Rye Whiskey

[Noel Christian Riddell]

Whisky/whiskey afficionados can be as tribal as sports fans when it comes to their preferred drink. I have my favorite single malts, bourbons, and Irish whiskeys but in recent years I've come to love RYE WHISKEY.

Once nearly as popular as bourbon it all but fell off the map about the same time Rock and Roll music hit the scene. I live in the heart of bourbon country and I'm happy to report rye is back.

I've tried a heap of top shelf ryes and I keep coming back to the humble, affordable Jim Beam Rye.

To my taste buds it has a character somewhere between Auchentoshan (lowland single malt), Jameson, and bourbon. Ryes tend to be simultaneously soft and spicy.

Bourbon is made from corn and either wheat or rye. I have discovered all my favorite bourbons are rye-based (Woodford Reserve, Old Pogue, Four Roses).

Any rye lovers here?

[Big Mikey]

Most all Canadian whiskies are rye based. There are any number that you should try and all have their merits.

[Noel Christian Riddell]

Tip me off to a few good ones, Mikey. Truth is I've not found a Canadian whiskey that suits me yet -'course my opinion is based on a small handful of tastings (read: airline mini bottles, etc.).

[sydnie7]

When I entered college as a journalism major, my brother-in-law gave me a bottle of cheap rye -- de riguer for the classic newspaper reporter, along with snap-brim fedora with a press pass in the hatband! That's been nearly 40 years ago. . . wait, I'm OK, but typing that brought on a little dizzy spell LOL. . . and I don't think I've had a drink of rye since. But I did make a run on Black Velvet later in my rather checkered drinking career, so maybe BM's onto something?

And it's the topic of a great blues/folk song, so how can you go wrong! Link