A type of whiskey enjoyed since the 1700s, the best rye whiskey has been distilled following strict guidelines. It has signature peppery and spicy notes that wash over your palate after every sip, giving you an elegant and enjoyable drinking experience.
Although you’ll find more aggressive and lighter varieties, you won’t miss that signature sting because rye grain makes up most of the mash bill. That said, whether it’s your first time drinking whiskey or want to explore the whiskey world, below are five must-try rye whiskey choices.
5 Best Rye Whiskey Comparison Table
Before we review five of the best rye whiskeys in detail, here’s a table summarizing some important factors you can use as a quick reference when comparing them:
| Product Name | Best Feature | Rating | Price | Where to Buy |
| Heaven Hill Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey | High-proof (110) | 4.9/5 | $ | Local retailers, restaurants, and barsDrizly |
| Sagamore Spirit Signature Rye Whiskey | Smoothest rye whiskey on the list | 4.9/5 | $ | Local retail stores, bars, and restaurantsDrizly |
| Heaven Hill Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey | Bottled-in-Bond | 4.8/5 | $ | Local retailers, restaurants, and barsDrizly |
| Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey | Soft and light | 4.7/5 | $ | Local retailers, restaurants, and barsWoodford Reserve’s online storeDrizly |
| George Dickel Rye Whiskey | Chill Filtered | 4.7/5 | $ | Local retailers, restaurants, and barsGeorge Dickel online storeDrizly |
Best Rye Whiskey Reviews
1. Heaven Hill Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey
Heaven Hill Distillery has been around before the historic Prohibition Era. Originally based in Maryland, the company re-emerged in 1926 and is now known as the largest independent family-owned distillery around the globe.
The brand continues to gain recognition and popularity, with its yearly awards and competition wins as proof.
First produced in 1890, the Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey is considered the last-standing Maryland Rye. Now made in Kentucky using the extra-aged charred oak barrels, it’s the whiskey of choice if you want a taste of the 1980s and 1990s.
Review
One of the standout features of the Pikesville Rye is its 110-proof measurement or 55% ABV. It carries the flavors perfectly over your cheeks and palate without giving you an alcohol burn.
The whiskey is made from 51% rye, 35% corn, and 14% malted barley aged in a barrel stored in the drier, hotter area of the distillery’s warehouse, hence the high-proof measurement. It’s then left to age for six years, giving the whiskey a pale copper color.
This Kentucky straight rye whiskey has vibrant, deep, dry, and spicy flavors with a blend of cloves and honeyed rye. The initial taste is similar to deep butterscotch with a hint of cinnamon and red fruit.
It leaves lingering notes of baking spices and vanilla, which is a desirable aftertaste. Add that to the whiskey’s subtle and pleasant aroma of dusty cocoa and oak-like smoke that enhances the flavor, and you’d get an enjoyable overall drinking experience.
Pros:
- Has the distinct spicy, peppery rye flavor
- High-proof but smooth
- Well-balanced tasting notes
- Available in two bottle sizes
Con:
- Most expensive on the list
2. Sagamore Spirit Signature Rye Whiskey
Although relatively new in the whiskey world, Sagamore Spirit deserves a spot on our list for many reasons. One is that it’s made of newly harvested rye sourced from local farmers they process in their well-maintained five-acre waterfront distillery.
Also, all Sagamore Spirit whiskies are distilled using limestone-free water from its 1909-built Spring House, hence the 1909 mark on their bottles. Not only that, but it has won several local, national, and international awards. In fact, the Signature Rye Whiskey won the gold medal in the 2020 SIP Awards.
Review
This Maryland-style rye whiskey blends two straight mash bills of rye, corn, and barley. It is then stored in a highly-charred American oak barrel from four to six years to age.
The first mash bill has a high-rye content, giving the whiskey a combination of clove and cinnamon flavors. Meanwhile, the (second) low-rye mash enriches it with citrus peel, honey, and sweet caramel notes.
Thus, when you drink the Sagamore Spirit Signature Rye Whiskey, you’ll taste a candied dried orange peel flavor with a hint of nutmeg and clove. It will have a lingering brown sugar and walnut finish. You will also love its signature smell, a blend of caramel, vanilla, and baking spices.
Alcohol content-wise, the whiskey has 83 proof or 41.5% ABV, giving it a bit of a heat that a light drinker’s palate can easily tolerate. Although this low proof slightly dulls rye’s signature flavor, you surely wouldn’t miss the whiskey’s fruitiness.
Pros:
- Well-balanced sweetness and spiciness
- Complex tasting notes
- Smooth; easy to drink
- Available in two bottle sizes
Cons:
- Low proof; not quite huge on rye flavor
- Mid-priced rye whiskey
3. Heaven Hill Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky
Here’s another entry from the renowned company, Heaven Hill Distillery. The Rittenhouse Rye is an excellent alternative to the Pikesville if you want one with a lower alcohol content or proof level. It stands out among its competitors because it bears the Bottled in Bond (BiB) seal.
