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Rittenhouse
Ask just about any bartender for his go-to rye, and you’ll hear the same two names: Rittenhouse and Old Overholt. (We’ll get to the latter in a second.) Produced in Kentucky by the Heaven Hill distillery, it’s made from the minimum of 51 percent rye, but since it’s bottled at 100 proof, there’s still a pleasant bite to it. Around $30 a bottle? It’s hard to find any whiskey, period, that’s a better value.
Old Overholt
Like Rittenhouse, another mixologist favorite; like Rittenhouse, a killer value. Though now produced in Kentucky, Old Overholt began its life more than two centuries ago in western Pennsylvania, and it’s got everything you want in a bottle of rye—spicy and smooth and easy to mix into cocktails. At 80 proof, it’s a little less aggressive than Rittenhouse (and a little cheaper, too). $17
Ragtime Rye
The New York Distilling Company had always intended to make spirits for cocktails, gin and rye chief among them. Gin is a lot quicker to produce, and the distillery’s Dorothy Parker and Perry’s Tot gins are huge favorites in the bartender community. Only much more recently, after years in the barrel, was Ragtime Rye released. Distilled from rye grown in New York State, it’s warm and distinctly spicy, a dream in cocktails. $45
George Dickel Rye
Headquartered in Tennessee, Dickel treats its rye like the rest of its whiskey—filtering it through charcoal that’s made from the wood of sugar maple. The result is softly textured, almost creamy, while its 95 percent rye content means there’s still a sharp, spicy bite. $26
Sazerac
Legally speaking, rye whiskey must be at least 51 percent rye; Sazerac, like several others on this list, uses the bare minimum. The remainder of the grain, corn and malted barley, keeps Sazerac sweeter and less spicy than some; aged for six years, it’s smooth and oaky, a slam-dunk for bourbon fans. Unsurprisingly, it makes a great Sazerac. $46
Templeton
This much sought-after brand is as smooth as they come, tasting of toffee and fruit, more grassy than spicy. As a result, it excels in cocktails, where it tends to play well with others. $40
Michter’s US-1 Straight Rye
“US-1” refers to Michter’s status as the first whiskey distillery in America, founded even before the nation itself in 1753. First produced in Pennsylvania it, like many others, it’s now produced in Kentucky. Michter’s is a single-barrel whiskey, which, while not disclosing its exact age, always has at least three years on it; the rye has a classic fruit-spice character with a peppery tingle. $45
Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey
While many classic ryes got their start in Pennsylvania, Pikesville hails from another great rye-producing state: Maryland. (Like most on this list, it’s now produced in Kentucky.) A favorite in Baltimore for generations, it was the last rye brand to produce in the state, until its sale to Heaven Hill. Today, it’s bottled at a robust 110 proof, with at least six years of age to it; a little sweetness tempers the alcohol and spice. $53
Whistlepig Straight Rye Whiskey
Headquartered in Vermont, Whistlepig is sourcing much of its rye stock from Canada, while transitioning to rye distilled from grain grown on their own farm. Under master distiller Dave Pickerell, formerly of Maker’s Mark, even their entry-level whiskey is aged for an impressive ten years. (The distillery’s Boss Hog, at 14 years of age and around 120 proof, is a cult favorite, though more than four times the price.) $85
