The Best Rye Whiskeys to Drink in 2023

When it comes to whiskey, Scotch, Japanese whisky, and Irish whiskey are in the midst of a heyday. And if we’re talkin’ American whiskey, bourbon hogs much of the spotlight. But that all-popular, corn-based spirit has an older, spicier sister that’s at the root of several classic cocktails, and deserving of all the renewed attention it’s been getting lately. I’m talking about the best rye whiskey, which predates bourbon by at least a few decades, according to most accounts, and was once the preeminent spirit of America. 

Today, the best rye whiskey has come soaring back into renaissance mode—led by a huge resurgence of rye whiskey cocktails, including the Sazerac, Manhattan, and old fashioned. For many, mixed drinks are the gateway to discovery. Margaritas have paved the way for tequila and mezcal, just as martinis have let vodka and gin shine, and we’d be remiss to forget about Dark ‘n Stormys for dark rum.

For the 2023 Men’s Journal Spirits Awards, I’ve awarded the 16 best rye whiskey brands that will appeal to every type of whiskey fan. My Best Overall pick is Knob Creek Rye, which recently had a seven-year age statement added to its label. Knob Creek is an affordable and dependable favorite that can stand with the best rye whiskeys, including Templeton Rye, Angel’s Envy Rye, and Bulleit Rye. 

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Why You Should Trust Me

I’ve written about spirits for numerous publications for nearly a decade. During this time, I’ve sampled thousands of bottles in every category of spirits, visited distilleries around the world to see how the juice is made, and honed my palate and nose. I also judge two spirits competitions, the John Barleycorn Awards and the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, for which I blind taste hundreds of spirits to determine what stands out based on flavor, mouthfeel, color, and aroma.

To make this list of the best rye whiskey, I sampled most of these products and talked to bartenders and industry experts, who have long track records in the spirits industry and unique interests in rye whiskey.

Best Overall Rye Whiskey: Knob Creek Rye Knob Creek Rye

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Knob Creek is part of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection, which also includes Baker’s, Booker’s, and Basil Hayden. While the brand has some great bourbons in its lineup, Knob Creek Rye is truly some of the best rye whiskey you can find. Made in the Kentucky style, it contains slightly over the legally required 51 percent rye grain in its mashbill, with a seven-year age statement recently added to the bottle. Expect a slightly sweet and well-aged rye with notes of spice and dried fruit, making this a versatile, affordable rye whiskey should be a staple in any home bar. At 100 proof, it’s plenty strong to use in rye whiskey cocktails.

Best Single-Barrel Rye Whiskey: Michter’s US1 Kentucky Straight Rye Michter’s US1 Kentucky Straight Rye

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Michter’s is unique in that its flagship rye whiskey is a single barrel expression, meaning that the whiskey in the bottle comes from just one barrel instead of a blend of several. Michter’s Rye is a consistent and well-crafted whiskey with notes of spice, salted caramel, butterscotch, and grass on the palate, says Jarrett Karlsbeg, beverage director at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, NY. “It’s very smooth, but still has a nice bite to it—and it’s an absolute dream to mix with,” he adds. Mike Vacheresse, owner of Travel Bar in Brooklyn, NY, is also a fan: “The whiskey enters the barrel at 103 proof instead of the industry standard of 125 proof—and the barrels are toasted before being charred,” he says. “These two factors create a rye whiskey that’s robust and full-bodied.”

Best Budget Rye Whiskey: Old Overholt Old Overholt

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Old Overholt is another Jim Beam brand, but one that sits comfortably in the lower end of the price spectrum without sacrificing quality. This budget rye whiskey has been a favorite of bartenders for a long time, and over the past few years the brand has gotten some significant upgrades. The core expression is now a four-year-old, 86-proof rye. There’s a bottled-in-bond version with a higher 100 proof, and the brand has recently unveiled a spectacular cask-strength, 10-year-old expression. But for a high-quality budget rye whiskey, stick with the original.

Best Rye Whiskey Splurge: Blue Run Emerald Rye Blue Run Emerald Rye

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Blue Run has been a runaway success story since its founding a few years ago, with releases selling out as fast as they’re announced. Bourbon Hall of Famer Jim Rutledge is the “liquid advisor” for the brand, and he’s been an integral part of the brand’s superb rye whiskeys. Blue Run Emerald Rye was contract distilled at Kentucky’s Castle & Key in Lexington, and is a blend of less than 200 barrels. At $120 per bottle, this rye whiskey is steeper than most, but savvy rye fans won’t be batting an eye.

Best Craft Rye Whiskey: Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye

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Most of the rye whiskey produced in Indiana comes from MGP, the factory-like distillery where brands like Bulleit and Dickel source their rye. While MGP’s 95 percent rye whiskey is worthy of its reputation, a far smaller craft operation in the Hoosier state is offering some stiff competition. Hard Truth makes fantastic rye whiskey, and its Sweet Mash Rye expression exemplifies what they’re up to. “Sweet mash” means that each distillation begins fresh, as opposed to the sour mash process used by most distilleries where some of the mash from the previous distillation is left in the still. The mashbill is 94 percent rye and six percent malted barley, and while the whiskey is relatively young (under four years old), it tastes surprisingly mature. A series of new cask-finished rye whiskeys from Hard Truth are now available as well.

Best Cask-Finished Rye Whiskey: High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 11 High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram

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Utah’s High West Distillery, among the best distilleries in the U.S., sources from other distilleries and distills its own whiskey, with a focus on rye. The annual release of A Midwinter Night’s Dram is a cult favorite; the cask-finished rye whiskey changes slightly with each release. This year’s Act 11 is a blend of MGP and in-house distilled rye finished in ruby and tawny port barrels and bottled at 98.6 proof. That cask finish does wonders to the rye, adding layers of dried fruit, caramel, spice, and citrus to the spicy base whiskey. “There’s a nice mix of spice and sweetness from the port barrels in which this is finished,” says Dan Rivas, director of food and beverage for Bank & Bourbon at Loews Philadelphia Hotel. “Notes of black currant and plum are coupled with anise and cinnamon.”

Best Cask-Strength Rye Whiskey: Barrell Rye Barrell Rye

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Barrell Craft Spirits is a Louisville-based company that sources whiskey from different states and countries, then blends them into something greater than the sum of their parts. Nearly every release is bottled at cask strength, including Barrell Rye, which is released in batches, like the flagship bourbon. Batch 4 is the latest, a blend of rye whiskey from Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Canada that was aged between five and 14 years. The whiskey was bottled at 115.7 proof, which is high but not overwhelming. Add some water if you prefer to proof it down, but try it neat first to truly experience the character of this powerful rye whiskey.