The best rye whiskey – an expert taste test

Although, rye is a much spicier style of whiskey than bourbon. It is best described as a beautiful ball of peppery fruit that melts away into oaky caramel. If you fancy a tipple with a bit more of a kick, this is the style of whiskey for you.

Read on for our best rye whiskey to buy. For over 400 buyer’s guides, visit our reviews section and find taste tests of gin, vodka, tequila, rum, whisky and much more.

The best rye whisky at a glance

• Best unorthodox rye whiskey: FEW Immortal rye whiskey, £60.95
• Best high-strength rye whiskey: Pikesville six-year-old 110 proof straight rye, £78.49
• Best traditional rye whiskey: Colonel E.H. Taylor small batch straight rye, £81.95
• Best affordable rye whiskey: Bulleit 95 rye, £38.50
• Best for cocktails: Sazerac, £35.75
• Best gentle rye whiskey: Knob Creek straight rye whiskey, £48.53
• Best cult favourite: Michter’s US*1 straight rye, £60.25
• Best rye whiskey from beyond America: Kyrö rye whiskey, £49.95
• Best after dinner whiskey: Rittenhouse straight rye 100 proof, £42.25
• Best complex rye whiskey: WhistlePig 10-year-old small batch rye, £89.99
• Best well-known rye whiskey: Jack Daniel's single barrel rye, £63.75

What is rye whiskey?

While bourbon is the United States’ most popular whiskey style, it looks as though rye whiskey slowly catching up, having gained far more popularity in recent years. Two main styles of rye whiskey are available today, American and Canadian, but to be labelled American rye whiskey the spirit needs to be produced from a mashbill containing more than 51 per cent rye. Bourbon, for instance, must be made with a mash bill of more than 51 per cent corn. But while Bourbon is characteristically sweet, rye whiskey is typically spicier, bolder and arguably more complex in terms of flavour.

Having fallen out of favour during the Second World War, rye whiskey has experienced a renewed increase in popularity during recent years, primarily led by bartenders showcasing classic cocktails traditionally featuring American rye whiskey (think a manhattan or sazerac), and is now becoming far more popular both nationwide and across Canada, Europe and Japan.

The best rye whiskey to buy in 2025: taste tested by experts

FEW Immortal Rye Whiskey

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£60.95), Master of Malt (£65.95)

Best unorthodox rye whiskey
ABV: 46.5%

The Chicago suburb of Evanston was once considered “the seat of Prohibition”, as well as the established headquarters of the temperance movement, continuing to ban alcohol until 1972. Today, Evanston is home to one of Illinois’ most exciting distilleries, FEW Spirits, which focuses on an impressive range of craft distilled whiskeys.

Using the distillery’s cask strength rye as a base, FEW Immortal rye whiskey is brought down to bottling strength with cold-extracted Eight Immortals oolong tea, which lends some pleasing floral notes to the whiskey and provides enhanced smoothness. Aromas of typical rye spiciness, some pine resin, faint lemongrass, red grape and a grassy quality. The tea element is a little more nuanced on the palate, with the addition of pink peppercorn, star anise and some gorgeous fruity notes of ripe plum, peach and dragon fruit which continue on the long, warm finish. It’s a great, unusual take on a classic style without ever becoming gimmicky. JH

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£60.95)
Master of Malt (£65.95)

Pikesville six-year-old 110 proof straight rye

• Available from The Bottle Club (£78.49)

Best high strength rye whiskey
ABV: 55%

Read our full review of Pikesville straight rye

A ‘Liquid Gold’ whiskey. Pikesville was the last standing rye in Maryland when prohibition was repealed and we’re over the moon it made it. This classic rye comes with a bit of extra oomph – it takes a typical rye character of spice and caramel and bombards it with buttery and tropical flavours. A must try.

Available from:
The Bottle Club (£78.49)

Colonel E.H. Taylor small batch straight rye

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£81.95), Master of Malt (£81.95)

Best traditional rye whiskey
ABV: 50%

Read our full review of Colonel E.H. Taylor straight rye

Jim Murray’s Liquid Gold award says it all, twice. This much-venerated whiskey from Colonel E.H. Taylor is a benchmark of the rye style. Tantalisingly slick and syrupy rye is stretched out and wrapped around a goodie bag of fruits and fairground treats, with popcorn and butterscotch at the fore.

