30 Best Rye Whiskies Every Whisky Lover Needs To Try

Imbibers who enjoy the intricacies of bourbon and whisky know that these kinds of spirits are best savored slowly. There are several different types and varieties of whisky. The world of whisky is varied and wide; while Jack Daniel's Whiskey may be familiar, don't discount the flavor and experience of drinking a peppery rye bourbon or a fruity and floral Japanese whisky.

While whisky and bourbon are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a significant difference between the two. Essentially, it boils down to the fact that all bourbon is whisky, but not all whisky is bourbon. Bourbon is pretty regulated: The requirements dictate that it has to be made in the U.S., aged in charred barrels, and contain at least 51 percent corn in its mash bill. If it doesn't meet those qualifications, that doesn't mean it's bad, it just means you're drinking a whisky, not a bourbon. 

The complexities of drinks like bourbon and whisky are myriad. For example, a rye whisky is a spirit that has a mash bill that contains at least 51 percent rye, giving it a peppery spice. Additionally, there are a few high-rye bourbons that have a strong rye flavor. Whether you opt for the standard rye whisky or a high-rye bourbon, there are so many options that will help you explore the world of rye. 

Balcones Distilling does things a little differently with its Texas Rye, which has a 100 percent rye mash bill. An interested customer may be quick to assume that this liquor is filled with earthy spice, but it's shockingly dark and rich. The notes of pepper are accompanied by robust hints of coffee, nuts, and dark chocolate, making this spirit a clear stand-out from your average rye whisky. Balcones Distilling also distills its rye in copper pot stills, which adds an extra layer of complexity and unique flavor to the product. 

Reviews on Whisky Base are quick to point out the fascinating quality of Balcones Texas Rye. One review from 2021 reads, "When I first tasted it the nose and taste didn't quite match and I was thinking if it's odd or genius. I went with genius. I highly recommend it for anyone who want to try something new and modern in the whisky world." This rye whisky is incredibly delicious and is definitely worth trying. 

As of June 2022, a 750-milliliter bottle of Balcones Texas Rye costs $40.73 on Drizly. 

Boardroom Spirits, originating out of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, also has a high-rye spirit that exemplifies the ethos of a good rye and is also produced with the environmental impacts in mind. Boardroom Spirits Northbound Rye has a mash bill of 95 percent rye, and the remaining 5 percent is made of malted barley. The result is a savory spirit that has an undeniable spice factor, and it's rounded out with notes of chocolate with an overall taste that isn't too overwhelming. 

Boardroom Spirits prides itself on powering its distillery with clean energy to reduce the negative impacts that distilling operations typically have on the environment. So, picking this whiskey means you can feel good about supporting a brand that's taking the extra steps to do its part to enact some beneficial change in the world. VinePair's review of Boardroom Spirits Northbound Rye asserts that this drink contains notes of caramel and vanilla, which exemplifies a subtle, yet welcome sweetness to the traditional rye. 

As of June 2022, a bottle of Boardroom Spirits Northbound Rye is $29. 

The Burnside Oregon Oaked Rye, unlike many other types of ryes, uses a blend of ryes and whiskeys that vary in terms of age, mash bill, and methods of distillation. However, Burnside puts its signature spin on the rye by aging the blend in Oregon white oak barrels from Quercus Garryana trees that are native to the Pacific Northwest. 

The end result is an incredible drink that has notes of toasted oak and earthiness and an overall blend that is heavy with mint, dried spices, and various dried fruits. One user review on Liquorama points to Burnside's unexpectedly low price: "Completely unexpected quality for the price. Rye is complex, somewhat fruity and super smooth! My new go-to and out of Portland." 

Burnside's Oregon Oaked Rye is middle-of-the-road when it comes to price, and the price is relatively low for a rye of this caliber. As of June 2022, a 750-milliliter bottle costs $48.49 on Drizly.

