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Rye whisky

Rye whiskey is whisky made mainly from rye grain. American law (27 CFR 5.143) requires a mash of at least 51% rye and storage in new charred oak, and “straight” on a label means at least two years in that oak.

The bottles below are mostly American straight and bonded ryes, such as Rittenhouse (labelled Bottled in Bond), Rabbit Hole, High West and the Jack Daniel’s ryes, with European rye such as Stauning from Denmark alongside. Rye versus bourbon comes down to the lead grain, rye against corn; Whiskipedia’s bourbon versus rye has the full comparison. Few rye whiskeys are stocked by more than one of the shops we check, so delivery charges often decide which offer works out cheaper.

Prices are the best current in-stock offer from the UK retailers we check (how we compare prices).

60 full-size bottles (50cl to 1 litre) in stock, with the best current price from the UK retailers we check.

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Questions

What is the cheapest rye whisky?
The cheapest rye whisky is Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (70cl), at £31.95 from Master of Malt. That is £36.90 delivered to the UK mainland for one bottle. Next cheapest: Bulleit Straight American Rye Whiskey (£35.10) and Rittenhouse Rye ‘Bottled in Bond’ 100 Proof (£35.90).
How much does rye whisky cost?
Rye whisky costs from £31.95 to £249.95, with a median of £59.99 for a full-size bottle (50cl to 1 litre). The dearest is Kentucky Owl Mardi Gras XO Cask Limited Edition Kentucky Straig 11 Year Old Whiskey.
What is the oldest rye whisky you can buy?
WhistlePig 15 Year Old Estate Oak Rye Whiskey, at 15 years old, from £235.00.
What makes a whiskey a rye?
In the US, rye whiskey must be made from a mash of at least 51% rye, distilled at no more than 160 proof and aged in charred new oak barrels entered at no more than 125 proof. Straight rye must be aged for at least 2 years and may not contain colouring or flavouring.
Does rye whisky have to be American?
No. Rye can be made anywhere, and outside the US the rules on how much rye it must contain vary. On a US label, a rye distilled abroad must name its country beside the type, as in “Rye Whisky distilled in Sweden”.
Why does rye whiskey taste spicy?
The rye grain itself brings notes such as nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and herbs, and maturation in charred new oak barrels strengthens them.
Is Jack Daniel's a rye whiskey?
Old No. 7 is not. It is a Tennessee whiskey made from a corn-led mash. Jack Daniel’s does make rye whiskeys, sold as Tennessee Rye and Single Barrel Rye; see Tennessee whiskey.
What does 'straight rye' mean on a label?
Under US rules (27 CFR 5.143), straight whisky is stored in charred new oak barrels for at least two years, and straight rye must also come from a mash of at least 51% rye. It is a legal term about how the whiskey was made, not a claim about how it tastes.