An introduction to rye whiskey

The United States is known for producing two main types of whisky - rye whiskey and bourbon.

Let’s talk about rye whiskey today.

First thing to note: the term ‘rye’ is also used for Canadian whisky. However, this is completely different from US rye whiskey. We’ll talk about Canadian rye whisky later in this article. However, for now, let’s focus on the US version.

For a whiskey to be classed as rye, it should have a predominantly rye mash bill. This means that it should have at least 51% of rye in the mash bill.

It is worth comparing this rule to the rule for bourbon, which (as mentioned above) is another type of whiskey produced in the United States. For a whiskey to be classed as bourbon, it should have at least 51% of corn in the mash bill. (So, corn for bourbon, and rye for rye whiskey.)

Back to rye: some rye whiskies contain way more than the regulation 51% rye. A good example is the Angel’s Envy Rye, which contains 95% rye in the mash bill. On the other hand, some rye whiskies stick to the minimum stipulation, or close enough. An example is the Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, which has only 53% rye in the mash bill.

Rye whiskies are generally aged in charred new oak barrels. There is no stipulated minimum period for the ageing process.

You may have seen the term ‘straight rye’ on a bottle of rye whiskey. This just means that it is a non-blended rye whiskey, and has been aged in charred oak barrels for at least two years.

What does rye whiskey taste like?

Rye whiskies tend to have a spicy taste. This is in contrast to bourbon, which tends to be sweet, due to the inclusion of a high corn content in the mash bill.

The spiciness of rye whiskies owes a lot to the rye content in the mash bill. Some are of course spicier than others. A good example of a spicy rye whiskey is the Michter’s US-1 Kentucky Straight Rye.

Rye whiskies are commonly used in cocktails. However, you can also enjoy them neat.

A word about Canadian rye whiskies

The quirky thing about Canadian rye whiskies is that there is no stipulation for rye content in the mash bill. As such, the rye content may actually be lower than 51%. In fact, it can even be zero.

Although Canadian rye whiskies need not actually contain any rye, most of them do have some rye content. A good one to try is the Lock Stock & Barrel Straight Rye 16 year old. This one contains 100% rye in the mash bill. It's a bit heavy on the palate, but also has a nice, complex finish.

Another quirky thing about rye whisky - the Canadian version is spelled without the ‘e’, while the US version has the ‘e’.

If you’ve not had (US) rye whiskey before, the spicy taste can come as a bit of a surprise. It may take some getting used to.

I would advise starting with a light one, and then getting used to the taste over time. I would recommend the Elijah Craig Straight Rye. Give it a try, and let me know you what you think.

I hope you enjoyed this article about rye whisky. As always, please feel free to share this Newsletter with anyone who likes whisky, and stories about whisky.