The Castle & Key Restoration Rye is a must-try, mainly because of the historical significance of the distillery from which it originates. Castle & Key's distillery is located in Frankfort, Kentucky, at the site of the long-shuttered distillery that was the birthplace of bourbon tourism when it opened in 1887. 

The old distillery was closed due to the Prohibition and it remained shuttered until founders Will Arvin and Wes Murry purchased the property in 2014 and began the massive undertaking of restoring the facility. 

Castle & Key's Restoration Rye is a solid option to keep on your bar at all times. The mash bill consists of 63 percent rye, 20 percent malted barley, and 17 percent yellow corn, giving it a well-balanced flavor that's distinct to a rye whiskey. It contains notes of dried fruit and spices, giving the drinker an immediate warmth upon the first sip. 

One Total Wine customer declared Castle & Key's Restoration Rye to be the ideal option for people afraid of trying rye whiskey: "This is a delicious expression of a mild rye whiskey with plenty of flavors and fun to go around," the review reads. 

A bottle sells for $45.78 on Drizly as of June 2022. 

This Frey Ranch Single Barrel Rye originates from the Frey Ranch Distillery. The Nevada-based distillery has mastered the classic rye whiskey, but the Frey Ranch Straight Rye Whiskey takes things to the next level. The limited-edition blend features a mash bill that consists of a 100 percent winter cereal rye that the distillery grows and harvests on-site. 

This whiskey is smoother than your average rye, thanks to the extra tender love and care that goes into its craft. The selection process for choosing barrels isn't something that the Frey Ranch brand takes lightly. The brand even offers a single-barrel program: The distilling team sends a batch of barrels to some selected stores, which allows die-hard whiskey lovers to try some of the most exclusive bourbon creations. 

Frey Ranch Straight Rye Whiskey is shockingly smooth. The process mutes the black pepper present in most ryes, making it a welcome flavor note in the background. The depth of flavor is impressive and contains notes of charred wood, ginger, and toasty spices. 

There's a significant amount of buzz around this product and a devoted fanbase surrounding the straight rye blend. As one customer writes in a Total Wine review "Frey makes an amazing Rye and should be tried by every one."

As of June 2022, a 750-milliliter bottle costs $71.99 on Drizly. 

George Dickel is one of those brands that may sound familiar, but if you're not a whisky enthusiast, you may not be familiar with it. The brand sells quite a few spirits at a low cost, and George Dickel Rye Whisky is a real standout. It's not a drink for the faint of heart: It's on the spicier side and it has notes of cinnamon and other baking spices that are accompanied by a slightly fruity taste.

This rye is distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and it uses the "chilled charcoal-mellowed style" of distillation. It's not a common practice, but this extra step further mellows out the whisky and removes any harsh taste. 

Many whisky enthusiasts enjoy George Dickel rye because it's a high-quality liquor that is available for a low price. As one review from a Total Wine customer reads, "It's deep enough to be a good sipper while fine as a mixer. This might be inexpensive but never should be considered cheap."

As of June 2022, a 750-milliliter bottle costs about $27.59 on Drizly. 

Fans of Bob Dylan may or may not be aware that the legendary folk musician co-founded a whiskey company: Heaven's Door has an extensive line of bourbons, including a straight rye whiskey that is anything but ordinary. 

The rye is smooth and it contains notes of tea, toffee, and dill, giving it a robust but complicated flavor. Heaven's Door ages its rye in the traditional method: The bourbon is aged for 7 years in charred American oak barrels. However, the brand breaks away from the mold by using toasted oak barrels from Vosges, France, to add more depth of flavor. 

Customer reviews on Distiller point out that the spirit contains subtle flavors and notes of fresh grain, ginger, and vanilla. According to one review, this rye has a "nice caramel nose. Quite different for a rye but very smooth and quite pleasant. Will definitely buy again." 

