Rye Whisky recommendations

[Eternal Rider]

I am looking for some recommendations for Rye Whisky. I usally drink Bulliet Bourbon or Jack Daniels Whisky. I thought I would try some Rye, but don't know where to go.

Thanks
Harland

[Ivory Tower]

The only one I've ever really tasted is Black Maple Hill 23yr. It's an acquired taste in my opinion. My first taste, I noticed a very clear, hot, alcohol aroma that overpowered me and I didn't quite like it. I've had it a few more times straight, and am getting a little more familiar with it. I usually mix with it.

[pnoon]

Jim Beam makes a decent rye.
Old Overholt is good as well.

[smokin5]

Wild Turkey Rye when I can find it.
Jim Beam Rye when I can't.

[adsantos13]

-Black Maple Hill is good but IMHO a tad pricey.
-Michters is good
-Rittenhouse Rye (the 100% bonded version) is tasty and a great value at less than $20 bucks

Ive never tried the Old Potrero Rye but have heard some very good reviews

[JohnnyFlake]

The best Rye you can find, in it's price range!!!

http://www.oldripvanwinkle.com/newbs...J?opendocument

[Che]

On the lower end,

I'd go with the Rittenhouse Rye (100º Bottled in Bond) or the Sazerac (often referred to as Sazerac Jr.)

Limited release stuff - once a year Buffalo Trace releases:

Sazerac 18 year old Rye
Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 year old
Thomas H. Handy (newest addition to the Antique Collection)

Heaven Hill´s:

Rittenhouse Rye 21 years old

Willet Rye (private barrel purchased rye, 22 years of age, whiskey currently warehoused by the Willet folks).

-------

Then there's the
"Vintage" line.
Black Maple Hill
Classic Cask
Mitcher's

Personally if you're just screwing around... Get the Van Winkle Family Reserve or which ever of the others you can obtain cheapest. My sources have it that all the older rye available today is the same whiskey from at most, two sources, bottled and profiled differently. The Heaven Hill Rittenhouse Rye 21 might be the only significant exception.

[Ivory Tower]

Revisited the Black Maple Hill Rye last night (it was 18yr, not 23). I paired it with a Caibaguan Guapo and it was a double dose of great tastes.

It's growing on me. Still a very distinct flavor, but I'm able to pull out more of the sweet spicy aromas and tastes.

[GAW]

I wanted one rye to drink straight- a sippin rye- and dropped major coin on a bottle of Rittenhouse 21 yr. It is truly a unique whisky - very different than the scotch or Bourbon I am familar with. I think it is growing on me but will always be an occasional dram.Jerry

[chibnkr]

Originally Posted by pnoon

Jim Beam makes a decent rye.
Old Overholt is good as well.

I second that. The Jim Beam is pretty decent. This is spiteful stuff, though...not nearly as smooth as bourbon IMHO.

[Che]

Originally Posted by Ivory Tower

Revisited the Black Maple Hill Rye last night (it was 18yr, not 23).

CVI hides it, but the current supplier of BMH is the same one that is supplying all the rest of the older rye on the market.

Something else to be semi weary of... In the not so distant future, the rye well is likely to run dry. The supply that is out there right now with significant age on it wasn't being backed up annually. One reason why it has succeeded in reaching old age is there wasn't a strong market for it (prior to the last few years).

If you find yourself really liking something, it might not be a bad idea to pick up a spare... or two.

Originally Posted by GAW

I wanted one rye to drink straight- a sippin rye- and dropped major coin on a bottle of Rittenhouse 21 yr. It is truly a unique whisky - very different than the scotch or Bourbon I am familar with. I think it is growing on me but will always be an occasional dram.Jerry

Which barrel # is your bottle from, if you don't mind me asking?

[GAW]

Originally Posted by Chè

CVI hides it, but the current supplier of BMH is the same one that is supplying all the rest of the older rye on the market.

Something else to be semi weary of... In the not so distant future, the rye well is likely to run dry. The supply that is out there right now with significant age on it wasn't being backed up annually. One reason why it has succeeded in reaching old age is there wasn't a strong market for it (prior to the last few years).

If you find yourself really liking something, it might not be a bad idea to pick up a spare... or two.

Which barrel # is your bottle from, if you don't mind me asking?

It is barrel No. 6 - Bottle 96. Jerry

[Che]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

The best Rye you can find, in it's price range!!!

http://www.oldripvanwinkle.com/newbs...J?opendocument

Didn't really examine this post before but this is absolutely correct Johnny.

Why? What most don't realize is the VWFR whiskey isn't 13 years old (it hasn't been since 1998 or so when it was first released). What's bottled these days is roughly 19 years old. Compare it's price to BMH's 18 year old rye. Then realize the two are almost certainly comprised of whiskey from the same original source roughly the same age.

Someone else mentioned Mitcher's - I assume the 10 year old? If so, ever wonder why it's cost is similar to the other 18+ year old rye whiskies? It isn't 10 years old either and is the same age range as the rest.

The fact that Van Winkle has kept the cost close to what a 13 year old rye should cost in comparison to the other older claims, whilst the whiskey actually is as old as the "older claims" - makes it a GREAT BUY, by comparison.

MHO

[skibumdc]

http://www.templetonrye.com/

[mugwump]

I keep a bottle of Old Overholt in the cabinet for the odd rye-based cocktail but I don't much care for the taste of it straight. If you're drinking Bulliet then you'll probably like rye whiskey as that's about as close to rye as a bourbon can get and still be called bourbon.