Where to find it: Any bar or cocktail lounge, Where to find it: Freemans Restaurant, New York City. Rittenhouse Rye has a relatively mellow flavor among ryes, steering more toward the side of mellow and fruity, without a heavy mouthfeel.

What’s in a name? Angel’s Envy Rum Cask Rye is a complex spirit that spends up to 18 months finishing in Caribbean rum casks. But sip it neat or on the rocks, and you’ll understand why this smooth and nuanced whiskey is among the very best rye whiskeys for seasoned whiskey drinkers and newcomers alike. It is the “water of life” after all, so why not drink some during such trying quaran-times? But all this just means this rye is energetic and full of life. This blended Canadian whisky from Brown-Forman once claimed the title of America’s best-selling Canadian whisky.

It’s come a long way since Sazerac bought the brand from Brown-Forman in 2016. Here are some classic cocktails that were intended to be made with rye whiskey: Here are some cocktails better suited for the sweetness of bourbon: You can experiment mixing bourbon and rye whiskeys in any of these drinks, just to see which you prefer. It tops the list, with $309,725,503 in sales. Sweet and spicy, Maker’s Mark arguably became the first “premium” whiskey when it launched in 1958, claiming to be easier drinking than other whiskey brands.

Rye grain is a great source of copper, magnesium, and phosphorous, which aid in the production of red blood cells. Mellow and fruity, Rittenhouse may not be the rye whiskey for someone looking for big, bold rye flavors. Allow this whiskey to open up, and you’ll be rewarded with cinnamon, baking spices, and oak. Shop popular bourbon-whiskey-storage chosen by Drop communities. To get to the distillation point, a distiller mashes up the grain to release natural sugars, which he or she then ferments into alcohol. Given the low rye content, Russell’s Reserve is a perfect mixer—and it doesn’t hurt that it’s also very reasonably priced. Try the whiskey, and discover white chocolate and fudge, with rye notes remaining present. The decade it spends maturating smooths out the flavor of the rye, giving the spirit just a hint of sweetness. While rye is a wonder grain, one should always drink whiskey in moderation.

In other words, add a little water to your whiskey and your whiskey will taste a bit more like whiskey off the top. A mash bill is just the breakdown/percentages of what grains were used in the production of the whiskey. Nevertheless, Ezra Brooks Straight Rye is an incredibly affordably priced rye whiskey that belongs on any list of the best rye whiskeys.

So if you have a sweet tooth, this rye could be for you.

We can feel the gun-metal grey whiskers growing on our upper lips just thinking about drinking a 100% rye whiskey. 8 Grilled Cocktails To Enjoy This Labor Day Weekend, How To Transform 10 Classic Cocktails Into Frozen Drinks, Celebrate Oktoberfest With These 10 German Spirits And Liqueurs, The 10 Best Rye Whiskey Brands for Under $50, The Best Cheap Whiskey Brands for Under $20, The 10 Best French Presses for Getting the Most Flavor Out of Any Roast, 6 Fun International Coffee Recipes To Make At Home (That Aren’t Dalgona), The Best Vodka Mixers for Stocking Your Home Bar, How to Save Leftover and Fallen Fruits During Harvest Season, Elijah Craig Adds Toasted Barrel Expression to its Range, Why Processed Cheese Doesn’t Need To Be A Guilty Pleasure, 9 Picnic Dishes That Travel Well And Deliver On Flavor, Little Book Chapter 4: Lessons Honored is a Conceptual Whiskey, A Guide to the California’s Petaluma Gap Wine Appellation, How Companies Are Closing the Sustainability Loop in the Drinks Industry, Chef Andrew Carmellini Tells You How To Make Restaurant-Caliber Dishes At Home, 5 Iconic Craft Beers That Have Moved to Aluminum Cans, How to Cook Steak in the Oven Perfectly Every Time. At a skull-crushing 104 proof, Rusell’s Reserve is relatively low in rye content—coming in only at about the minimum 51% required to be considered a rye whiskey at all. Whether the rye whiskey is best suited for sipping, mixing, or both. The protocol outlined in this guide works well with any whiskey under the golden sun. Region: Legally produced anywhere in the U.S. In fact, there’s a decent chance you’re nursing a tumbler at this very moment. Today, it’s sold in 200 countries, with the U.S., Germany, and Australia topping the list of thirstiest nations. Instead, it’s best to receive the health benefits of rye through breads, muffins, or porridge. “Straight Bourbon” must be aged for at least 2 years. At 90 proof, and 45% ABV, George Dickel’s is still smooth, making it a great choice for classic cocktails such as Manhattans or Old Fashioneds. You’re now a rye whiskey expert, with your eyes on one (or more) of our 10 best rye whiskeys. In order to get more of a warm hug experience, why not try adding a little water? And under it all, a warm roastiness. We recommend products based on unbiased research from our editorial team. On the palate, there’s a strong alcohol presence. But seriously, researchers found that water + whiskey (yes, people get paid to research this kind of stuff) makes the guaiacol molecules (the stuff that makes whiskey taste and smell smoky) congeal at the top of the glass instead of remaining mixed evenly throughout. “Because the profile of whiskey is so diverse, you can have a lot of fun experimenting with the various flavors,” says Tardie, whose only experimental kryptonite is frozen water. And the low rye content makes the whiskey perfect for mixing into any cocktail. Born in Kentucky bourbon country, Ezra Brooks Straight Rye is a 45% ABV, 90-proof, honest-to-goodness rye whiskey—not a lot of fancy stuff goes into the distillation process.