The celebrity status associated with this whiskey alongside its complicated distilling process leads to a fairly expensive price point: A 750-milliliter bottle sells for about $79.99 on Drizly as of June 2022. 

High West Distillery's Double Rye is another spirit that consists of blending different whiskies into one cohesively complicated cocktail. High West ages its double rye for a minimum of two years to really tie the flavors together. Upon first smell and sip, you'll notice that this bourbon has a botanical and earthy nature. Other comforting essences hiding in this bottle include notes of cinnamon, ginger, mint, and honey.

Many people who have tried High West Double Rye on Flaviar were big fans of this one-of-a-kind rye. One review reads, "Not a usual flavor set for rye whisky, but if you go into it with that in mind you may be disappointed. Fantastic whisky nonetheless." 

While some declare this bourbon as being their new go-to spirit to sip on the rocks or mix in a Manhattan, it's a distinct type of rye that may not be everyone's cup of tea. Regardless, it's worth helping you hone in on your bourbon palate and explore your likes and dislikes. 

As of June 2022, a 750-milliliter bottle of this rye costs around $37.99 on Drizly.

Knob Creek is a well-known brand, even among whiskey newbies. It commonly appears on bar shelves across the U.S. While the brand's bourbon may be more popular, the rye is a solid option that is worth trying. 

Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey is a good introductory whiskey with a high corn mash bill, which gives it a bit of a transitional flavor. It's full of rye, meaning it's peppery and all-encompassing, and it's a nice spirit to sip slowly while enjoying all the intricate aspects of the flavor profile. 

As one customer writes in a review on Knob Creek's website, "Has great character and is a smooth on the finish. Brings memories of a campfire and enjoying company with friends or a loved one."

A 750-milliliter bottle of this rye is only around $36.99, and it works well with a mixer too, if sipping bourbon on the rocks isn't your thing (via Drizly). 

Laws Whiskey House, originating from the beautiful San Luis Valley in Colorado, crafts an expert bourbon for a solid price. The grains used by this whiskey house are cultivated by two local family-owned farms. In fact, Laws Whiskey House is the first distiller in Colorado to create bonded whiskeys.

The San Luis Valley Bottled in Bond Rye has a mash bill that is 95 percent heirloom rye, and it spends at least 7 years aging in a barrel. The result is an explosion of opposing flavors that work very well together: It's salty and sweet, earthy and herbaceous, spicy and fruity. 

"This is Law's most impressive whiskey out of their lineup. With several awards including a double gold, this pour is on the come up," a review on Distiller reads. 

A bottle is a little on the higher-end side, selling for about $64.99 on Drizly as of June 2022: Considering the precise nature of a bonded spirit, this is a relatively fair price for an amazing bottle of booze. 

Lock Stock & Barrel's 18 Year Straight Rye Whiskey is not your average bottle of bourbon that should be kept in your regular rotation, mostly due to its quality and price. This spirit is double distilled with 100 percent rye grain and it remains unfiltered to retain all of the flavor components.

It's aged in charred American oak barrels in cold weather. This is, by definition, a whiskey and not a bourbon, as it hails from Canada. However, the process of aging this spirit in American oak echoes traditional bourbon practices, making this a drink that is closer to bourbon than it is to whiskey in terms of its flavor profile. 

Lock Stock & Barrel is a slow sipper for sure: It's intense with notes of dried fruit, dark chocolate, butterscotch, and oak. As one review on Distiller reads, "I am now on my 2nd bottle. It's expensive, but it's one bottle I think is worth it ... Now I have to figure out how to make this last. It's so tasty I can't stop drinking it!"

The impressive age of this bourbon translates to a $249.99 price tag as of June 2022 (via Drizly).

If you're looking to try something new at a more reasonable price point, you can't go wrong with a bottle of Mitchter's U.S. 1 Kentucky Straight Rye. A reviewer on Master of Malt says, "My favorite whiskey I've had, even better than the $100+ bottles I've bought. Continue shopping around for a better whiskey but still can't beat this for 5 years running now."

