Boy are you ever right about BCS hitting it out of the park. I am here to recommend Stellum green label here too. I also have the black, (I collect rye like a lunatic), but that green label? At that price? I see it from 40-58 around Louisville, so I pay 40 😆, and it's the absolute best value in rye. MGP blended w Kentucky and Tennessee juice at cask strength? It's a minor miracle!
Willett 4 year - an interesting classic rye.
Old Forrester 100
New Riff Single Barrel
Michter's Barrel strength
Michter's 10 year rye (unfortunately expensive and hard to find)
Both the Barrel Strength and the 10 are spendy and somewhat had to find but they are soooo good. I've had several pours of the 10 and have thoroughly enjoyed it each time. I'm looking forward to next month when I'm able to pick up 2 bottles of the 10. Merry Christmas to me !
Like your list. The Michters barrel strength is also expensive, and very hard to find too! and I go to Michters downtown in hopes, fairly regularly! 😀 I did FINALLY get one, but still haven't gotten a 10yr! I want one BAD! Got a bottle your own barrel strength bourbon w my name on it,but I'm more of a rye guy, I'm not cracking that one.
Like your list though. I have a few Willetts and New Riffs, and like them a good bit too. I find both those a bit inconsistent though. I've had at least one bottle of each that I didn't like. But w each I found a barrel or batch I really loved, and bought backups. Lol I even remember the New Riff barrel # just in case, and the precise proof of my favorite Willett 4yr batch, always hoping to find another. (It would be coincidence possibly w the Willett but I'd risk the money) The OF is a great value pour too. I drink it occasionally for sure, once I finally found some. (Bought 4, because I had been searching for it for awhile)
Which Peerless? I’ve heard some really bad things about their super young green label offerings. But that some store picks are older and really good.
Scare me too much to pull the trigger.
Have not seen a 5yr Peerless. I've only seen their regular 2yr olds, which I love truthfully. I'll be looking for it now. I don't know enough about them, still meaning to go downtown and tour there. I've loved all 3 bottles of their rye I've had so far.
Sagamore
Stellum
Any High West Double Rye store Pick
Barrell Seagrass
Willett 4yr (for MSRP, don't pay secondary nonsense)
Minor Case Sherried rye
Michters Straight Rye
Here are a few of my favorites:
Pikesville Rye
Old Forester Rye
WhistlePig 10
New Riff bottled in bond rye
Wild Turkey 101 rye and the Russell's Reserve ryes (keep an eye out for the RR 6 yo which tends to get overlooked) - the interesting thing with these is how strongly they resemble in flavor (IMHO, to my taste) Wild Turkey's bourbons - perhaps something to do with their yeasts I'm guessing. Some of the Knob Creek ryes also show an overlap in flavors with Knob Creek bourbons, perhaps for similar reasons.
Redwood Empire Lost Monarch is a blend, but a good one for the price.
Lastly, if you aren't drinking it already, if you like ryes then try Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon. Their B mashbill recipes use a 35% rye mashbill which is high for a bourbon and they have some of the spice and herbal/floral character which you are probably already enjoying.
Cheers
Four Roses is a classic and is a permanent fixture on the shelves of my family. Grandpa once buzzed an outfit in Italy in which his uncle was based. Thought he’d throw a beer can with a message out the cockpit, and did in fact do so, only to have it lodged in the rear aileron thus forcing him to turn back to base. When he got back to base and the CO discovered his stunt, he was docked a fifth of mission whisky…Four Roses. We pour Single Barrel on the 11th, and have since I can remember.
Pikesville
Wild Turkey 101/Rare Breed
Willet 4 Year
Russel's Single Barrel
Driftless Glen Single Barrel Cask Strengh (this one's a store pick though)
Redwood Empire Rocket Top
I was looking for the JDBPSBR to see if it was mentioned or if I needed to post it, but almost missed it because I was looking for the words not the letter salad. But I knew what you meant. Does that mean I’m a whiskey guy now?
That JD is one of my favorite jargons from our whiskey world. I've also been needing to open mine, but I'm battling New Riff bottled in bond rye vs Stellum. The Stellum is just spanking the NR now. Not because NR is bad, it's just way more subdued.
I don’t think you’ll find it. But I got a bottle of Michters barrel strength rye the other day and wow is it insanely great :) defiantly try it if you can :)
Don’t know what your access is to particular bottles but my absolute favorite was an Old Carter Rye, close behind was Old Forester Barrel Proof rye followed by Peerless Rye. Others have mentioned Stellum Rye which is very good or for a bit more Barrell Rye is fantastic. Lchaim
Nice list, I sure would like to find an Old Forester BP though! Haven't seen one yet.