What does this mean? The BiB indicates three things: authenticity, transparency, and consistency.
Liquor with this stamp needs to meet specific criteria. One is that it should have a proof level of 100. It must be distilled and processed in one distillery and during one of the distillation seasons (from January to June or from July to December).
Another is it must bear the D.S.P.’s (Distilled Spirits Plant) name and number. Finally, the drink should be aged for a minimum of four years in a federally-bonded and U.S. government-supervised warehouse.
Review
As one of the few Bottled in Bond liquors in the market today, this rye whiskey is made from 51% rye grain, 37% corn, and 12% malted barley and has a mahogany-like color.
In terms of its tasting notes, you’ll be welcomed with a pleasing, mellow, light scent. Some describe it as a blend of dried banana and peach, sweet pepper, and toffee with a hint of malty grains. Connoisseurs liken it to a bowl of breakfast oatmeal topped with fruits.
You will love that this fruity nose is carried over as the whiskey touches your palate. You’ll start tasting a familiar flavor of clean but rich cocoa, cinnamon, citrus, vanilla, and nutmeg as you chew on it.
For a more pleasant Kentucky rye drinking experience, the Rittenhouse has a short, light maple-like spicy finish. You’ll also notice hints of light peach and slightly charred oak-like flavors.
Pros:
- Well-balanced richness and smoothness
- Not overly spicy and hot
- Affordable BiB whiskey
- Pleasant palate and finish
Cons:
- Available in one bottle size
- Tad weak nose
4. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Next on our list is liquor from a company considered among the pioneers of making Kentucky bourbon. In fact, the Woodford Reserve Distillery is a National Historic Landmark visited by bar and retail store owners, managers, and more. It also hosts tastings and tours for locals and tourists but require a reservation.
The owners’ vision and mission are to innovate without taking for granted history and tradition. Hence, as Woodford Reserve continues to produce several types of whiskey, they ensure they protect and conserve natural resources.
As the only rye whiskey in their arsenal as of writing, this liquor has multiple awards attached to its name.
With four gold medals and Excellent, Highly Recommended recognition from renowned competitions, such as San Francisco World Spirits Competition and American Whiskey Masters, it is undoubtedly one of the best rye whiskeys you’ll find today.
Review
So, what’s inside the bottle? The Woodford Reserve Rye is crafted using the pre-prohibition era rye content, which is 53%. The rest of the mash bill includes 33% corn and 14% malted barley. It’s aged for at least four years and has a proof level of 90.4 or 45.2% ABV and a color resembling rich honey.
The whiskey’s tasting notes aren’t too overwhelming, especially for first-time drinkers of rye whiskey or any whiskey. To be more precise, the aroma is a blend of rye, cedar, black pepper, and cassia bark notes. This spicy note is mellowed and sweetened by the hints of marzipan, almond, apple, and pear.
As you drink and chew the Woodford Reserve Rye, the dominant flavor is a blend of rye, clove, molasses, mint, honey, and sorghum with hints of malt and apple. For its finish, it’s long and sweetly spiced. You will taste a combination of oak, copper, fruit, butterscotch, and spicy notes.
Pros:
- Available in two bottle sizes
- Smooth and palatable
- Medium-bodied
- Complex tasting notes
- Long-lasting, sweetly spiced finish
Cons:
- Lacks punchy rye aroma
- Might be too sweet for some
5. George Dickel Rye Whiskey
Like Heaven Hill, George Dickel is a pre-Prohibition company and was under a different name. However, it didn’t completely close down since it legally sold its products as medicinal spirits during the Prohibition Era. It also still uses the Scottish spelling of whiskey: whisky.
George Dickel’s first post-Prohibition Era liquor was the Geo. A Dickel Tennessee Whisky that was bottled and released under two different names.
Now, it has a selection of whiskeys, including the award-winning and highly recommended Rye Whisky, produced using the century-old filtration process known as Lincoln County Process. It means it chills every whisky using sugar maple charcoal to “mellow down the spiciness.” Hence, this bottle of rye whisky has Charcoal Mellowed and Chill Filtered labels.
Review
Making up 95% of the mash bill, the George Dickel has the highest rye component among our listed choices, while the remaining 5% is malted barley. It’s aged to a proof level of 90 or 45% ABV. However, the exact number of years it is stored in the barrel isn’t known but is said to be around five years.
This copper-colored whisky’s high-rye content gives it very spicy tasting notes but aren’t too harsh. That’s all thanks to the cold filtration step mentioned earlier and the charred oak barrels used.
Upon pouring and swirling, you will immediately smell the spicy rye aroma with hints of citrus, candied cherry, caramel, cinnamon, and vanilla. You’ll also notice scents similar to marshmallows, roasted peaches, fallen leaves, and barely charred timber.
