Community

Noah Williams on Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Cask Strength American Rye Whisky

7/10

Good but the price gives me pause

Catoctin Creek makes decent rye and this cask strength version is no exception — loads of pepper and dried fruit on the nose. But at nearly £86 I keep thinking about what else I could grab at that price point. It's tasty neat, just not a slam-dunk value.

Olivia Park on Stauning Rye Sweet Wine Casks Danish Rye Whisky

9/10

One of my favourite discoveries this year

The nose on this is incredible — jammy dark fruit, cinnamon, a bit of toasted rye bread. Tastes like Christmas cake met a proper rye whisky and they got along perfectly. I drink it neat in a Glencairn and just take my time with it. Worth every penny of the £90.

Diana Cruz on Catoctin Creek Barrel Select Rye Madeira Finish American Rye Whiskey

7/10

Interesting but not quite there for me

The Madeira influence gives some nice fruit notes and there's a pleasant warmth at 58.5%, but I found the finish a bit tannic and drying. Compared to some similarly priced ryes I've had recently it felt like the wine cask and the grain were fighting each other rather than working together. Still a decent dram though, especially with a bit of water.

Mei-Lin Wu on FEW 4 Year Old / Batch 6 / That Boutique-y Whisky Company

8/10

Rye spice done right

Classic rye character here with the peppery kick you want plus some unexpected floral notes on the nose. I drink most of my ryes in Manhattans but this one deserves to be sipped neat. Four years in barrel has given it just enough wood influence without drowning the grain.

Omar Diallo on Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Canadian Blended Whisky

9/10

Punches well above its weight

This is the bottle that made me take Canadian rye seriously. Big baking spice on the nose, then rye bread and caramel once you sip it. At 45% it's got enough kick to stand up neat without being harsh. One of my go-to recommendations when people ask what rye to start with.

Daniel Torres on Catoctin Creek Barrel Select Rye Madeira Finish American Rye Whiskey

9/10

The Madeira finish is a game-changer

I've had a few Catoctin Creek ryes but this Barrel Select with the Madeira finish is on another level. Big dried fruit and toffee on the nose, then the rye spice kicks in hard — not surprising at 58.5%. I added a few drops of water and got this gorgeous plum and dark chocolate thing going on. Worth every penny of the £80.

Rafael Santos on Frey Ranch Bottled in Bond Rye Straight Rye Whiskey

8/10

Proper rye with real backbone

This has that classic rye spice dialled up nicely — black pepper, cinnamon bark, a bit of dried herb on the nose. At 50% ABV it carries serious weight without being harsh. I drink most of my rye neat and this one rewards patience as it opens up.

Aria Kim on Barrell Gray Label Seagrass Rye Whiskey / Limited Release

8/10

Coastal rye done right

The seagrass influence is legit — you get this briny, almost maritime quality layered over classic rye spice. At 66.67% ABV it's a beast neat, but a few drops of water open up caramel and dried herbs. Pricey at £175 but I've paid more for less interesting whiskey.

Farah Abboud on WhistlePig Amburana Rye / 12 Year Old / Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange

7/10

Interesting experiment, slightly one-note

The amburana finish dominates here, which is both the appeal and the drawback. After a few drams the spice-forward profile started to feel a bit samey to me. Don't get me wrong, it's a well-made 12 year old rye and the quality is there. I just wish the rye character came through a bit stronger against that wood influence.

Daniel Torres on Basil Hayden Dark Rye Rye Whiskey

9/10

My new go-to rye

Picked this up on a whim and I'm glad I did. The dark rye blend gives it this lovely dried fruit and molasses character that you don't get from a standard rye. At 40% it's incredibly easy drinking neat, almost dangerously so. Will definitely be keeping a bottle on the shelf.

Jake Morrison on Ichiro's Malt & Grain / Japanese Blended Whisky 2023 Japanese Whisky

8/10

The blend that converts sceptics

I used to be a single malt snob until bottles like this humbled me. Ichiro's team clearly knows how to marry grain and malt whisky — you get this seamless integration of light cereal sweetness with richer dried fruit and spice notes. Tried it on the rocks once and honestly it holds up well both ways, though neat is the way to go at this price point.