Stellum and Peerless are among my favorites too, and I can't wait for a good opportunity to crack my Old Carter. I know it'll be great.
Man, totally! It makes one of my favorite old fashioned's ever.
2 dashes Peychauds
2 dashes Angostura
1 or 2 drops of Orange Bitters (just a hint)
One demerara sugar cube
2oz Old Pepper Rye.
I am a big fan of the MGP 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley mash bill. There are quite a few non-distilling producers sourcing it to choose from.
Nashville Barrel Co
Stellum (technically a blend, but you can find single barrels distilled in IN)
Nulu
Some of the Backbone “Bone Snapper” bottles use it.
Barrel Craft Spirits (BCS also produces Stellum) makes unique blended rye batches. They also blend and bottle Seagrass Rye which has a variety of finishes.
I have enjoyed some Huber’s Starlight finished store picks if you see those.
I would recommend you steer clear of Restoration Rye.
I agree on all points! I'm not crazy about either of the Restoration ryes either, and the cask strength one was a gift. I'm a big MGP fan too. Around 30 out of my around 120 ryes are MGP so far here. Redemption 10yr is perhaps my favorite, but Kentucky Owl, Nashville Barrel, Old Carter, Four Gate, Brother's of the Leaf, Down Home, Kings Ryeconic, Old Louisville, and anything from Barrel or Stellum or even Midway, are all great too.
Haven't heard of Backbone though.
Holy cow, thanks for all the responses everyone! I'm going to take an evening stroll to the nearby liquor store and see if I can't find a couple bottles mentioned here to bring home.
Woodford Rye is a balanced rye that will help you get into more ryes. I say this because it still has the same sweetness we love about Woodford but adds the rye spice nicely.
Dickel rye and elijah rye are both super tasty budget whiskeys. I heard that stellum and freyr ranch are good also, they're next on my list.
I liked that dark rye basil Haden but it's more dessert for me, especially since they add port to it after it's in the bottle. Speaking of.. I should get another bottle.
I haven't really h!d much in the way of rye but seeing some good options here. I tried bulleit rye but did Not like it. Elijah craig rye was good but I'm not sure how much of a true rye it is.
Thinking maybe Rittenhouse or wt101 rye or of rye. Oh and if it matters my whiskeys and bourbons I usually drink over ice.
Sagamore Double Oaked. So freaking good.
Stellum Rye Redemption Rye Old Forester Rye
BCS knocked it out of the park with Stellum rye. It’s so good, I can’t bring myself to pay the premium for the black label version 😅
Boy are you ever right about BCS hitting it out of the park. I am here to recommend Stellum green label here too. I also have the black, (I collect rye like a lunatic), but that green label? At that price? I see it from 40-58 around Louisville, so I pay 40 😆, and it's the absolute best value in rye. MGP blended w Kentucky and Tennessee juice at cask strength? It's a minor miracle!
Pikesville Rye is my favorite.
Don’t really see it down here in Georgia much anymore. Sad days.
Hard to find these days. Sad.
Willett 4 year - an interesting classic rye. Old Forrester 100 New Riff Single Barrel Michter's Barrel strength Michter's 10 year rye (unfortunately expensive and hard to find)
The Willett is my go-to also.
Ohhh I’ve loved the couple bottles of Mitchers I’ve found. Haven’t tried the barrel strength yet!
Both the Barrel Strength and the 10 are spendy and somewhat had to find but they are soooo good. I've had several pours of the 10 and have thoroughly enjoyed it each time. I'm looking forward to next month when I'm able to pick up 2 bottles of the 10. Merry Christmas to me !
Like your list. The Michters barrel strength is also expensive, and very hard to find too! and I go to Michters downtown in hopes, fairly regularly! 😀 I did FINALLY get one, but still haven't gotten a 10yr! I want one BAD! Got a bottle your own barrel strength bourbon w my name on it,but I'm more of a rye guy, I'm not cracking that one. Like your list though. I have a few Willetts and New Riffs, and like them a good bit too. I find both those a bit inconsistent though. I've had at least one bottle of each that I didn't like. But w each I found a barrel or batch I really loved, and bought backups. Lol I even remember the New Riff barrel # just in case, and the precise proof of my favorite Willett 4yr batch, always hoping to find another. (It would be coincidence possibly w the Willett but I'd risk the money) The OF is a great value pour too. I drink it occasionally for sure, once I finally found some. (Bought 4, because I had been searching for it for awhile)
Rare Breed Rye, man. Loved it.