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£81.95)
Master of Malt (£81.95)

Bulleit 95 rye

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£38.50), Master of Malt (£38.50)

Best affordable whiskey
ABV: 45%

Read our full review of Bulleit rye whiskey

A much revered and decorated rye whiskey from one of America’s most-loved distilleries. Vanilla and tobacco oppose each other with deep red berries, white pepper and orchard fruits providing the glue in the middle of the pair. A complex but well-balanced whiskey that’s impossible to put down.

Sazerac straight rye

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£35.75), Waitrose Cellar (£47)

Best for cocktails
ABV: 45%

Read our full review of Sazerac straight rye whiskey

A whiskey with a well-earned place in history. This legendary rye was the base for America’s first ever branded cocktail. Hailing from the swinging streets of New Orleans, Sazerac is a decadent, syrupy and spicy whiskey that calls on you to indulge and waste a few hours.

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£35.75)
Waitrose Cellar (£47)

Knob Creek rye whiskey

Best gentle rye whiskey
ABV: 50%

Read our full review of Knob Creek rye whiskey

Knob Creek knows its way around a whiskey. The brand is part of the Jim Beam family and is well-famed for its bourbon. Knob Creek’s rye expression has proved a resounding success since its launch in 2012. This whiskey does the basics beautifully, marrying caramel and pepper with precision for an encompassing, smooth mouthful.

Michter’s US*1 straight rye

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£60.25),
• Available from Master of Malt (£49.95)
• Master of Malt (£68)

Best cult favourite
ABV: 42.4%

Read our full review of Michter's US*1 straight rye whiskey

Michter’s traces its ancestry all the way back to the first ever whiskey company in the United States. Famed for its unique small-batch offerings, this has a cult following. The straight rye expression brings freshly squeezed citrus together with burnt oak and cracked black pepper. Well balanced and undemanding, this is easy to sip all night long.

Kyrö rye whiskey

• Available from Master of Malt (£49.95)

Best rye whiskey from beyond America
ABV: 47.2%

Read our full review of Kyrö single malt rye whiskey

Kyrö is one of the funnest distilleries around. This Finnish company produces spirits with the motto ‘in rye we trust’. Its commitment to the grain has produced some spectacular spirits, and the whiskey is no exception. This bottle is slick with honey and vanilla with the right amount of dry pepper to keep you honest.

Available from:
Master of Malt (£49.95)

Rittenhouse straight rye 100 proof

Best after dinner whiskey
ABV: 50%

Read our review of Rittenhouse straight rye whiskey

A ‘bottled-in-bond’ whiskey from the much respected Heaven Hill Distillery, this distinctively Pensylvannian bottle is thick with chocolate orange and baking spices dominating. One to sip and savour as an after dinner treat.

WhistlePig 10-year-old straight rye

Best complex rye whiskey
ABV: 50%

Read our full review of WhistlePig 10-year-old rye whiskey

A much respected rye whiskey from one of North America’s youngest top distilleries. This tipple is complex, drawing on every inch of your tastebuds, taking you from buttery marzipan to black pepper and cloves and everywhere in between. Spicy, sweet and eminently sippable.

Jack Daniel’s single barrel rye

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£63.75), Master of Malt (£63.75)

Best well-known rye whiskey
ABV: 45%

Read our full review of Jack Daniel's single barrel rye whiskey

You know the name but not like this. This single barrel rye is Jack Daniel's’ first new grain whiskey in 150 years. This special edition offering is dry, sweet, spicy and fruity, with each polarising flavour profile married in perfect harmony. A straightforward easy sipper.

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£63.75)
Master of Malt (£63.75)

Rye whiskey cocktails

Put your bottle of rye whiskey to good use in one of our classic cocktail recipes.

Sazerac
Sweet manhattan
New York sour
The best whisky cocktail recipes

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This review was last updated in April 2025. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.