent nasturtiums, outdated cedary tobacco, and freshly baked baguette with a pad of salted creamed butter.

Backside Line:

Barrell simply doesn’t miss and that is stellar proof that reality.

8. Wild Turkey Uncommon Breed Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

ABV: 56.1%

Common Worth: $71

The Whiskey:

This rye is a mix of the good rye barrels within the Wild Turkey rickhouses. The whiskey is constructed from 4, six, and eight-year-old barrels, blended, then bottled with out chill filtration or any proofing water.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This can be a masterclass in what rye “spice” could be with refined notes of black pepper subsequent to Christmas spices counterpointed by pine resin dank and candy cherry root beer.

Palate: The palate brings a few velvet texture with notes of vanilla and darkish chocolate cake subsequent to stewed cherries — a really Black Forest cake vibe — earlier than the rye sourdough bread funk and natural essence kick in with a lightweight firewood pitchiness.

End: By the top, there’s a stability of all that spice, wooden, resin, and refined fruitiness that lasts on the lengthy and sharp end.

Backside Line:

That is so near the moutaintop of Wild Turkey rye greatness. Actually, it is a good pour of Kentucky rye.

7. Kiamichi A Willett & Followill Household Collaboration Aged 8 Years

ABV: 55%

Common Worth: $249

The Whiskey:

This whiskey is the second in a sequence of collaborations between Kings of Leon and Willett Distillery. The whiskey is a six-barrel small-batch mix of Willett’s low-rye mash invoice. The new juice was loaded into ISC oak barrels that have been cured for 9 months earlier than getting a semi-high char. The band hand-selected the barrels themselves and the crew at Willett made positive the remainder was executed precisely proper.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Refined notes of outdated glove leather-based kissed with years of menthol cigarette smoke mingle with a spicy cherry-cinnamon cake frosted with creamed walnuts and vanilla with a brandy butter with a whisper of tannic outdated oak staves that has a twinge of waxy cacao nib.

Palate: The palate soaks some dried figs in spiced honey with an Earl Gray vibe accentuating a bitter salted darkish chocolate, rummy minced meat pies, and moist brown sugar minimize with dried ancho chili flakes.

End: The top leans into the spice with a Scorching Tamales cinnamon sweet candy/spicy sensation subsequent to a lush mouthfeel.

Backside Line:

That is the place we get into unbelievably good whiskey. I’d fortunately drink this whiskey for the remainder of my life.

6. Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 18 Years Outdated

ABV: 45%

Common Worth: $2,899

The Whiskey:

This whiskey began its journey again in 2003 and 2004 when the unique whiskey was distilled with Minnesota rye, Kentucky corn, and North Dakota barley. The new juice was loaded into new white oak from Unbiased Stave from Missouri with a #4 char stage (55 seconds) and left to relaxation in warehouses Ok, M, and P on the second, third, and fourth flooring. Over almost 20 years, 74% of the whiskey was misplaced to the angels earlier than proofing and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This one opens with a pile of candied and burnt orange peels subsequent to a wealthy lemon bread with loads of wealthy vanilla and poppy subsequent to candy layers of molasses, outdated leather-based tobacco pouches, and an outdated set of garden furnishings that’s spent an excessive amount of time beneath and an outdated oak tree.

Palate: The palate swells with a deep molasses sweetness subsequent to a touch of freshly cracked black pepper countered by musty cumin, dried purple chili pepper flakes, and a whisper of recent bay leaf that results in singed wild sage, rye bread crusts coated in coriander seeds, and a contact of maple syrup minimize butter with a touch of cinnamon.

End: The top slowly descends right into a creamy mint chocolate chip tobacco vibe subsequent to flaked cherry bark prepared for a smoker and outdated oak leaves resting in useless sweetgrass.

Backside Line:

This whiskey is the proper stability of decrease proof and large age that makes the rye shine the brightest it presumably can. And sure, it’s value paying that jacked up worth for.

5. Uncommon Character Single Barrel Sequence Chosen by ReserveBar Topflight Sequence Straight Rye Whiskey Completed in Jaqueira Casks

ABV: 56.65%

Common Worth: $88

The Whiskey:

Japqueira is a Brazilian wooden that the majority notably grows jack fruit and is used to age cachaça. The whiskey within the bottle is 95/5 rye from Indiana that’s then refilled right into a Jacqueira barrel that beforehand held cachaça and let it relaxation in Kentucky for a spell. After 4 years and 6 months, ReserveBar bottled a single barrel 100% as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: The nostril is deeply nutty with a darkish and worn leatheriness subsequent to a tender sense of delicate mushrooms, inexperienced banana, macadamia, and anise with a tender Kentucky cherry/vanilla/winter spice undertone.

Palate: The palate is lush and silky with a way of vanilla oils, star fruit, clove, cinnamon bark, and nutmeg subsequent to creamy nuttiness with a touch of toffee and alder planks.