Mitchter's is the epitome of a Kentucky rye through and through, mainly due to the fact that it's traditionally fire-charred in new American white oak barrels for added intensity. It's heavy on the oak and pepper notes, with a bit of citrus that brightens up the blend. It's also produced as a single-barrel rye, meaning that the flavor is even more meticulously determined by the distillers that create it.  

A 750-milliliter bottle sells for $49.49 on Drizly as of June 2022, but its taste rivals bottles that are double the price.

If you're looking for a rye that's a bit more niche, it's worth checking out Nashville Barrel Company's Small Batch Rye Whiskey. This spirit is a blend of two ryes that are aged for 4 years and 8 years each. It has a mash bill of 95 percent rye, and 5 percent malted barley. The second batch has notes of chocolate, apples, and walnut. It also has hints of pepper, vanilla, and citrus. It's ideal for cocktails.

Nashville Barrel Company's rye is only available in certain parts of the U.S., so if you see it, it's worth picking up a bottle. It's an easy sipper with a long finish, as pointed out by Drink Hacker. As one Bourbon Outfitter customer wrote in a 2021 review, "At $59, this is a great addition to any bar." A third batch of this rye whiskey is already in the works. 

As of June 2022, a 750-milliliter of this rye costs $62.99 on Drizly. 

If you're looking for a full-bodied rye that really stands out from the rest of the bottles on the shelf, you should definitely try the New Riff Single Barrel Rye. This is a robust rye with a mash bill consisting of 95 percent rye and 5 percent malted rye.

New Riff ages this spirit for four years in charred oak barrels. This rye has a spicy taste with a lingering finish. It's good to compare the brand to other, more mainstream ryes on the market to ascertain the noticeable difference between the two. 

Reviews on Flaviar are quick to point out that it's difficult to find a polished single barrel bourbon of this quality at a similar price point. "It's hard to beat this Barrel Proof Rye at its price point. Absolutely delicious from nose to finish."

This rye is a must-purchase. It's a bit of a splurge at $59.99 a bottle, but the price is definitely justified (via Drizly).

Old Overholt rye is a must-try for any bourbon enthusiast simply because of its rich history (via James B. Beam Distilling). The family behind Jim Beam established the rye in 1810, making it the oldest enduring American rye on the market. It has been made and sold without interruption for centuries, and there's a reason this rye has stood the test of time: It's undeniably a hit. It's spicy, fruity, and even a little bit sweet, making it an easy option to have on your bar at all times. 

"OO has been my go to rye forever. I enjoy it and find nothing unappealing about it," one Total Wine review reads. The customer added that Old Overholt works quite well in cocktails although they'd like to find other ryes with a more complex flavor profile. 

If Old Overholt is still on your must-try list, it's available on Drizly for $19.99 as of June 2022. 

Another must-try historic rye has roots in Maryland but is currently being produced in Kentucky: Pikesville Straight Rye has been around since the 1890s before its production was shut down due to Prohibition (via Heaven Hill Distillery). 

However, it was revived and is currently being produced in Kentucky, paying homage to the traditional process. This rye is aged for six years, resulting in a dry and spicy spirit with a dark amber hue. It has some flavor depth thanks to notes of nuts, vanilla, and warm spices, too. 

Many reviews on Distiller are quick to point out the smoothness, declaring that each sip gets easier and easier to swallow. "This Bad Boy of Rye is flavor busting, but with a very unique deep rich flavor profile, different than anything I have tasted before ... I will get this again for a nice change and let me remind you – This Is Not A Normal Rye! Which is a good thing in this case!"

As of June 2022, a 750-milliliter bottle of this costs $53.99 on Drizly. 

Pinhook releases ryes and bourbons every year, and each creation is paired with a thoroughbred horse (via Pinhook). The brand's 2021 expression, which is aged for two years, is paired with the racing horse "Hard Rye Guy," which seems like a perfect match. 