Palate-wise, it has signature dry, slightly sharp rye notes combined with sweet and herbal notes, including cinnamon, black pepper, cloves, orange peels, cherry jam, chocolate, and caramel nougat.
As you continue chewing, you will taste a blend of vanilla, eucalyptus, and floral honey, leaving a pleasant menthol chill on your tongue. For the aftertaste, it is a lingering medium-spicy rye note combined with black pepper, caramel, and oak.
Pros:
- Good drinkability
- Smooth finish
- Spicy without a hot burn
- Subtle fruit notes
- Most affordable on this list
- Available in two bottle sizes
Cons:
- Lacks flavor complexity and depth
- The aroma isn’t for everyone
Top Considerations When Choosing the Best Rye Whiskey
When choosing among the rye whiskeys above, you must consider the features we list below to ensure you pick a bottle that matches your taste and drinking style. These are also the top features we considered when we narrowed down our list.
Barrel Proof Strength
The “proof” indicates the alcohol content or strength of the rye whiskey while maturing in the barrel. This system of measuring alcohol content is more complicated than the typical ABV (alcohol by volume).
For instance, a 50 proof doesn’t necessarily mean 50% ABV. That said, a whiskey labeled “barrel proof strength” means that the beverage is undiluted.
So, how would you determine the exact alcohol content of the whiskey? Rye whiskey brands from the US follow a system wherein the proof is two times more than the drink’s ABV. As such, if you find a rye whiskey labeled as 30 proof, it means that its ABV is 60%.
Brand
Speaking of brands, it’s always best to start with those that have been in the industry for years. With their experience, you are assured they have already mastered the right rye whiskey production and quality control techniques.
However, you also can’t ignore the new players in the industry, like Sagamore. That’s why it is important to know their history and best practices, as seen in our reviews above.
Age
While the brand name almost always equates to quality, the whiskey’s age affects its taste. Aging or storage will mellow down the alcohol spirit’s taste and help impart the distillate’s desirable flavor as it interacts with the wooden barrel it is stored in.
Color
Since one factor that affects the rye whiskey’s color is age, it also has a significant effect on the rye whiskey’s taste. Rye whiskeys are aged in charred American oak barrels, which have flavoring compounds that enhance the whiskey spirit’s aroma, body (light, medium, or full), and, of course, taste.
Generally, darker (older or aged) quality rye will have a bolder taste, while a lighter (younger) one will more likely have a more delicate, floral flavor.
Finish
You’ll find that some premium rye whiskeys have “Finished” labels. It can mean they have undergone an additional aging step in secondary casks or charred American oak barrels.
Since these containers were used to age other types of alcohol, like Madeira and cognac, the rye whiskeys will have more complex flavor notes and a different kind of aroma and color. However, note that finish also refers to the whiskey’s aftertaste.
FAQs About Rye Whiskey
At this point, you most likely already have a top choice for the best rye whiskey. However, the following information will help you learn more about this type of whiskey and appreciate it better.
1. What is a true rye whiskey?
In the US, distillers must meet particular requirements for their products to be considered true rye whiskey. After all, there is such a product called Canadian rye whiskey.
One is at least 51% of the mash bill should be rye grain, while the rest should be malted barley, wheat, and/or sweet corn or corn. Another criterion is that the mash bill should be aged in a charred oak barrel for no less than two years. Distillation should also be no more than 80% ABV or 160 proof.
2. Which is smoother, rye, or bourbon?
Bourbon is smoother than rye whiskeys because of the lower level of rye and a higher level of wheat or corn. Also, some manufacturers add flavor notes like vanilla and sweet caramel, giving it a more balanced flavor. That’s why light drinkers and first-time drinkers can tolerate its taste better than rye whiskey.
3. How to enjoy rye whiskeys?
Rye is a great sipping whiskey, so you can drink it neat (straight) or on the rocks. These are two ways to help you become more familiar with the whiskey’s taste.
Alternatively, you can combine it with various mixers with subtler flavors and enjoy a good-tasting cocktail if the rye is too aggressive and strong for your palate.
We recommend you try the classic Vieux Carré, Manhattan, and Sazerac rye cocktails. If you have been making bourbon-based cocktails, you can replace the bourbon with rye to make the flavor a little spicier and less sweet.
What Is the Best Rye Whiskey for Me?
Every palate is different, but our top pick for the best rye whiskey is the Heaven Hill Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey. Its high-proof level and strong but not overwhelming spicy note are perfect for long-time drinkers and those who prefer strong alcohol.
Likewise, light drinkers can enjoy it on the rocks or make delicious cocktails without completely draining the rye spice and alcohol kick. That’s why even if it is the most expensive on our list, you will get great value for your money.
That said, you can always opt for the more affordable, lower-proof Rittenhouse rye. Also, beginning whiskey drinkers can choose between Sagamore and Woodford because of their lower alcohol content and less spicy notes. Lastly, those allergic to corn and on a tight budget will surely enjoy the George Dickel.
