7 Sophisticated Rye Cocktails
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Discover seven sophisticated rye cocktails. They’re all easy to craft at home and ideal to sip with someone special.
All rye is whiskey, but not all whiskey is rye. While other countries like Canada produce rye whiskey, this article focuses on American rye. This is the type of whiskey that was imbibed by the country’s founding fathers. We also imbibe rye ourselves. Perhaps this preference is due to the way that American rye is produced.
In the US, rye producers are required to adhere to strict standards starting with the mash, which must contain at least 51% rye grain. Other requirements involve the liquor’s distilling, barreling and aging practices. Finally, American rye must have an ABV between 40% and 75% when it’s bottled.
As whiskeys go, rye is spicier than bourbon. It’s a wonderful liquor to drink neat or with ice. If you’re new to rye, we recommend buying a straight rye that hasn’t been blended with any other liquors. We’re partial to the rye whiskey produced by both Bulleit and Rittenhouse. Other American rye brands include Basil Hayden, George Dickel, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, Michter’s, Sazerac and Wild Turkey.
After you buy a bottle, you’re ready to start experimenting with pre-Prohibition cocktails like the Manhattan and Old Fashioned. Once you’ve mastered those classics, it’s time to move on to cocktails that were specifically designed to feature rye. However, there’s nothing wrong with sipping rye without any mixers or ice.
7 of the Best Rye Cocktails
1. Black Manhattan
2. Brooklyn
3. La Louisiane
4. Old Pal
5. Sazerac
6. Vieux Carré
7. Ward 8
💡 Frequently Asked Questions
American rye is whiskey that’s distilled from a mash that’s at least 51% rye grain. (Corn, malted barley and wheat are the other ingredients.) Once American rye is bottled, its ABV ranges from 40% to 75%.
Bourbon is distilled from at least 51% corn product, while rye is distilled from at least 51% rye grain. From a flavor perspective, bourbon tends to be sweeter while rye skews spicy.
You can sip rye neat or on the rocks. It’s also a great liquor for crafting sophisticated cocktails.
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