While bourbon is the darling of American whiskey, many whiskey lovers are turning to rye thanks to the spicy liquor’s ability to boost any cocktail. Fred Minnick, the author of “Bourbon Curious” and judge at several whiskey competitions, including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, calls rye the best whiskey for cocktails. “I love a rye Manhattan,” Minnick said. “Bartenders are basically the reason we see it coming back.”
To find the best rye whiskeys, I tried more than 75 ryes, talked to countless experts, and toured several distilleries. My favorite is the 291 Colorado Whiskey Small Batch Rye Whiskey. It has a sweet butterscotch aroma that helps it go down smooth and a high proof that makes strong cocktails. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly bottle, Wild Turkey 101 Rye Whiskey has a light nose and finishes with a warm spiciness. While our picks are based on expert recommendations and several blind tastings, keep in mind that preferences are personal and subjective. We curated our list based on rye whiskeys that will appeal to most drinkers.
What is rye whiskey?
In the US, rye whiskey is any whiskey with at least 51% rye in the mash of grains it’s made from. In Canada, “rye” is often synonymous with “Canadian whisky,” even if the mash bill has no rye. While some ryes are made from a mash bill of 100% rye, you’ll commonly find barley and corn as part of the mash. Rye gives whiskey its strong, spicy flavors.
Best overall
With its delicious, complex flavors, the 291 Colorado Whiskey Small Batch Rye Whiskey was the best whiskey in our tests. It’s smooth, bold taste and higher proof make it excellent on its own or in cocktails.
While many lesser-known whiskey brands source their hooch from massive distilleries, like MGP, Distillery 291 has distilled its own selection of whiskeys since day one.
The 291 Small Batch Rye is aged in charred American White Oak barrels and finished with toasted Aspen staves. It’s darker than most whiskeys with an auburn appearance that’s almost mahogany, suggesting it took on significant flavoring from the aging and finishing process.
I was struck by this rye’s sweet butterscotch aroma. This $75 reminded me of Angel’s Envy Rye, a popular top-shelf option. The flavor pleasantly dominates your tongue, flooding the taste buds with sweet chocolate, oak, and even leather notes. The finish is medium, strong, and spice-heavy. While it’s a great sipper, it is higher proof, so may be best enjoyed in a cocktail.
Best under $30
With its complex array of flavor notes from fruit and honey to leather and spice, Wild Turkey 101 Rye Whiskey is an excellent sipper and mixer for its price.
Mike Raymond, a Houston-based bartender and Whiskies of the World judge, recommends Wild Turkey 101 Rye because of its spice and cherry notes. “There’s more corn to it, so you get a little bit more depth, a little more flavor,” said Raymond.
The 101 Rye has a tawny appearance. The nose was very light with caramel, vanilla, and honey notes. There was also a little leather, which carried over to the light palate. The taste had a pleasant smoke, oak, and fruity notes. The extended finish had a warm spiciness. This rye works well on its own or in a cocktail.
Another great under $30 option is Rye & Sons, which has a flavor similar to Angel’s Envy but less complex.
Best under $50
If you’re looking for a smooth drink with a little more depth of flavor than the “cheap stuff,” High West Double Rye Whiskey delivers without breaking the bank.
High West Double Rye Whiskey is made from a blend of straight rye whiskey (aged at least 2 years) distilled by High West in Utah and MGP of Indiana.
Double Rye has a very light chestnut color. The odor reminded me of a permanent marker with licorice root, brown sugar, and earthy notes. It packs a lot of flavors as it hits the tongue. A sweet licorice flavoring comes through strongest, followed by cinnamon, mint, honey, and oak notes. The medium-length finish has a mellow spiciness to it.
Our tasters liked how smooth and mellow the Double Rye is, making it ideal for drinking neat.
Another great under-$50 option is Noble Oak, an eco-friendly rye featuring a lovely mix of brown sugar, maple syrup, allspice, and earthy notes.
Best top shelf
If money is no object, the WhistlePig 12 Year Old World Rye Whiskey is great for drinking neat with its ensemble of balanced flavors thanks to its unique wine cask finishing.
WhistlePig 12 Year Old World Rye Whiskey is aged in an American oak barrel then finished in Madeira, Sauternes, and port wine casks. “I think that WhistlePig Old World is phenomenal,” said Raymond. Minnick also recommended WhistlePig as his top-shelf pick but suggested the more affordable 10-year instead.
The $160 WhistlePig Old World is light copper in color and has vanilla, caramel, and apple aromas. The palate is smoky, spicy, and sweet, like a blue raspberry slushy. The medium-length finish has mellow spices and caramel sweetness. The low-proof WhistlePig Old World is best suited for sipping.
Michter’s 10 Year Rye is also an excellent choice if you’re willing to spend $100+ more.
Best cocktails
“I think Rittenhouse is an incredibly versatile rye whiskey,” said Minnick. Raymond said it’s a popular whiskey for cocktails, though he prefers Old Overholt. Maggie Kimberl, the content editor of American Whiskey Magazine, also recommended Rittenhouse.
The $30 Rittenhouse Rye is tawny-auburn in color. The nose features honey, toffee, and pumpkin spice aromas. The flavors struck me as basic and lacking in depth. The honey and spices come through on the tongue along with woodiness. I liked the medium-long finish, which featured a good balance of sweetness and spice.
One taster said they would buy it as a mixer. Another loved the “Kentucky hug” finish, which gives it a nice warm feel.
Best Canadian
Made with rye and no other grains, Lot 40 Canadian Rye Whisky offers spicy, sweet flavoring and a long, tasty finish, making it ideal for drinking on its own.