The Pinhook 2021 Flagship Rye is distinguished by notes of caramel and citrus, giving it a very noticeable fruitiness that is atypical for a rye. The mash bill is also pretty significant to its distinct body, with the ratio being 60 percent rye, 20 percent corn, and 20 percent malted barley. 

One review on Total Wine's website reads, "I detest most Rye, but was given this as a gift. I might go back to tasting rye's after this bottle. I have never tasted something that had the soft delicate taste of apple, with a hint of pear." Another customer review on Flaviar remarks that Pinhook's Flagship Rye has the essence of summer, which makes this rye stand apart from the pack. 

As of June 2022, a 750-milliliter bottle of the Pinhook rye costs around $39.99 on Drizly.

While Pinhook is all about professional horse racing, Rabbit Hole Distillery has a rye that commemorates local boxing culture in Louisville, Kentucky. Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey is creamy and light, and it tastes like a floating butterfly although the peppery spice provides the kind of bee-like sting that you'd expect from a rye. 

Rabbit Hole slow roasts these barrels over a wood fire before charring them, which is an added step that helps bring out the natural sugars in the wood of the barrel so that they are present during the aging process. It requires the distillers to take an added 20 minutes with each barrel, but the added effort is worth it to yield a complex yet balanced end result. One review on Caskers reads,  "I love rye whiskey, especially how spicy it can be. But this bottle has such creamy sweetness to it, I can't wait to get another bottle."

Rabbit Hole's rye sells for $52.99 a bottle on Drizly as of June 2022, making this an easy and reasonably priced option that might just become a regular in your liquor cabinet. 

Redemption High Rye Bourbon offers the best of both worlds for people looking to get into rye. This rye stands out for its herbaceous flavors, particularly its notes of mint and fennel. It's a bourbon by definition; the mash bill contains 60 percent corn and 36 percent rye whcih gives it a peppery punch. The main reason that Redemption Rye is worth the buy is because of its reasonable price tag. 

As one customer wrote in a review on Total Wine's website, the only issue with this product is that it tends to run out too quickly because it's easy to drink: "Excellent Rye flavor and my go to rye bourbon. As soon as the finish is over I'm ready for another sip," another review reads.

Drizly is selling a bottle for $29.99 as of June 2022, which is shockingly cheap, as you will no doubt realize once you take a sip of this inconspicuous rye. One review of the bottle on Drizly declares that this rye is worth more than its price, which is definitely the case for this high-rye bourbon. 

Rittenhouse Rye is another budget-friendly must-try rye. This spirit commemorates Philadelphia's famous Rittenhouse Square. This rye is bottled in bond, aged for four years, and is filled with sweet, warm aromas that come alive on the tongue. The notes of cinnamon, toffee, vanilla, and other baking spices are at the forefront of this rye, while the notes of spice give this spirit a good kick. 

Reviews on Total Wine commend Rittenhouse Rye for its mash bill that's a perfect mix of corn and rye. "A must try if not a staple in a rye whiskey home," one fan wrote. It works well in classic cocktails like a Manhattan or a Sazerac, but it is also well-rounded enough to sip on its own, which helps drinkers really appreciate its full flavor.

Some reviews on Heaven Hill Distillery's website declare that Rittenhouse Rye is better than other kinds of rye on the market that have a price tag that is three times higher. A bottle of this rye is priced at $28.99 on Drizly as of June 2022. 

The Russell's Reserve 6 Year Old Rye is a small-batch option that will quickly become your new favorite. Russell's Reserve ages its rye for six years, whcih yields a smooth, yet crisp spirit with abundantly present notes of oak and vanilla. Russel's Reserve is the brainchild of bourbon industry legend Jimmy Russell and his son Eddie Russell, both of whom have a history working with the Wild Turkey family of whiskies. 