Adaobi Eze on Stauning Rye Sweet Wine Casks Danish Rye Whisky

8/10

Danish rye done right

I grabbed this on a whim and I'm really glad I did. The sweet wine cask influence gives it this lovely dried fruit and spice thing that works brilliantly with the rye grain. At 46% it's got enough punch to keep things interesting neat but never gets hot. Stauning are putting Denmark on the whisky map.

Liam Anderson on Castle & Key Restoration Rye Whiskey Kentucky Rye Whiskey

8/10

Perfect for an Old Fashioned

I tried this neat first and it's a punchy 52% with lots of cinnamon and mint. But where it really shines is in cocktails — makes an absolutely killer Old Fashioned. The spice cuts right through the sugar and bitters. One of my go-to mixing ryes now.

Kai Oliveira on Thomas H Handy Sazerac 2014 / 6 Year Old / Bot.2020

7/10

Great whiskey, hard to justify the price

Look, this is a genuinely excellent rye. Loads of baking spice, some leather, a long peppery finish. But £1000 for a 6 year old? I had this at a bar and loved it, but I'd never pay secondary for a bottle. The quality is there, the value isn't.

Kai Oliveira on Ezra Brooks Straight Rye Indiana Straight Rye Whiskey

7/10

Good mixer, average sipper

Picked this up for Manhattans and it does the job brilliantly — the spice cuts right through the vermouth. Neat though, it's a bit one-dimensional. You get the classic rye pepper and some brown sugar sweetness but it fades pretty quick. Fair value for £35 but I wouldn't stock two bottles.

Oscar Delgado on WhistlePig 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey Straight Rye Whiskey

7/10

Good but not blown away

Picked this up after hearing all the hype and it's solid, don't get me wrong. Nice butterscotch and rye bread notes, decent herbal finish. But for what you're paying I expected a bit more complexity from a 10-year-old whisky. I'd say it's fairly priced, just not the revelation some people make it out to be.

Camila Ortiz on Brother's Bond American Blended Rye Whiskey

6/10

A bit pricey for what it is

It's fine. Smooth, some vanilla and spice, easy drinking. But at £55 I can think of several single-barrel ryes that offer more character and depth. If you find it on sale it's worth a pour, otherwise I'd look elsewhere.

Ryan Mitchell on Rebel Yell Straight Rye Whiskey Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey

7/10

Nice sipper, nothing wrong with it

Poured this over a single large ice cube and it opened up nicely. Got some citrus peel and clove on the nose, with that classic rye spiciness on the palate. The finish is medium length, a touch dry. It's not going to change your life but it's a reliable bottle to have on the shelf.

Finn OBrien on Brother's Bond American Blended Rye Whiskey

7/10

Good but not mind-blowing

It's a competent blended rye — peppery with a bit of vanilla sweetness and some oak on the finish. I expected a bit more complexity for fifty-five quid though. Drinks fine neat but doesn't really stand out in a crowded rye market.

Omar Diallo on Thomas H Handy Sazerac 2014 / 6 Year Old / Bot.2020

7/10

Very good but a touch hot

Picked this up in a swap and was excited to try it. The flavour profile is excellent — cinnamon, toffee, dried orange peel — but even for a rye lover like me the 64.5% heat never fully integrates. With water it's lovely though. I'd rate the experience an 8 if you're patient with it.

Top Contributors

1. 1.
   Clara Johansson 18 reviews
2. 2.
   Natasha Volkov 17 reviews
3. 3.
   Mei-Lin Wu 13 reviews
4. 4.
   Nils Bergman 12 reviews
5. 5.
   Marco Andretti 12 reviews
6. 6.
   Amira Benali 12 reviews
7. 7.
   Olivia Park 12 reviews
8. 8.
   Maxwell Green 12 reviews
9. 9.
   Finn OBrien 11 reviews
10. 10.
    Yuki Nakamura 11 reviews