What is rye?
Rye: Whiskey made mostly from rye grain. The classic base for a Manhattan or Sazerac.
- Category
- Spirit
- Taste
- Spicy and peppery, drier than bourbon.
- Strength
- About 40-50% ABV
- Similar to
- bourbon (sweeter), Canadian whisky
- Also called
- rye whiskey
The story
Rye was the original American whiskey, made in Pennsylvania and Maryland. A federal tax on it sparked the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. After Prohibition, bourbon took over and rye nearly disappeared until bartenders brought it back in the 2000s.