Whiskey’s Rye Revolution
Scoot over, scotch and bourbon—there’s another spirit in town. North American rye whiskey is experiencing a rise in popularity that will continue through 2019 as more alcohol aficionados explore local craft spirits. Greater insight into whiskey’s rye revolution comes from Andrew Smith, a portfolio manager at Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), the second-largest alcohol distributor in the U.S.
RYE WHISKEY 101
American rye whiskey meets strict standards to earn its name. The whiskey must include at least 51% actual rye grain. This falls opposite of bourbon, which must include at least 51% corn.
“For something to be called an American rye whiskey, it’s similar to bourbon but you’re switching out the main dominant grain. Corn is the deciding factor and the foundation of what bourbon is. On the other spectrum, the foundation for a rye whiskey is rye,” says Andrew. “The biggest thing is the main grain.”
The remaining 49% of the rye whiskey most often contains corn but can also include wheat or malted barley.
Straight rye whiskey must also age for at least two years. Distilleries may choose to age the whiskey longer to develop different flavor profiles.
THE TASTE TEST
The peppery taste of rye whiskey washes over the palette with a savory, spiced warmth. Whether sipped alone or mixed into a cocktail, layers of flavors emerge throughout the drinking experience.
“The thing that’s unique about rye whiskey is when you first taste it, it kind of touches a lot on your sour notes. But when you actually add elements of sweetness to it, it pulls forward a lot of dried fruit sweetness and a lot of things you don’t pick up when you drink it by itself,” says Andrew.
“It’s when you start mixing and blending that it pulls out a lot of different notes you didn’t pull out initially. Bartenders really prefer to use rye whiskeys for cocktails,” he adds.
The bite of rye flavor adds the levels of spice characteristic to the spirit.
“When you look at a rye whiskey, the reason why a lot of people like it is because it has an essence of spiciness to it, whereas bourbon tends to be sweet because corn adds a lot of sweetness. A lot of people like using rye because you’ve got that spiciness that comes with that grain, but behind it there’s a lot of floral and fruit notes that are hidden behind the spice. It’s an ideal whiskey for cocktails,” says Andrew.
DRINKING AND COOKING WITH RYE WHISKEY
Cocktails that highlight the flavor of rye whiskey include the Manhattan, the Boulevardier and variations on the Old Fashioned, such as the Maple Old Fashioned.
“It only takes a few basic ingredients and you can really create a unique cocktail at home to impress friends and family,” says Andrew. “That’s such a cool thing about rye whiskey.”
Those who love tangy rye flavors should try Bon Appetit’s Whiskey and Rye Chocolate Chip Cookies. Just substitute the bourbon for rye whiskey to pair with the rye flour.
MADE LOCALLY
A few Indiana distilleries currently produce their own rye whiskey, but more distilleries will explore the spirit over the next few years.
At the laid-back West Fork Whiskey Co., locavores can try the distillery’s own Rye-ter’s Block Rye Whiskey.
“Rye'-Ter’s Block is West Fork’s first ever rye whiskey. This whiskey pays homage to some of the oldest rye whiskeys in the nation with its bold, earthy and spicy notes, but remains true to Indiana with a smooth, soft corn finish,” explains West Fork Whiskey Co.’s website.
As another example, MGP of Indiana, a Lawrenceburg distillery, crafts Rossville Union Master Crafted Straight Rye Whiskey for private sale.
START HERE
If you’re interested in experiencing rye whiskey at home, Andrew recommends this cocktail as a great beginning.
Simple At-Home Old Fashioned - see recipe here
[Photo from West Fork Whiskey Co. website] West Fork Whiskey Co.’s Rye-Ter’s Block Whiskey pairs flavor-forward rye with an Indiana corn finish
