What Are the Different Types of Rye Whiskey? 6 Styles for Drinkers Looking to Spice Things Up

Rye whiskey is experiencing a ryenaissance, a ryevival, a ryevolution — OK, you get it. We’re so excited about this category’s resurgence that we had to open with a few rye puns.

But in all seriousness, this whiskey category has emerged as a frontrunner, driving sales of brown spirits as more and more people fall in love with its dark, spicy profile. Harder than a bourbon, yet softer than some scotches, there’s a rye out there that appeals to every drinker.

There are a few criteria a whiskey must meet to be considered a rye, depending on which country you’re in, but the primary universal one is a mashbill composed of at least 51% rye (with some exceptions that we’ll get to). Of course, that leaves a lot of wiggle room. Some ryes use a pure mashbill of 100% rye for maximum spice, while others stick down in the 51%-60% range, adding other grains like corn, wheat and barley to alter the flavor of the whiskey.

In this article, we’re breaking down six types of rye whiskeys that have varying styles. We’re going to break down each style for you and give you a killer example to seek out should you be interested in trying it.

6 Types of Rye Whiskey

1. Canadian Rye | Try Found North Cask Strength Rye

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We’ll be honest with you: Canada doesn’t have the most exciting whisky scene in the world. Found North is a major exception, however. This popular brand consistently releases jaw-dropping blends. Sometimes they’re ryes, sometimes corn-based, sometimes unconventional blends.

Canadian rye whisky is a tricky beast. Unlike American rye whiskey, our friendly neighbors to the North often use the term “rye” to refer to their whiskeys in a more colloquial sense. Canadian rye whisky is really just whisky.

Whisky Advocate shares that Canadian rye does not share the same percentage requirements that American rye whiskey requires. Unlike the United States, which requires a minimum of 51% of rye grain to be in a mashbill, Canada has no such requirements. In short, rye whiskey from Canada can have other grains, like corn and barley, more predominant than rye. Yet, most Canadian distillers include rye grain when making rye whisky.

According to Whisky Magazine, Canadian Rye whisky is typically aged in a mixture of barrels that are often re-used, yielding a more subtle oak touch. If massive herbaceous rye spices aren’t necessarily your thing, and you find yourself drawn to blended scotches, consider trying Canadian Rye Whisky’s gentle touch.

We recommend giving Found North Cask Strength Rye Batch 003 a try. Found North is a top-notch producer, and when it calls its whiskies “rye,” you can rest assured rye will actually be the predominant grain in the mashbill. With its creamy, brown sugar-imbued nose coupled with a palate that’s honey, crème brûlée and orange peel for days, Found North’s Cask Strength Rye Batch 003 is a great example of a powerful yet nuanced rye whiskey that’s not heavy on the herbaceous flavors.

This whisky has a suggested retail price of $135, but that’s a pretty good value for this 17-to-25-year-old whisky, which is a blend of three rye whiskies and two corn whiskies. The final blend’s mashbill breaks down as 64% rye, 32% corn and 4% malted barley. It was aged in a combination of used American oak, Hungarian oak, tequila and Speyside scotch casks, making it a wildly intriguing whisky.

2. Kentucky Rye | Rittenhouse Straight Rye Bottled-In-Bond

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Kentucky-style rye is traditionally sweeter, with mashbills that host between 51% and 55% rye, and the rest of the mashbill features typically features corn and malted barley.

Kentucky rye is a particularly great option for drinkers newer to the rye category and come from the bourbon world, who aren’t so sure what to expect from rye whiskey. Fans of high-rye bourbons will find Kentucky-style rye an easy transition to make.

Rittenhouse Rye is from Heaven Hill’s portfolio, and this rye whiskey is fairly affordable and can be purchased for around $20-$30. With an ABV of 50% and a mild nose full of baking spice, molasses and warmth, Rittenhouse is a great example of a Kentucky-style rye you can find pretty much anywhere. The palate boasts vanilla and more molasses syrup, with a kick from some subtle rye spice. Rittenhouse finishes on a sweet note, with vanilla and a kick of heat.

3. Pennsylvania Rye | Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey

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Pennsylvania rye is steeped in history that dates back to the Revolutionary War, according to the New York Times. This state was the site of the famed Whiskey Rebellion that took place in 1794. If you visit Pennsylvania today, you can tour the Whiskey Rebellion Trail and taste whiskey from a variety of distilleries that specialize in rye whiskey.

Rye grows particularly well in Pennsylvania, so rye whiskeys often have significantly higher percentages of rye grain in their mashbills.

Within the Pennsylvania category, there’s a specific style of rye whiskey called Monongahela, which is made from rye grains grown in the Monongahela Valley. Monongahela rye is cut with water from the Monongahela River, and this bold and spicy rye whiskey is celebrated for its powerful and potent profile. Monongahela rye whiskey usually has between 80% and 95% rye in the mashbill.

