While there’s plenty to be said about the flavour imparted to a whiskey from the cask it rests in, the choice of cereal from which the spirit is made is playing an increasingly important role in the final flavour. It’s no wonder American rye is on a meteoric rise, production of the drink almost doubling since 2015.
American rye whiskey has long been popular in cocktails, a key ingredient in classics such as the Sazerac and the Manhattan. But now drinkers are sipping it neat or on the rocks, enjoying the more complex, spiced aromas and flavours when compared to the sweeter vanilla found in barley-based spirits. Some of the best American rye whiskey can even be packed with peppery notes of caraway and cardamom, offering something new for whiskey lovers to savour.
While the use of rye in whiskey is obviously nothing new – with early settlers in America distilling spirits from rye grains – bringing it to the fore of the mash bill is a trend that’s bearing fruit for distilleries such as Heaven Hill and Wild Turkey, who both won Gold medals for their rye whiskies at this year’s IWSC.
Scoring a mightily impressive 98/100 points was the Heritage Collection 12YO, praised for the cinnamon, nutmeg, rye bread, minerality, citrus and glazed-fruit flavours on the palate. With 96 points, Wild Turkey’s 101 Kentucky Straight Rye was ‘beautifully aromatic’ and showed a slightly lighter side to rye whiskey, with notes of blossom, honey, lemon and peach. One thing is for sure, if you’re looking for something with character in the glass, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for the best American rye whiskies from the IWSC 2023.
HOW DO WE JUDGE THESE SPIRITS?
We run a tightly structured, rigorous spirits tasting process. That means that each spirit sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC spirit judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the drinks industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
HOW DO WE SCORE THESE SPIRITS?
Only the best spirits sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, spirits have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.
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12 of the best American rye whiskies from the IWSC 2023
Heaven Hill Distillery, Heritage Collection 12 YO Rye Whiskey
Gruppo Campari, Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Sagamore Spirit, Cask Strength Rye Whiskey
Sagamore Spirit, Sherry Finish Rye Whiskey
Ironroot Republic Distilling, Saints Alley The Nobleman Rye Whiskey
Luxco - Ross & Squibb Distillery, Rossville Union Master Crafted Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey
William Grant & Sons Distillers, Hudson Whiskey NY Short Stack Straight Rye Whiskey
Heaven Hill Distillery, Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Bardstown Bourbon Company, Collaborative Series West Virginia Great Barrel Company Blended Rye Whiskey
Buffalo Trace Distillery, Colonel E.H Taylor Straight Rye
Heaven Hill Distillery, Rittenhouse Bottled-In-Bond Straight Rye Whisky
Yellow Rose, Rye Whiskey
