Being a Cocktail Novice can be pretty confusing, so I was excited when I had the chance to get some expert guidance on where to start with Rye whiskeys. Rye happens to be a personal favorite and after meeting Mark and Christina from the legendary WhiskyCast podcast, they were nice enough to make a few recommendations via Twitter.

What’s a Good Rye Whiskey?

Needless to say there are plenty of good Rye whiskies to try, but as a beginner I think that a good one needs to balance flavor and affordability. As a result I asked Mark to suggest a few that most should enjoy:

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Generally I’m not a big fan of reviews, but since it’s tough to try everything they can offer sound guidance. Fortunately I’ve had the opportunity to try two of these Ryes and I’ll offer a few comments and provide a link to Mark’s notes at WhiskyCast.com:

Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey

From the start this has been our go-to Rye Whiskey. Simply put its spicy, delicious and a great choice for drinking by itself or use for in our favorite Rye Manhattans. Cost: $30 ish WhiskyCast Tasting Notes

 

 

 

Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Rye Whiskey

I hate to admit it but I *think* I purchased a bottle of this about a year ago and I don’t think that I was all that impressed. Hence the reason why I’m not a review fan 😉 Regardless it may be time to revisit it. Cost: $45 ish WhiskyCast Tasting Notes

 

 

Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey

I learned about Pikesville from our local liquor store owner. After checking out our shopping basket, he sold us a bottle from his personal stash. This stuff is delicious, but don’t “waste” it by using it in a cocktail… Cost: $50 ish WhiskeyCast Tasting Notes