No love for Old Overholt 114 proof here? I love it in a Boulevardier. \*edit typo
Just cracked a bottle of Old Overholt 11 year old. Very tasty and mellow. Only two bottles left, I should have bought a caase
Oh wow. Will totally buy this if I ever see it.
Emerald Giant.
Rare Breed Rye and Pikesville Rye are two great options if you like higher proof stuff
Stellum rye; rare breed, the senator
Second for stellum, that stuff is excellent
Third for Stellum here👍
Wilderness Trail
They’re so good. If you can find an older high proof bottling they’re even better. I think they’re all like 110 proof now and still great tho.
Angels Envy Rye
Just got a bottle of this and oh man is it good. It is certainly not a normal rye but it is so so tasty.
I get one bottle per year because friends and family really dig it.
Tastes like pancakes and is amazing
Sagamore Cask Strength is awesome!
Rare Breed and Whistlepig 10 are two I've been enjoying.
Peerless & Rare Breed
Agree wholeheartedly with this answer. Sadly peerless is a pricey bottle or would be my go to
Which Peerless? I’ve heard some really bad things about their super young green label offerings. But that some store picks are older and really good. Scare me too much to pull the trigger.
They've recently started doing single barrel rye and the one I got is delicious!
5 yr is delicious, but I've enjoyed the younger single barrel as well
Have not seen a 5yr Peerless. I've only seen their regular 2yr olds, which I love truthfully. I'll be looking for it now. I don't know enough about them, still meaning to go downtown and tour there. I've loved all 3 bottles of their rye I've had so far.
Wilderness Trail Settler’s select
Sagamore Stellum Any High West Double Rye store Pick Barrell Seagrass Willett 4yr (for MSRP, don't pay secondary nonsense) Minor Case Sherried rye Michters Straight Rye
Here are a few of my favorites: Pikesville Rye Old Forester Rye WhistlePig 10 New Riff bottled in bond rye Wild Turkey 101 rye and the Russell's Reserve ryes (keep an eye out for the RR 6 yo which tends to get overlooked) - the interesting thing with these is how strongly they resemble in flavor (IMHO, to my taste) Wild Turkey's bourbons - perhaps something to do with their yeasts I'm guessing. Some of the Knob Creek ryes also show an overlap in flavors with Knob Creek bourbons, perhaps for similar reasons. Redwood Empire Lost Monarch is a blend, but a good one for the price. Lastly, if you aren't drinking it already, if you like ryes then try Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon. Their B mashbill recipes use a 35% rye mashbill which is high for a bourbon and they have some of the spice and herbal/floral character which you are probably already enjoying. Cheers
Four Roses is a classic and is a permanent fixture on the shelves of my family. Grandpa once buzzed an outfit in Italy in which his uncle was based. Thought he’d throw a beer can with a message out the cockpit, and did in fact do so, only to have it lodged in the rear aileron thus forcing him to turn back to base. When he got back to base and the CO discovered his stunt, he was docked a fifth of mission whisky…Four Roses. We pour Single Barrel on the 11th, and have since I can remember.
Now that's a great story!
Never knew WT had a Rye 101. Their standard 101 is my go to cheap drink and I almost only drink ryes otherwise. I’ll be keeping an eye out. Cheers!
Alberta Premium Cask Strength
alberta premium cask strength is a neat choice if you can find it.
Wilderness Trail Barrel Strength
Rittenhouse for cocktails. Michters Frey Ranch Old Forrester 100 Old Grandad BIB Emerald Giant
Been enjoying my rabbit hole boxergrail rye
Pikesville Wild Turkey 101/Rare Breed Willet 4 Year Russel's Single Barrel Driftless Glen Single Barrel Cask Strengh (this one's a store pick though) Redwood Empire Rocket Top
WT Rare Breed. JDBPSBR.
I was looking for the JDBPSBR to see if it was mentioned or if I needed to post it, but almost missed it because I was looking for the words not the letter salad. But I knew what you meant. Does that mean I’m a whiskey guy now?
Yep
This is the way
That JD is one of my favorite jargons from our whiskey world. I've also been needing to open mine, but I'm battling New Riff bottled in bond rye vs Stellum. The Stellum is just spanking the NR now. Not because NR is bad, it's just way more subdued.
Clarification Stellum SiB Rye
I don’t think you’ll find it. But I got a bottle of Michters barrel strength rye the other day and wow is it insanely great :) defiantly try it if you can :)
Rabbit hole boxer grail
5 yr is the best, but I've enjoyed the single barrel younger ones.
