Building Your Bar, One Bottle at a Time:
Rye Whiskeys
If you’re joining us for the first time, welcome to our series where we explore various whiskeys to elevate your home bar and make it the ultimate gathering spot for friends and family. This series covers a range of selections, categorized by either price, proof, and type, offering options to suit every taste and budget. While these choices may not encompass every whiskey in their respective categories, they serve as valuable additions to your ever-expanding collection.
Rye whiskey, the spirited cousin of bourbon, is an adventure in a glass. If you’ve ever had the opportunity of enjoying a good rye, you know it’s a mysterious medley of flavors, unlike any other whiskey. Its peppery bite, mingled with notes of cinnamon, caramel, and spice, creates a warm sensation that transports you to a cozy campfire on a crisp autumn night. With the summer heat coming to a head…. hopefully, and cooler weather soon to arrive, Rye whiskeys are a great fall treat to help celebrate the evening. Whether you’re enjoying it neat, on the rocks, or mixed into a classic cocktail like a Manhattan, rye whiskey adds a touch of adventure to every occasion. This week, we take a look at some great Ryes in all prices that you can add to your home bar.
What makes a Rye a Rye?
Just like bourbon, scotch, and Irish whiskey, there are a set of guidelines that a whiskey has to follow to be considered a Rye.
- Mash Bill
Primary Ingredient: Rye whiskey must have a mash bill (the mix of grains used in fermentation) that contains at least 51% rye grain. The remainder can include other grains such as corn, barley, or wheat.
- Distillation
Distillation Process: Rye whiskey is typically distilled to no more than 160 proof (80% alcohol by volume).
- Aging
Aging Requirements: It must enter the barrel at 125 proof or lower and must be aged in new, charred oak barrels. To be considered “straight rye whiskey,” it must be aged for a minimum of two years. If it is aged less than four years, the age must be stated on the bottle.
- Bottling
Proof at Bottling: Rye whiskey must be bottled at no less than 80 proof (40% alcohol by volume).
Let’s check out some Whiskey!
Price Range: $20 – $30
Rittenhouse Rye
100 proof – $25.99 SRP – Age: At Least 4 Years – Distillery: Heaven Hill
Mash Bill: 51% Rye | 37% Corn | 12% Malted Barley
This is a great low-cost Rye whiskey that can be versatile on your home bar. It’s a great budget option to sip neat if you enjoy a sweet low rye whisky, it’s great way to introduce a bourbon fan to rye, and I tend to use it in a lot of cocktails that I make because of how well it holds up.
A cigar that I enjoyed with this whiskey: Cavalier Black
On The Nose: Butterscotch, vanilla, red fruit, and a slight rye spice
On The Palate: baking spices, cinnamon, black pepper, with a sweet citrus finish
Image Source: Instagram @heavenhilldistillery
Price Range: $30 – $40
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye Whiskey
90 proof – $33.99 SRP – Age: At Least 4 Years – Distillery: Undisclosed
Mash Bill: 95% Rye | 5% Malted Barley
This bottle has been around for a while. It was very popular on the Youtube whiskey channels as a great go to pour. As popular as it is, there are still a lot of people who have heard about it but still haven’t had the opportunity to experience it. For me this is a great pour for anyone who enjoys a traditional Rye flavor profile as well as a bottle that I like to bring out for people to try for the first time.
A cigar that I enjoyed with this whiskey: Crowned Heads – Coroneta Habano
On The Nose: Notes of dill, spearmint, baking spice, black pepper, and oak
On The Palate: Spearmint, grain, honey, baking spice, and oak
Image Source: Instagram @redwoodempirewhiskey
Price Range: $40 – $50
Woodinville Straight Rye Whiskey
90 proof – $40.99 SRP – Age: NAS – Distillery: Woodinville
Mash Bill: 100% Rye
I can’t remember when I first found this bottle but what I do remember if how much a enjoyed it. The depth of flavor for the price was one thing that stood out for me. It became a bottle that I kept on my bar for a while to share and enjoy when friends came over. It’s a great sit by the fire pour for sure.
A cigar that I enjoyed with this whiskey: AJ Fernandez – Wise Man Maduro
On The Nose: Lots of mint just front, slight cherry, oak, and rye spice
On The Palate: Rye spice, mint, cinnamon, and a little drying on the palate but enjoyable.
Image Source: Instagram @woodinvillewhiskeyco
Price Range: $50 – $60
New Riff Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey
112.8 proof – $58.99 SRP – Age: 4-5 Years – Distillery: New Riff Distilling
Mash Bill: 95% Rye | 5% Malted Rye
Over the last few years, New Riff has been producing some great whiskey that I’ve been enjoying a lot. While their standard offerings are fantastic, I’ve been gravitating to a lot of their single barrels. As always, since this is a single barrel, a lot of their notes will be different from barrel to barrel. If you are a Rye fan, this should be up your alley.
A cigar that I enjoyed with this whiskey: Dunbarton – Red Meat Lovers Club
On The Nose: Sweet notes up front of chocolate, with caramel, oak, and floral
On The Palate: A little spicy on the palate. Lots of Rye spice up front, black pepper, and oak
Image Source: Instagram @newriff
Price Range: $60 – $70
Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey (Batch 1)
117.5 proof – $67.99 SRP – Age: NAS– Distillery: Hard Truth Distilling Co
Mash Bill: 94% Rye | 6% Malted Rye
A recently new whiskey to hit the market, Hard Truth is quickly becoming a favorite on a lot of home bars nationwide. That goes for me as well. Currently, this rye would be in my top three list of Rye Whiskey that I have enjoyed recently.
Located in Nashville Indiana, Hard Truth Distilling Co got its start in 2015 above a pizza restaurant but is now located in a 18,000 square foot state of the art facility. While they wait for the Bourbon and Wheated Bourbon to age, they have released their Sweet Mash Rye. What is sweet Mash? This is the process when the distillery uses completely fresh ingredients to make their mash instead of a “sour mash” where parts of the previous mash is used to start a new mash.
A cigar that I enjoyed with this whiskey: Rebellion Cigars – Ace of Spades
On The Nose: Lots of rye bread notes, citrus, brown sugar, and toffy candy
On The Palate: a nice enjoyable sweetness, red fruit, baking spice, vanilla, slight oak
Image Source: Instagram @hardtruthspirits
LETS START A CONVERSATION!!!
So, what did you think? What bottles did I leave off this list that you enjoy? Do you enjoy Rye Whiskey? I would love to know your thoughts, so comment below. You know I love conversation and will reply to you. As always, I want to thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Until the next Whiskey Wednesday, if you’re going to enjoy a little smoke & oak, just remember, “Life’s too short, enjoy the good stuff…” and do it responsibly!
Charles Ruth