There’s also black pepper and cinnamon. Note: While rye whiskeys have no aging minimum, “straight rye” whiskeys must be aged at least 2 years. Rye whiskeys are often aged in new charred oak.

It’s an age old question: Should you drink your whiskey with a little water, or ice, or should you drink it straight instead?

To answer this question (and to save you some headaches sampling some not-so-great ryes), RAVE Reviews decided to put together this ranking of the best rye whiskeys. Rye grain is incredibly high in antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Cask-strength whiskeys and scotch whiskeys with higher alcohol content benefit from a little bit of dilution. With good balance and a medium body, there are even the flavors of light vanilla taffy and—perhaps unexpectedly—polenta.

And it’s definitely one of the best rye whiskeys on the market. On first inhale, there’s also nuttiness, caramel corn, and an herbal aroma a little like tea. Before going any further, RAVE thought we’d start with a quick rundown on everything that makes a rye whiskey rye whiskey. And you can’t beat the low price!

While the strong flavors of rye whiskey tend to cut through sweet mixers, mixed drinks made from the best rye whiskey can be nuanced, with a complex flavor profile. And the sweetness continues on the finish, with vanilla toffee, crème brûlée, pepper, oak, and spice. This was known as Monongahela style. Rye grain is a great source of Vitamin E, which helps regulate the nervous system and contributes to an improved metabolism. Put a bottle of rye on the bar, and gather `round to hear it tell stories of old time saloons, hobos jumping trains, or an era when American cars were bigger than boats. From a distillery that’s considered a National Historic Landmark, it’s no wonder Woodford Reserve made this list. Its sales still rule. Currently owned by Diageo, the Bulleit of today launched in 1987, but its history goes back to 1830, when current co-owner Thomas Bulleit’s great-grandfather, Augustus, bottled his first batch. Nevertheless, Russell’s Reserve, at 52% ABV, delivers balanced spicy pepper, vanilla, and tobacco flavors. “Ice actually numbs your palate and dulls the flavors,” Tardie laments.

Once the mash has been fermented and distilled, it usually then spends time in a barrel, which contributes flavor and color. Wanna sound like a real whiskey expert? Bourbon can be no more than 62.5% alcohol before aging in wooden casks. With more rye in its malt bill and more booze in its bonnet, this 90 proof (45 percent ABV) bourbon continues to please American palates in a big way. These are the top 20 best-selling whiskey brands in America, according to IRI Worldwide, a market research firm that measures off-premise sales such as those in liquor, grocery, and convenience stores. An easy drinker, George Dickel is without question the best rye whiskey to mix in your next cocktail. On the long finish, Old Overholt is spicy, with the flavors of caramel and polenta making a reappearance.

And there are a few other terms to get straight before getting into straight rye whiskey: Rye is distilled to no more than 160 proof, and bottled at minimum 40% ABV. Whiskey drinking is a hobby as old as time itself. Ultimately, you’ll find what works for you, so take these parting wise words about whiskey from Tardie to heart: “Experiment and find what’s right for you.

The grain that’s used can vary, but more often than not you’ll find whiskies made with corn, rye, wheat, and barley (both malted and not). If for some reason you haven’t already undertaken the thrilling world of whiskey drinking, then now is literally the perfect time. Say things like this: “When it comes to rye whiskey, rye must make up a majority of the mash bill.” Now doesn’t that sound smart? Now, onto the man who has taken the New York City whiskey world by storm, Tommy Tardie. The appearance of the whiskey is clear, with a rich, red-amber color. Heaven Hill distillers’ Evan Williams brands abound in American bars and liquor stores. The small-batch bourbon has aromas of spicy wood, sweet grain, and fruit-forward and peppery flavors on the palate. The easiest way to go about this is with a glass of water and a straw.

You might also detect sugar, oak, vanilla, leather, cherry, rye, and ethanol.

There are also notes of toffee, candied fruits, and marmalade. Copyright ©2020 Rave Reviews, All Rights Reserved. This rye whiskey is well balanced, with a lingering finish of maple and honeysuckle—along with light char, peach, pepper, and rye spice. “[At Fine & Rare, Tardie’s restaurant venture] we offer a unique twist on the Bloody Mary but we substitute vodka with Ardbeg, a heavily seated single malt from Islay.”. But after prohibition, the strong flavor of rye whiskey fell out of vogue in favor of more mellow vodkas, bourbons, and other whiskeys. If there’s no age statement on a straight rye whiskey label, buyer beware. 3 whiskey in America.