Bourbon’s edgier, rebellious cousin, rye is having fun with one thing of a renaissance proper now, with gross sales surging and demand growing as drinkers fall for its opulently spicy charms, and a brand new wave of craft distilleries create thrilling, revolutionary spirits.
Rye whiskey historically falls into two classes. American rye whiskey should be made with at the least 51% rye, whereas the rest of the mash invoice (the combo of various grains used within the whisky manufacturing course of) features a combination of corn, malted barley or wheat. There’s no minimal ageing requirement with rye however something labelled ‘straight rye whiskey’ could have been aged in new charred oak barrels for at the least two years.
Canadian rye whisky, apparently, doesn’t truly should be made with rye. The authorized necessities are that the whisky should have a profile attribute of Canadian whisky, which incorporates among the flavour traits that rye supplies, however that is achieved by way of mixing. Sometimes, Canadian whisky is a mix of various grains with small quantities of rye used as a flavouring (though now you too can discover 100% rye Canadian whiskies), aged for no less than three years in oak casks.
The previous few years have additionally seen different nations, from Denmark to the UK, produce beautiful rye whiskies.
What does rye whisky style like?
Rye whiskies have an assertively spicy, savoury, peppery and earthy flavour profile, particularly when in comparison with their bourbon counterparts, which are usually sweeter and extra rounded due to their larger corn content material. Flavours you would possibly come throughout when tasting rye embody baking spice, nuts, rye bread, pepper, vanilla, citrus, caramel and oak, and whiskies can vary from mild and straightforward going to daring and muscular in character. They’re scrumptious sipped neat however work brilliantly in basic cocktails such because the sazerac, manhattan, whisky bitter and quaint.
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Greatest rye whiskey to purchase at a look
- Greatest robust rye whiskey: Zuidam Millstone 100 Rye, £93.95
- Greatest candy rye whiskey: Sagamore Spirit Signature Rye, £49.94
- Greatest Australian rye whiskey: The Gospel Straight Rye, £49.95
- Greatest easy-drinking rye whiskey: Peerless Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whisky, £79.90
- Greatest distinctive rye whiskey: Stauning Rye Whiskey, £50
- Greatest rye whiskey for rookies: Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye 80 Proof, £40.24
- Greatest easy rye whiskey: Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Straight Rye, £59.95
- Greatest small-batch rye whiskey: Oxford Rye Whisky Batch #004 The Graduate, £95
- Greatest blowout rye whiskey: WhistlePig Amburana Rye, £175
Greatest rye whiskey to purchase 2023
Zuidam Millstone 100 Rye
Greatest robust rye whiskey
This Dutch rye will get its title from the truth that it’s 100% rye, bottled at 100 proof and is 100 months outdated. It’s rounded, warming and richly fruity, with flavours and aromas of orange zest, peppery spice, oak and creamy vanilla.
Out there from:
The Whisky Trade (£93.95)
Sagamore Spirit Signature Rye
Greatest candy rye whiskey
Maryland rye is a barely sweeter model, and this spirit has candied orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg notes. Strive utilizing in cocktails.
Out there from:
Grasp of Malt (£49.94)
Amazon (£55.24)
The Gospel Straight Rye
Greatest Australian rye whiskey
This Australian rye has lots to say for itself, with intense earthy rye bread, raisin and spicy notes.
Out there from:
The Whisky Trade (£49.95)
Peerless Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whisky
Greatest easy-drinking rye whiskey
This four-year-old whisky is enjoyably drinkable, with oaky spice, white pepper and inexperienced apple notes, alongside caramel and vanilla.
Out there from:
The Whisky World (£49.95)
Stauning Rye
Greatest distinctive rye whiskey
Smoky and honeyed on the nostril, that is an intense whisky with a salty edge. An thrilling Nordic rye.
Out there from:
Amazon (£50)
Grasp of Malt (£58.99)
Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye 80 Proof
Greatest rye whiskey for rookies
Made in Virginia from 100% regionally sourced rye, it is a candy and fruity quantity replete with flavours of banana bread, baked apple, oak and buttery caramel. Winningly easy-going.
Out there from:
Grasp of Malt (£40.24)
The Whisky Trade (£40.25)
Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Straight Rye
Greatest easy rye whiskey
A Kentucky rye with a easy, rounded mouthfeel, opulent baking spice, butterscotch and vanilla, and touches of caramelised nuts, fruit cake and woodiness.
Out there from:
Grasp of Malt (£59.95)
Slurp (£52.95)
Oxford Rye Whisky Batch #004 The Graduate
Greatest small-batch rye whiskey
A stunning, complicated whisky from a dynamic new British whisky producer, with natural, spicy and peppery notes, and hints of banana and creamy custard.
Out there from:
The Oxford Artisan Distillery (£95)
Whistlepig Amburana Rye
Greatest blowout rye whiskey
A 12-year-old whisky completed, unusually, in a cask of South American amburana wooden – which is usually used to age cachaça. The top result’s complicated and off-beat: assume aromatic woodiness, shocking notes of candy coconut, glacé cherry and mint, in addition to extra basic spicy rye flavours.
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