The Best Rye Whiskeys of 2023

insidehook | kirk miller | December 7, 2023

[Excerpt]

We spent the last few months at InsideHook on a rye whiskey binge. We wrote about the best affordable ryes (and best the ones under $100), the best single barrel rye whiskeys, took a deep dive into the regional differences between American ryes and talked about the best ryes for an Old Fashioned. And we still have a few more stories in the pipeline.

What is it about rye that fascinates us and, increasingly, fascinates whiskey drinkers? It’s both a spirit with a lot of history and one that’s been overlooked both here and around the world for decades — until now. 

While sales of rye whiskey are still modest compared to bourbon, the growth rate is staggering (though it’s hard to pinpoint year-to-year numbers, the Distilled Spirits Council noted a 1,275% increase in sales volume between 2009 and 2018). It’s an exceptional whiskey for mixed drinks, and it offers a more herbaceous flavor profile (we’d also argue it’s better than other American whiskeys when undergoing secondary barrel maturations.)

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Old Elk Rum Cask Finish

The Colorado-based distillery continues its Cask Finish Series — which previously included Port and Cognac Cask Finish Straight Bourbon Whiskeys — with a rye finished in 14-year-old Barbados rum casks for two to five months. While I’m partial to the distillery’s wheated whiskeys, this rye (a 95% rye, 5% malted barley mashbill) takes on tropical flavors (including pineapple) with a nice bit of rye spice. It made for an amazing take on an Old Fashioned.

Read the full article at insidehook.com