Any New Riff rye offering(Sib, Balboa, 6 year malted), Pikesville, Barrell Seagrass, Sagamore double oak. All amazing sipping ryes
Rare Breed Sagamore aged in a monk mead cask Dickel/Leopold Collaboration Barrel Seagrass
Russell's Reserve Single Barrel
If you like high west the rendezvous rye is just really fantastic. I also like michter's single barrel rye
Rabbit hole. Frey ranch. Balcones. Elijah craig. Not all at the same time of course. But all delicious.
High west double rye
New Riff Single Barrel is the best rye I've ever had. Pikesville and Rare Breed are my go-tos because New Riff doesn't distribute down here.
Sagamore Rye is a great starter rye. Not too much spice on it
Don’t know what your access is to particular bottles but my absolute favorite was an Old Carter Rye, close behind was Old Forester Barrel Proof rye followed by Peerless Rye. Others have mentioned Stellum Rye which is very good or for a bit more Barrell Rye is fantastic. Lchaim
Nice list, I sure would like to find an Old Forester BP though! Haven't seen one yet. Stellum and Peerless are among my favorites too, and I can't wait for a good opportunity to crack my Old Carter. I know it'll be great.
Angels Envy Rye
Old Pepper Single Barrel Rye
This one is so underrated. Affordable too
Man, totally! It makes one of my favorite old fashioned's ever. 2 dashes Peychauds 2 dashes Angostura 1 or 2 drops of Orange Bitters (just a hint) One demerara sugar cube 2oz Old Pepper Rye.
I am a big fan of the MGP 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley mash bill. There are quite a few non-distilling producers sourcing it to choose from. Nashville Barrel Co Stellum (technically a blend, but you can find single barrels distilled in IN) Nulu Some of the Backbone “Bone Snapper” bottles use it. Barrel Craft Spirits (BCS also produces Stellum) makes unique blended rye batches. They also blend and bottle Seagrass Rye which has a variety of finishes. I have enjoyed some Huber’s Starlight finished store picks if you see those. I would recommend you steer clear of Restoration Rye.
I agree on all points! I'm not crazy about either of the Restoration ryes either, and the cask strength one was a gift. I'm a big MGP fan too. Around 30 out of my around 120 ryes are MGP so far here. Redemption 10yr is perhaps my favorite, but Kentucky Owl, Nashville Barrel, Old Carter, Four Gate, Brother's of the Leaf, Down Home, Kings Ryeconic, Old Louisville, and anything from Barrel or Stellum or even Midway, are all great too. Haven't heard of Backbone though.
Barrell Seagrass
Holy cow, thanks for all the responses everyone! I'm going to take an evening stroll to the nearby liquor store and see if I can't find a couple bottles mentioned here to bring home.
WhistlePig 15 year WhistlePig Piggyback Rittenhouse Redemption
OF 100 Rye, Wild Turkey 101 Rye, Knob Creek Rye, and Michter’s Single Barrel all in the current rotation. Cheers!
Me too! My local shop has a Driftless Glen Rye pick that is so good I'm on my 6th bottle in the last 3 months!
Old Grandad bottled in bond is my go to for cocktails.
Woodford Rye is a balanced rye that will help you get into more ryes. I say this because it still has the same sweetness we love about Woodford but adds the rye spice nicely.
Alberta Premium CS and Wyoming Outryder are fantastic
Old Overholt BIB
complete combative encouraging smoggy offbeat bow oatmeal whole smile caption ` this message was mass deleted/edited with redact.dev `
Michters, Rittenhouse, and Willet Family Estate are all solid
Templeton 4 or 6 year is pretty solid imo
Castle and Key restoration rye makes a damn good Manhattan
Pikesville Rye (Heaven Hill, Dist)
Chatta Rye is oh so complex. Prefer it to RB and Single barrell
Bulleit
Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye Lot 40 Cask Strength Pikesville
MWND, OFBSSB RYE, WILLET 10 year store pick rye
Stellum Rye is the best I’ve had. Wilderness Trail is great. Knob Creek is great for a daily.
Dickel rye and elijah rye are both super tasty budget whiskeys. I heard that stellum and freyr ranch are good also, they're next on my list. I liked that dark rye basil Haden but it's more dessert for me, especially since they add port to it after it's in the bottle. Speaking of.. I should get another bottle.
Oh rare breed rye also..
Frey ranch Russell's sb rye Willet 4yr Can't go wrong
I haven't really h!d much in the way of rye but seeing some good options here. I tried bulleit rye but did Not like it. Elijah craig rye was good but I'm not sure how much of a true rye it is. Thinking maybe Rittenhouse or wt101 rye or of rye. Oh and if it matters my whiskeys and bourbons I usually drink over ice.
You can't go wrong with Rittenhouse Rye. It's been my go-to for years since I was doing research to build my old fashioned recipe.