Rye January: Rye Whiskeys to Drink in 2023

Redemption Sur Lee was influenced by the French winemaking technique called "sur lie" — wine aged with the lees (mostly dead yeast cells). Here, Redemption uses the backset that comes off the still during distillation which they are calling "whiskey lees." These whiskey lees are placed into the barrels before aging and then the barrels are periodically rotated to keep the whiskey interacting with the lees. Redemption Sur Lee is bottled without chill filtration at 94 proof. Originally released as limited edition in October 2022, this was added as a permanent addition to the brand's Specialty Series in August 2024. (SRP $59.99)

Following the success of the inaugural release in 2021, George Dickel and Leopold Bros have announced the return of the Collaboration Blend for 2022. This whiskey is a blend of straight rye whiskeys -- one is a traditional column still rye distilled in Tennessee at Cascade Hollow Distilling Co., home to George Dickel and the other was distilled at Colorado's Leopold Bros on their Three Chamber Rye still. Bottled at 100 proof, this is available in select US markets beginning November 2022. (SRP $109.99)

Uncle Nearest Straight Rye begins with rye whiskey sourced from Canada. Then it's aged further in New York (four years minimum) before a final trip to Tennessee where it rests in used Uncle Nearest whiskey barrels for further maturation. The barrels are then tasted and blended by Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler. Uncle Nearest Straight Rye is the brand's first nationally released whiskey since 1884 Small Batch Whiskey which launched in 2019. Bottled at 100 proof, it's available to purchase as of November 10, 2022 at the Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tennessee with a further national roll out throughout the month of November. (SRP $59)

This Sherry Finish Rye from Sagamore Spirit is a limited edition expression in its Reserve Series. The brand previously released a Sherry Finish Rye as a distillery exclusive in 2019, but this is an updated version with nationwide availability. Here the brand takes its 4 year-old straight rye whiskey and finishes its maturation in PX sherry casks for an additional 18 months. Bottled at 106 proof, this is available as of September 2022. (SRP $79)

The 2022 Edition is the fourth release in the barrel strength series for Templeton Rye which first began in 2018 (there was no release for 2021). The barrels selected for this batch vary in age, but the mash bill used here is 95% rye and 5% malted barley. Bottled without chill filtration at 114.6 proof, it is available as of September 2022 in the US and select international markets including the EU. (SRP $59.99)

This is the third limited edition release of Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye to be released in the US. Made at Alberta Distillers in Calgary, Alberta, this Canadian whisky is made with 100% prairie rye and Rocky Mountain water. After aging for an undisclosed amount of time, the rye is bottled at cask strength of 63.5% ABV/127 proof. Available for a limited time beginning October 2022. (SRP $79.99)

Aroostook is named for the type of malted rye used in its production. Unusually, this whiskey is made with 100% malted rye which was grown in Kentucky and malted in Indiana. After distillation it was aged for 6 years. This is a bottled in bond release as well so it's bottled at 100 proof. This limited edition release is available as of October 2022. (SRP $59.99)

This bottled-in-bond rye whiskey from FEW Spirits follows its BIB Bourbon which was first released in 2021. It is made with a mash bill recipe of 70% rye, 20% corn and 10% malted barley and it's aged a minimum of four years in accordance with BIB regulations. This limited edition release is available as of October 2022 with an initial run of 1,200 cases. (SRP $50)

This latest addition to the Ezra Brooks line up is made with two different rye mash bills, one with 51% rye and the other with 95% rye, each one aged for 7 years. It's then bottled at full proof of 114. This is being released with an limited allocation in the US of 3,000 six-pack cases beginning November 2022. (SRP $79.99)

The Origin Series is the brand's first estate-distilled collection with 100% of production from distilling to bottling handled at Bardstown Bourbon Co. This Kentucky straight rye is one of three core releases in the series. It was made a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. After its initial maturation, it was then finished in custom barrels with alternating toasted American oak and toasted cherry wood staves for up to 6 months. Bottled at 96 proof, it's available as of December 2022 at select US retailers. (SRP $69.99)

Redwood Empire Cask Strength Emerald Giant is one of three limited edition bottlings featuring uncut and unfiltered whiskeys of the distillery's core portfolio. Emerald Giant is its blended straight rye offering and here three different grains make up its recipe — 94% rye, 5% malted barley and 1% wheat. The ryes featured here were aged in 53-gallon, char #3 barrels for a minimum of four years and up to 6 years. Since they were aged in the California fog belt, the cask strength proof of 116.4 is lower than many other such offerings of similar makeup. Cask Strength Emerald Giant is available nationwide as of October 2022. (SRP $70)

Blue Run Emerald Rye is contact distilled at Castle & Key Distillery by Blue Run's Liquid Advisor Jim Rutledge, the first rye to be made there for the brand. Blue Run Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon blended this limited edition rye from 189 rye barrels which were made with three different rye mash bill recipes. Emerald Rye is bottled at barrel proof at 58.35% ABV and is available at select retailers beginning in November 2022. (SRP $109.99)