This rye is perfect for a Manhattan cocktail. This rye is so well balanced that it's hard not to like, even for those who don't typically love ryes: One review on Flaviar reads, "I am admittedly new to ryes but have tried a few and this by far my favorite so far ... For the price this is a no brainer."

As of June 2022, a bottle of this rye costs $44.86 per bottle on Drizly, which makes it a nice treat for yourself or a lovely gift for someone else. 

Maryland-style rye might be a new concept for whiskey newbies, but it's a sweeter rye with a smooth finish that is wonderful on the rocks or in cocktails. Sagamore Spirit Signature Rye is bringing back the tradition with its blend of two straight rye mash bills that have been aged for about four years and six years each in charred American oak barrels. 

The result is a whiskey that has notes of caramel, orange peel, cinnamon, and honey. Unlike other ryes with dry finishes, Sagamore's rye goes down surprisingly smooth. As one review on Drizly reads, "MD style rye is making a come back and I love how approachable and light this one is. Great for refreshing cocktails during the summer months." Other customers recommend trying this rye in cocktails such as a cold brew old-fashioned for a fresh take on a classic beverage.

As of June 2022, Sagamore Spirit Signature Rye retails for $39.99 a bottle on Drizly, making this a budget rye that has customers looking to explore more Maryland rye whiskies. 

Sazerac is a cocktail hailing from New Orleans that features rye whiskey, absinthe, and bitters. Buffalo Trace exemplifies the spirit of New Orleans with its Sazerac Rye Whiskey that's the ultimate must-try in cocktails. Sazerac is mellow and dry, and it is perfect in its namesake cocktail.

As pointed out by The Bourbon Culture, Sazerac Rye is a whiskey that's easy to mistake for a high-rye bourbon. It has sweet notes of caramel and chocolate. Additionally, the finish has notes of oak and the caramel and pepper complement each other very well. A review on Drizly reads, "I'm still waiting for the absinthe for the Sazerac cocktail, but this has renewed my interest in rye, and I look forward to keeping it on my shelf."

As of June 2022, Sazerac sells for $33.99 a bottle on Drizly, making it a reasonably priced bottle to try out the next time you're looking for something new. 

Some rye bourbons can taste similar to others when they are sampled back to back. While a high-rye bourbon might offer more variety, sometimes, the rye simply gets lost in the mix. Stellum Rye is a great rye to try if you're looking to further explore the possibilities of rye whiskey. The mash bill contains 95 percent Indiana rye. This spirit is aged in barrels from Kentucky and Tennessee. 

That process results in a spirit that's undoubtedly full of rye spice, with a bit of acidity stemming from notes of orange and lemon. It rounds out with a sweet finish that isn't overpowering, leaving you to contemplate all of the explosive rye flavors you just experienced. 

According to a Reddit user, "This is turning into my daily drinker. I've been through 3 bottles now. It's definitely not the most interesting rye on the market, but the combo of taste, proof and price makes it worth keeping on my shelf."

As of June 2022, Stellum Rye is pretty fairly priced at $54.99 a bottle on Drizly, making it a popular option for rye lovers. 

Tattersall Rye Bourbon stems from Minnesota. It's an established rye that celebrates being the state's first bottled-in-bond high-rye bourbon that's can be savored straight-up or on the rocks. This spirit is distilled from Minnesota-grown grains and aged for four years or more in Minnesota white oak barrels in the distillery headquartered in Minneapolis. 

Tattersall Distilling's rye is definitely a full-bodied bourbon featuring notes of pepper, crackers, and fruit, as well as oak, chocolate, and a slightly sweet and minty taste that lingers on the tongue. 

As you keep sipping on this spirit, you will notice other deeper notes of dried fruit and caramel that permeate through the black pepper. One review on Distiller reads, "Every sip brings a little something different, so it's interesting, but it's more of a special mood sipper than a daily."

As of June 2022, a bottle of this rye costs $50 on Drizly.