Lot 40 has a tawny hue. Maple sticks out on the nose, which is not overly strong. I also smelled notes of apple, vanilla, and raisin. These same notes were present on the palate, only the maple wasn’t as strong. Instead, there was more of an apple and oak taste to it. The finish was my favorite part. It lasted for a while all over the tongue with a nice spice.
Overall, this $40 whiskey is an excellent sipper, especially with its low proof. However, it lacks the punch to stand out in a cocktail.
Best Kentucky
Distilled by Kentucky’s legendary Buffalo Trace Distillery, Sazerac Rye Whiskey has an ensemble of delicious flavors and a long finish that punches well above its $30 price.
Sazerac Rye Whiskey is made by the legendary Buffalo Trace Distillery, makers of Pappy Van Winkle, and my favorite bourbon, Weller Special Reserve. Raymond recommended Sazerac because it’s approachable. He liked that all the flavors are laid before you, unlike the layers in pricier whiskeys. This makes Sazerac ideal for beginners, and the $35 price will appeal to those on a budget.
Russet in color, Sazerac’s nose has notes of anise, vanilla, and clove. The candy-like nose and palate reminded me of WhistlePig Old World. The palate also had strong oak and floral notes, along with a strong spice that lingers in the long, pleasant finish.
If you can’t find Sazerac, consider Wheel Horse Rye Whiskey, a flavorful alternative at a similar price.
Best high-proof
At nearly 120 proof, the Traverse City Whiskey Co. Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey is a stiff sipper, yet the sweetness provides a suitable counter to the high alcohol content.
The $80 Traverse City Whiskey Co. Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey has an auburn color. The nose is incredibly sweet, with notes of caramel, brown sugar, cocoa, and honey. These flavors are present on the palate along with maple syrup, vanilla, and butterscotch. The spice is most pronounced in the medium-long finish and balanced well with the sweetness.
While the high proof makes for a stiff drink, whether drinking neat or in a cocktail, the light spice on the palate may not complement cocktails with predominantly sweet ingredients.
Another great, high-proof option is Rossville Union Barrel Proof, made by MGP’s Ross & Squibb Distillery.
Best for drinking neat
If you are looking for a flavorful rye that you can drink without adding ice, water, or mixers, check out the smooth, sweet-tasting Hotel Tango Straight Rye Whiskey.
As the entertaining label says, Hotel Tango Straight Rye Whiskey is “ready to drink” without needing water, ice, or mixers. The burnished-colored whiskey has a full-nosed sweetness with notes of cinnamon and Pop Rocks. The taste is evocative of WhistlePig Old World and Sazerac: very sweet with notes of vanilla, maple syrup, and blue raspberry slushy. The finish is medium-length and mild. This $45 whiskey is excellent for drinking neat, as the bottle says, “water down at your own risk.”
If you like flavored whiskey, Hotel Tango’s ‘Shmallow is not to be missed. Its toasted marshmallow whiskey flavoring is excellent on its own or in hot cocoa, apple cider, or a cocktail.
Best for beginners
With its lower proof, mellow flavor, and bourbon-like mash bill, Elijah Craig Rye Whiskey is the perfect rye for beginners.
Elijah Craig Rye Whiskey is ideal for people new to rye because the mash bill isn’t too far off from bourbon. Its lower proof and smooth flavor make it accessible to beginners with developing palates.
The $35 Elijah Craig Rye is tawny in appearance and has a crisp, sweet aroma with spice, cocoa, and a little smoke. It coats the tongue as you take a sip with the sweet honey flavor standing out the most, though there was a good dose of spice, vanilla, and oak. I didn’t find the flavor too complex, but it wasn’t unpleasant. My favorite part was the long, smooth finish.
The Elijah Craig Rye Whiskey was the top-rated rye in our blind tasting because tasters found it smooth and flavorful.
Templeton Rye Whiskey also tends to be popular among beginners.
Best bottled-in-bond rye whiskey
FEW Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey is made according to the strictest federal specifications for whiskey and has a complex ensemble of flavor notes that is sure to please rye lovers.
The Bottled-in-Bond (BIB) Act of 1897 was passed to keep contaminants out of whiskey. To receive BIB designation, a whiskey must be made by a single distiller, aged at least 4 years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at 100 proof.
FEW Spirits makes the best BIB rye we tested. It has a dark auburn color. The nose is lovely, with sweetness jumping out. There are banana, floral, vanilla, honey, and anise notes. The flavor is mellow yet complex, with many of the same aroma notes following through on the tongue. The finish is smooth, mellow, and medium-length.
With the delightful flavors, this $50 whiskey is a great sipper, and the spice and medium proof make it great for cocktails.
Smoke Wagon BIB Rye is another great option if you can find it.
How we test rye whiskey
For this guide, I consulted:
- Maggie Kimberl, content editor of American Whiskey Magazine
- Mike Raymond, a Houston-based bartender and Whiskies of the World judge
- Fred Minnick, author of “Bourbon Curious” and judge at several whiskey competitions, including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition
I also tried many ryes and talked to several experts, including master distillers, while touring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
I blind taste tested more than 75 rye whiskeys and assessed each based on their color, aroma, palate, and finish, assigning scores to the overall taste.
Lastly, I enlisted the help of nine friends who identify as “rye whiskey lovers,” including members of the Lansing Area Whisk(e)y Society. I chose 10 expert-recommended rye whiskeys and put them in individual sample containers labeled A to J, so tasters were blind to the whiskey they were testing. I had them rate the whiskeys on a scale of 1 to 9, where 1 is “I hate it,” and 9 is ” I love it.” Here are the rye whiskeys and their ratings:
