6 Best Rye Whiskeys in the World, According to America’s Top Spirits Competition

(Photo: San Francisco World Spirits Competition)

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition convenes every year to separate the wheat from the chaff (or, in the case of certain whiskeys, the rye from the wheat). First organized by the Tasting Alliance in 2000, the SFWSC has persisted for decades as the world’s largest and most prestigious alcohol judging competition. Thousands of brands face off against dozens of judges, who whittle the selection down to a small handful of winners spanning everything from tequila to ready-to-drink cocktails.

SFSWC judges award spirits Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals. Above Gold sits Double Gold; spirits that are unanimously awarded a Gold Medal by every member of the over-50-person panel. Double Gold awardees will eventually be narrowed down to a single Best In Class winner for each category at the Topo Shelf Gala, which is tentatively set to take place this November.

On Tuesday, the Tasting Alliance unveiled the six rye whiskeys that have a shot at the grand prize.

The Best in Class finalists for the rye whiskey category represent a fascinating hodgepodge of different brands, casting a wide net across Maryland, Indiana, Vermont, Kentucky, Colorado and New York. The one thing they all have in common? A well-above-average proof point. Though the competition has no criteria for ABV, judges fell head over heels for blisteringly high-proof whiskeys running the gamut from 104.8 all the way up to 148 proof. Some were helmed by local distilleries that you’ve likely never heard of; others, by the biggest names in the game.

WhistlePig The Boss Hog Collection – Boss XII Feather & Flame Rye Whiskey

(Photo: WhistlePig)

The latest release in WhistlePig’s wildly indulgent Boss Hog series, Feather & Flame is a straight rye whiskey that pays homage to Ancient Aztec flavors. The limited-edition spirit is finished in barrels seasoned with pulque curado, which the team reimagined using agave, cacao and a blend of Mexican chiltepín, guajillo and pasilla peppers. Though its price is steep (nearly $600), we’re inclined to agree with the judges on this one. Among our favorite releases from 2025, Feather & Flame is stuffed to the brim with anise, clove and butterscotch notes that play ball against a fiery green serrano and chili pepper undertone.

Read Our Full Review of WhistlePig Feather & Flame Rye Whiskey Here.

Old Overholt 12 Year Old Extra Aged Cask Strength

(Photo: Old Overholt)

Last October, Suntory Global Spirits expanded its Old Overholt line with a cask-strength 12-year-old rye bottled between 53% and 65% ABV. That makes it the oldest age statement from the oldest continually maintained whiskey brand in the United States. Superlatives aside, this is great juice. Reviewing the whiskey at launch, we found plenty to like in its thickly layered flavors of peanut brittle, chocolate-covered cherries, gingerbread and peaches, followed by a distinct pop of orange zest on the finish. The whiskey is still widely available online at its original suggested retail price of $109.99.

Read Our Full Review of Old Overholt Cask Strength 12 Year Here

O.K.I. 13-Year Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

(Photo: O.K.I.)

Distilled in Indiana, barreled in Kentucky and “loved” in Ohio, O.K.I. is no stranger to a cult-hit single-barrel whiskey release. This particular bottle is part of a series selected by founders Chad Brizendine and Jake Warm, who curated a rye aged for 13 years and bottled at 66.2% ABV (believe it or not, far from the highest proof point you’ll be seeing on this list). Judges described it as “big and unapologetic,” leading with flavors of oak, clove and a distinctly sweet rye backbone. Older single barrels from O.K.I. tend to cost a pretty penny, so expect to pay no less than $130 if you’re hunting one of these down.

Art of the Spirits Mogadishu Hazmat Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey

(Photo: Art of the Spirits/Instagram)

Art of the Spirits Mogadishu is part of a single-barrel series paying homage to Operation Gothic Serpent, a 1993 U.S. special forces mission carried out during the Somali Civil War. Though there’s a smattering of information about this whiskey online, little is known about the pick tasted at San Francisco, which appears to have been selected by Ayra’s Liquor & Store in Racine, Wisconsin. We can confirm, however, that a) there’s a helicopter on the label, b) the whiskey was aged 12 years and c) it’s bottled at an astoundingly high cask strength of 74% ABV. Judges said that it drinks with remarkable nuance and complexity, spearheaded by flavors of licorice, baked apple, allspice and tea.

Epoch Maryland Straight Rye Whiskey 6 Year Old Cask Strength

(Photo: Baltimore Spirits Company)

The Baltimore Spirits Company is dedicated to reviving the pot-distilled, Maryland rye whiskeys of Scottish and Irish settlers in the 18th century. This year’s Best In Class awardee is a cask-strength version of its flagship Epoch, aged for six years and bottled at 64.3% ABV. Described as a “bold, expressive rye with a big oak and wood-forward nose,” judges found a lot to like in its fresh, grassy flavors and lingering mint finish. The bottling is currently floating around for about $60, making it by far the cheapest selection in its category.

Kings County Barrel Strength Straight Empire Rye Whiskey

(Photo: Seelbach’s)

A highly sought-after annual release from the Brooklyn-based Kings County Distillery, Empire Rye is a whiskey made from 80% New York-grown Danko rye and 20% English barley malt. The alcohol content varies from year to year, and the San Francisco team appears to have gotten their hands on an expression bottled at 61% ABV. Judges heaped praise on its flavors of black tea, sweetened condensed milk, toffee and cinnamon, describing it as “balanced and poised at every turn.” Typically retails for around $100.