Before bourbon, rye whiskey was America’s first native spirit. Prohibition permanently disrupted rye production, and many of the distilleries that produced it never reopened. But with the rediscovery of classic, rye-based drinks during the early-aughts cocktail renaissance, bartenders fell back in love with the bold, spicy style of whiskey — and with that, rye’s comeback began.
Rye’s resurgence shows no signs of slowing down. It often feels like a new rye whiskey hits the market almost every day. So, we track down a handful of bartenders who have kept tabs on all the new releases and have worked them into their own cocktail-making routines. Here are some of their favorites, both new to the world and new to their back bars.
The best new ryes, according to bartenders: Exclave Rye WhistlePig PiggyBack 100% Rye WhistlePig Old World Rye Oaklore North Carolina Straight Rye Whiskey Sagamore Spirits Rye Rye & Sons Straight Rye A. Overholt Straight Rye High N’ Wicked Straight Rye Angel’s Envy Rye Still Austin Straight Rye: The Artist Great Jones Empire Rye Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye
“Exclave Rye. The nose is a rich, deep mahogany with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla. The taste is bright with notes of pine, grain, and spice. Founder Andrew Albert is deeply passionate about New Orleans’ culture and its cocktails, and he is a local, to boot! We love supporting our culture and community here in New Orleans. Exclave Spirits celebrates the significant contributions of the Black community to