If you're looking for a rye that's even tougher to figure out (in a good way), Templeton 10 Year Reserve Rye should be next on your list. This whiskey spends a decade in charred new American oak single-barrels and it's as luscious as whiskey can get.

A few stand-out notes include oak, florals, rye spice, cherries, and butterscotch, but the fun of Templeton's Reserve Rye is that it's full of so many flavors that reveal themselves within every sip. 

Rye enthusiasts insist that for a product of this quality, the price is extremely fair. According to a Reddit user,  "Where most higher aged MGP rye goes for roughly $10 a year or more, this stuff is a touch below that and hits just as well as others. It's got good balance and structure and the cherry cola that lingers is really nice."

As of June 2022, a bottle of this rye costs $152.99, according to Drizly.

Michigan may not be a state that is known for whiskey and bourbon, unlike states like Tennessee and Kentucky, but Traverse City Whiskey Co. is looking to change that. The brand's North Coast Rye is a pretty good way for Michigan to plead its case. This rye is dangerously smooth and it has just the right amount of spice to keep you on your toes. 

If you're not a Michigan native, this rye may be difficult to track down, which is all the more reason to see it on liquor store shelves. As one Total Wine customer said in a review, "We bought this when visiting Michigan last year! Savoring the last few drops."

It sells for $44.99 a bottle on Drizly as of June 2022, so it's a fairly priced option. It's definitely worth taking the risk to sample something different from your regular booze of choice.

WhistlePig is a brand that is popular among whiskey enthusiasts, but it isn't known for offering particularly cheap bottles of liquor that you can enjoy on a regular basis. Thankfully, the brand has released its PiggyBack Rye, which is a bit more reasonably priced but still has an incredible flavor. PiggyBack is aged for six years and features a 100 percent rye mash bill. The result is a stiff drink worth sipping with notes of spice as well as leather, cocoa, and pepper. 

A reviewer on Total Wine says, "Almost as good as the 12 year whistle pig for half the price. Very smooth with the typical rye bite."  Other customers agree that it's hard to tell the difference between this rye and WhistlePig's more expensive ryes, especially when it's mixed into a cocktail.

A 750-milliliter bottle of WhistlePig PiggyBack sells for $53.89 a bottle on Drizly as of June 2022, which is a steal for what's inside the bottle

Anyone well-versed in the world of whiskey will likely be familiar with Willett. It's a brand with an esteemed name and legacy. The Willett Family Estate's 4 Year Rye is a small batch whiskey that is quite herbal in flavor, with a pleasantly spicy finish that isn't too overpowering. 

Other notes that are easily recognizable include cinnamon, dried fruit, and a bit of vanilla. It's another high-proof option that contains various different flavors. This spirit will easily become a favorite among rye lovers. One review on Flaviar reads, "My favorite rye. Worth every penny." This is one of those bottles that should be added to your must-try list. It's perfect for a classic cocktail like an old fashioned. 

As of June 2022, a bottle of this rye costs $70, according to Drizly. It's hard to believe that the Willett 4-Year Rye costs less than $100 because it rivals other top-shelf quality brands.

Woodford Reserve is a well-known name in the spirits world, but its rye whiskey flies severely under the radar among whiskey lovers. This spirit has a 53 percent rye mash bill resulting in flavors of tobacco, spice, and spearmint. Woodford Reserve Rye has that perfect golden honey hue that simply begs you to drink it. This spirit is a great option for bourbon drinkers who are tip-toeing their way into all things rye. 

One review on Drizly reads, "A rye that skillfully ventures enough just outside of bourbon territory to make things spicy and interesting? If that was Woodford's plan it sure works for me."

The accessibility of this rye alone should be enough of a reason for you to order it the next time you see it behind the bar. As of June 2022, a bottle of Woodford Reserve Rye costs $39.99 on Drizly, making it a great option for your at-home bar if you end up loving the flavor.