Angel's Envy Rye Whiskey is a new product from the Louisville Distilling Company, maker's of Angel's Envy Bourbon. While the bourbon is finished in port casks, the rye whiskey is finished for 18 months in Caribbean rum casks before bottling. Both are the product of Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson, who bucked some whiskey traditions with both of these releases. “We considered finishing a spirit in rum casks for some time and ultimately felt that the spiciness of a well-rounded rye provided the best pairing,” said Henderson.  He and his team sourced and sampled more than 100 different rums before choosing one...

Dad's Hat Rye Whiskey is a recently released offering out of Pennsylvania. Rye was a major Pennsylvania export prior to Prohibition, when the 18th amendment closed down many of the state's distilleries. The guys behind Dad's Hat, John Cooper and Herman Mihalich, want to pay homage to the rye whiskeys of their state's past. So they're making rye the old fashioned way, in small batches with locally sourced ingredients. Dad's Hat Rye Whiskey is aged in charred white oak quarter casks for at least six months. It pours a light amber in the glass, and on the nose it's full of malt...

Pow-Wow Botanical Rye Whiskey is the latest product from the Georgetown Trading Co. -- the fine folks behind John L. Sullivan Irish Whiskey and James E. Pepper Whiskey. This release is their first foray into flavored or infused spirits. According to the label, Pow-Wow Botanical Rye is a straight rye whiskey inspired by an old colonial recipe. It's infused in small batches with whole botanicals like saffron and orange peels. Diving in, there's a huge nose of citrus, cloves, smoked cedar and vanilla. This is some intensely aromatic stuff. Definitely whiskey though, as those infused notes don't overpower the underlying spirit....

It’s hard to deny that we’re in the midst of a rye shortage. (It's also hard to believe, as new ryes are released seemingly every month.) American sales of rye whiskey have exploded since the beginning of the cocktail renaissance, but with most ryes being aged in casks for at least four years, predicting future demand has proved increasingly difficult for distillers. It’s been a month since I last saw a bottle of bonded Rittenhouse, a brand that generally releases their new batches in the winter. The resulting catastrophe: the locals have tippled their way through Rittenhouse and totted their...

George Dickel Rye Whisky is the newest player to enter the rapidly-growing rye whiskey category. Master Distiller John Lunn created this product to address the increased demand for rye in the marketplace, which is thanks in large part to the classic cocktail renaissance. It joins a Dickel lineup that already includes a handful of Tennessee whiskeys (No. 8, No. 12 and Barrel Select). George Dickel Rye Whisky (they drop the 'e') is comprised of 95% rye grains, 5% malted barley and not an ounce of corn. It's been aged in new charred oak barrels for a minimum of five years and...

The recently-announced Jack Daniel's Unaged Rye Whiskey is the company's first new expression and grain recipe since before Prohibition. And it was never meant to be released. Originally, Jack Daniel's was planning to release a traditional, aged rye whiskey. And in 2011, they distilled 800 barrels worth, setting them in their Lynchburg warehouses to mature. However, the tasters liked the unaged rye whiskey coming off the still so much that they decided it was also worth releasing. So, behold: Jack Daniel's Unaged Rye. This clear whiskey is sweet and fruity on the nose, with a cereal-like background of rye grains. Take...

In what's been a busy year for the whiskey brand, Wild Turkey recently introduced Wild Turkey 81 Rye Whiskey, an 81-proof spirit that joins Wild Turkey's flagship 101-proof rye. This follows last year's release of Wild Turkey 81 Proof Bourbon, a product that's also joined by a 101 proof sibling. Both the whiskey and rye categories formerly included 80 proof offerings, each of which is no longer available. For anyone who's concerned, Wild Turkey was quick to point out that the new expression will not replace the 101 proof rye. But due to some industry shortages, the 101 proof version is...

Founded in 1992, Knob Creek is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. And to commemorate the occasion, Knob Creek has introduced its first rye whiskey, a 100 proof spirit that pays homage to America’s favorite pre-prohibition drink. Aside from a 20th anniversary present to itself – and to its legion of Knob Creek Bourbon fans – Knob Creek Rye was introduced to address the growing trend of craft spirits and contemporary cocktail culture, especially within the rye whiskey category. It’s nice to see Knob Creek playing in this field, though it does seem like a late entrance from the...

Jefferson’s Straight Rye Whiskey is the newest addition to the Jefferson’s portfolio, which also includes three small batch bourbons. Released in August 2011, Jefferson’s Rye is a 10-year old 100% North American rye. Though the bottle doesn’t specify, the rye is purportedly from Canada. Given its age, origin and similar flavor profile, one has to wonder if the rye whiskey source is the same as WhistlePig, another 100% Canadian rye. Jefferson’s founder and master blender Trey Zoeller combed through many barrels of aged rye whiskeys before settling on the right components for Jefferson’s Rye. Let’s see how he did. On the nose,...

Bulleit Rye is a new offering from the fine folks behind Bulleit Bourbon. The bourbon already boasts a relatively high rye content, but the new Bullet Rye Whiskey is composed of 95% rye grains, a much higher concentration than the mandated 51%. The golden amber spirit has aromas of oak, dark fruits and mellow vanilla. Take a sip for an instant hit of cherry on your tongue. The taste moves toward nuts, toffee and spice, plus some more fruit. It finishes dry and chewy with lasting notes of maple and oak. At 90 proof, Bulleit Rye is still very smooth on the...