End: The end simply lingers and lingers whereas slowly fading by way of vanilla buttercream, bitter cherries tossed in maple sea salt, and moist marzipan minimize with orange and pomelo oils.

Backside Line:

These items is wildly good and so distinctive. That is the type of whiskey that sticks with you and begins sneaking into your goals.

4. Wild Turkey Grasp’s Maintain Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Cornerstone

ABV: 54.5%

Common Worth: $499

The Whiskey:

That is the primary rye whiskey that Wild Turkey launched for the Grasp’s Maintain line. Eddie Russell devised this whiskey from 9 to 11-year-old barrels from the prime sections of assorted rickhouses. As soon as batched, the whiskey was simply proofed earlier than bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: There’s a way of apple old school doughnuts on the nostril with a cinnamon-maple glaze subsequent to outdated rye bread crusts with caraway and fennel with a slight whisper of dry dill earlier than a whisper of white pepper and dried chili begins to sneak in.

Palate: Salted apple chips dipped in floral honey drive the palate towards bitter mulled wine filled with star anise, clove, cardamom, and mace with a touch of molasses and rum-raisin.

End: The top leans into the woodiness of the spices with cinnamon bark and allspice berries with the faintest line of sasparilla and black licorice-laced tobacco braided with outdated wicker canes.

Backside Line:

We made it to the mountaintop of Wild Turkey rye whiskey!

3. Van Winkle Household Reserve Rye Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 13 Years Outdated

ABV: 47.8%

Common Worth: $2,399

The Whiskey:

That is the one non-bourbon whiskey within the Van Winkle line. Whereas we don’t know the precise mash invoice, Buffalo Hint does use a rye mash invoice that’s very low-rye (how low we’ll by no means know, however it’s near 51% … I heard someplace). Both manner, the juice is then barreled and allowed to mellow for 13 years earlier than batching, proofing, and bottling within the sweetest spot within the sweetest warehouse at Buffalo Hint in Kentucky.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Think about outdated rye crusts with a touch of caraway spiked with purple peppercorns subsequent to wealthy salted caramel apples and loads of Christmas spices layered right into a sticky toffee pudding all wrapped up in outdated worn leather-based with hints of fatty nuts and dried fruits on the nostril.

Palate: The pepperiness mellows shortly as powdery white pepper results in a tender vanilla cream pie minimize with bitter orange zest, darkish chocolate flakes, and a touch of salted black licorice.

End: The top pops with sharp anise and clove subsequent to a fleeting sense of mint chocolate chip tobacco folded up with that outdated leather-based and loads of tender cedar.

Backside Line:

I’ve had very lengthy arguements about whether or not or not that is the most effective Pappy bottle on the shelf. It’s shut between this and the 15-year bourbon.

2. Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey 10 Years Outdated

ABV: 46.4%

Common Worth: $260

The Whiskey:

2022’s solely Michter’s 10-Yr launch was an on the spot basic. The whiskey is constructed from a corn-rich rye whiskey mash invoice with an excellent dose of barley in there. The very best barrels are chosen — with some as much as 15 years outdated — for this launch. Then every of these barrels is individually bottled as-is with a touch of proofing water.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: Wealthy and luxurious toffee mix with tender marzipan on the nostril as a touch of freshly cracked black pepper result in cinnamon-laced apple cider and cherry-soaked cedar bark.

Palate: The palate is a component Crimson Scorching and half zesty orange marmalade with creamy vanilla pudding, candy and spicy dried chili peppers with a touch of smoke and woodiness, and this fleeting whisper of celery salt.

End: The top dries out the almond with a vanilla cream tobacco, tender and candy cedar, and darkish chocolate orange vibe all balanced to rattling close to perfection.

Backside Line:

Once more, it is a good rye that makes the very best Manhattan that you just’ll ever style.

1. E.H. Taylor, Jr. Straight Rye Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled In Bond

ABV: 50%

Common Worth: $349

The Whiskey:

This rye from Buffalo Hint is a beloved bottle. As with all Buffalo Hint whiskeys, the mash invoice and precise ageing should not identified. It’s possible that is constructed from a mash of very excessive rye combined with simply malted barley, perhaps. We do know that it’s not the identical mash invoice as Buffalo Hint’s different rye, Sazerac.

Tasting Notes:

Nostril: This nostril is vibrant with hints of freshly plucked pears subsequent to black peppercorns, tender cedar, winter spice barks and berries, and a touch of recent mint chopped up with recent dill that results in a minor key of spearmint and perhaps some recent chili pepper on the vine.

Palate: The palate holds onto the recent inexperienced chili pepper because the pear will get stewed with these winter spices and drizzled with a salted toffee syrup minimize with sharp burnt orange and bitter chinotto leaves.

End: That candy and citrus bitter vibe leads again to darkish and woody clove and anise with a touch of sasparilla and salted black licorice earlier than some recent mint and dill return to calm every thing down.

Backside Line:

This is likely to be an all-time favourite whiskey for me. It’s shockingly scrumptious.