Our Favorite Affordable Ryes

Van Brunt Stillhouse, located in Red Hook, Brooklyn, is named for Cornelius Van Brunt, one of the founding fathers of the neighborhood. The distillery harkens to the days before the Prohibition, when distilleries dotted the Brooklyn waterfront. Made with NY rye and unfiltered. 375 ml bottle available only.

This brand is named after Abraham Overholt, a Pennsylvania farmer that had switched his focus from farming to distilling in the early 1800s. At beginning of Prohibition, the whiskey was granted a medicinal license and the popularity of the brand surged. The Pennsylvania brand has survived, but has been produced in Kentucky for some time now and is currently owned by Beam Suntory.

This 81-proof bottling was released in early 2012, in part to stretch their rye stock from running completely out as the 101-proof had been embraced and bought up by bartenders for classic cocktails. This blend of 4-5 year olds keeps the crisp, brightness of a mash-forward bottling while still being in the barrel long enough for the char #4 to do its job. This rye holds up to cocktails, but is good enough to enjoy neat or on the rocks (for those who are used to a bit more heat and spice). Its label and packaging was redesigned in September 2016.

While Michter’s can trace its roots back to Pennsylvania in the 18th century, today it boasts two distilleries in Kentucky. For their Kentucky Straight Rye bottling, they release them as single barrel expressions so slight variations may occur.

A no-age statement straight rye whiskey from Jim Beam. Bottled at 80 proof. Note: As of January 2015, this Jim Beam Rye has been replaced with Jim Beam Pre-Prohibition Style Rye.

One of the heroes of the rye world, Rittenhouse is a must have in your home bar, neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail. It's a bargain for a bonded rye and always a welcome gift for beginners or those more advanced. This rye whiskey from Heaven Hill is bottled at 50% ABV.

This straight rye whiskey has over 90% rye in its mash bill. Aged in new, charred American oak, it is non-chill filtered and bottled at 100 proof. James E. Pepper is an American whiskey brand which was relaunched in 2008. The whiskey is currently contract distilled by MGP in Indiana and aged and bottled in Kentucky. As of December 2017, the former James E. Pepper Distillery in Lexington, Kentucky has been renovated with distillation currently in progress. Expect the distillery to be open to the public by summer 2018.

Named after the Sazerac Coffee House on Royal Street in New Orleans (and subsequently the cocktail), Sazerac Rye is produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. It is aged from four to six years and formerly had an age statement of six years. It's bottled at 90 proof. The rye category's growing popularity has made this bottling difficult to keep in stock.

Redemption Straight Rye is sourced from MGP in Indiana. It has a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% barley malt. The whiskey is aged for 2.5 years in new, charred American oak. Great for cocktails and over ice. Try in Manhattans, Chapel Hills or Whiskey Sours. Note: Updated packaging as of November 2016.

Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Straight Rye is matured in the deepest no. 4 char barrels. Aged for six years in the “center cut” of the rickhouse. It is hand-selected by Jimmy and Eddie Russell. Bottled at 45% ABV.