If you’re looking for a great, under-the-radar distillery churning out rugged rye whiskey in Pennsylvania, be sure to give Dad’s Hat a try. With a price point that sits around $60 and an ABV that clocks in at 45%, Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye is punchy at first whiff. With plenty of pepper, orange zest and leather, you know on the palate this rye whiskey is going to be one spicy beast. The pour features balanced and complex flavors of vanilla bean, apples and a tobacco kick. Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey concludes with heat, sweet cream and pepper.

4. Maryland Rye | Sagamore Small Batch Rye

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The Maryland Distillers Guild reports that three states led the charge on rye whiskey production before the throes of Prohibition: Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Maryland. Prohibition all but killed rye whiskey for the state until the recent rye revival paved the way for distilleries to begin to produce this spicy style of whiskey again.

As Inside Hook has reported, Maryland rye whiskey doesn’t have many stringent requirements. The minimal requirement is that it possesses over 51% of rye grain in its mashbill (as required by U.S. regulations), and Maryland rye often hosts higher percentages of corn as well, giving it what Maryland Distillers Guild refers to as a “delicate, bold, spicy and fruity” profile.

One of the distilleries leading the charge of Maryland’s “ryevolution” is Sagamore Spirit. Though this upstart distillery initially sourced its whiskeys from Indiana’s MGP while getting its stocks ready, Sagamore switched over to using its own distillate in May. The brand’s focus has shifted to creating rye whiskey that is distinctively Maryland.

Sagamore’s Small Batch Rye is affordably priced at $39.99 and features both a high-rye and low-rye mashbill in the blend. This whiskey spends four to six years aging before being blended in 20-barrel batches. Caramel is the word of the day in terms of describing this whiskey. The nose hosts ginger and clove, with some creamy caramel. The whiskey hosts a viscous mouthfeel with gingerbread and cocoa. The gingerbread lingers throughout the pour, and there’s a hefty wallop of maple syrup to finish things off.

With a sweet yet spice-laden profile that’s an incredible value, this is a delicious rye whiskey and shows that Sagamore Spirit is liquid proof that Maryland’s future as a rye-producing state is going nowhere but up!

5. Indiana Rye | Bulleit Rye Whiskey

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Whiskey powerhouse MGP is situated in Indiana, and the brand’s distillate is used pretty much everywhere. From Templeton to Tincup to Smooth Ambler to Pinhook, some of the most popular craft whiskey brands in the world work with MGP. But it’s not just MGP that’s killing it. The state has great  Hard Truth are placing Indiana on the map with distinctive whiskeys. In short, Indiana is a force to be reckoned with in rye whiskey production.

According to Distillery Trail, Indiana passed legislation in July 2021 to cement the category of Indiana rye. The requirements for rye whiskeys from the state of Indiana mandate that Indiana rye whiskey includes a minimum of 51% rye in the mashbill, distilled at no higher than 160 proof, barreled at no higher than 125 proof and be mashed, distilled, fermented and aged for a minimum of two years in Indiana.

Indiana rye whiskeys are diverse in profile, and there truly is a rye whiskey for every drinker in this state. The state’s most famed rye whiskey formula, however, comes from MGP. Tons of whiskeys across the country are made from MGP’s classic recipe of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, and for good reason; it’s good stuff.

We’d recommend giving Bulleit Rye a shot if you’re new to the rye whiskey category. Bulleit is widely available, and this rye whiskey is affordable and can typically be purchased for anywhere within the $25-$30 range. Bulleit’s rye whiskeys are sourced from MGP and are made from that classic 95/5 mashbill.

The nose of this rye whiskey from Bulleit is slightly floral with baking spices. There’s an herbaceous astringency that’s not unattractive. On the palate, picture minty dill, caramel and brown sugar. The finish is where this whiskey really shines, with plenty of clove, baking spice and a whiff of tobacco.

If you’re open to spending a little bit more to get an improved iteration of MGP rye in Bulleit packaging, try Bulleit’s 12-year-old rye whiskey, which has a suggested retail price of $55. The extra age gives this rye more depth and oakiness to enhance the MGP mashbill.

6. Empire Rye | Kings County Empire Rye Whiskey

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As far as rye subcategories in the U.S., New York’s Empire Rye is an emerging category.

The state features a stringent array of requirements for Empire rye whiskeys, and according to Empire Rye, 75% of the mashbill must feature New York state-grown rye grain. The remaining 25% of the grain can be sourced from anywhere. New York mandates that its rye whiskeys are distilled to no greater than 160 proof and aged for a minimum period of two years in charred new oak barrels, with the distillate clocking in no higher than 115 proof at the time of entry. Empire ryes additionally must be mashed, fermented aged and barreled at just one New York State distillery.

Like Indiana, ryes from the Empire State can possess a diverse array of flavors. For an authentic Empire rye, try Kings County Empire Rye Whiskey. With a mashbill of 80% New York Danko rye and 20% English malted barley, Kings County Empire Rye Whiskey hosts a 51% ABV and can be purchased for around $100. The Whiskey Reviewer cites layers upon layers of rich caramel and citrus dancing about the nose of this pour. This rye whiskey tilts towards an aged bourbon on the palate, according to Breaking Bourbon, and has a bit of a minty kick. With a thick and viscous finish, Empire Rye is a serious sipper without question.