The 10 Best Rye Whiskeys We Tasted in 2023, Ranked
Rye whiskey is undoubtedly having a moment, and with its punchy, spicy profile — what’s not to love?
We tasted more than our fair share of rye whiskeys in 2023, and the following 10 best rye whiskeys knocked our socks off. We’ve ranked them down to the No. 1 rye of 2023.
The 10 Best Rye Whiskeys of 2023, Ranked
10. Corbin Cash 1917 Merced Rye
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Corbin Cash 1917 Merced Rye is made exclusively from a local strain of rye that grows in Merced, California. Corbin Cash is a farm-to-bottle distillery that has been run by five generations of the Souza family. The farm grows sweet potatoes in addition to the hearty rye strain.
The Corbin Cash 1917 Merced Rye is bottled at 61.5% ABV and can be purchased directly from Corbin Cash here for $100.
This rye whiskey is an absolute bruiser, with a spicy nose that packs an ethanol-driven punch. There’s plenty of bold clove, with wafts of cola and root beer. The rich palate is loaded with luscious maple characteristics, and this spicy dram is all rye all day. Rich and impressive, Corbin Cash’s rye finishes with brown sugar, cola and spice.
If you’re all about big, bold, punchy ryes, Corban Cash 1917 Merced Rye is the quintessential California rye for you.
9. Still Austin Cask Strength Rye
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This next offering is a cask-strength, 100% Texas rye bottled at 116 proof. The Austin, Texas-based distillery released Still Austin Cask Strength Rye in August.
With a nose chock full of brown sugar, lemon zest and big rye spice, this rye hosts plenty of peppery qualities, yet strikes a balance between sweetness and spice. On the rich palate, balanced tannin is interwoven throughout brown sugar, apple butter, pine and herbs. Despite its youth, it tastes well-aged and finishes relatively mellow.
This sophisticated rye showcases a nuanced side to Texas whiskey, and you can pick up a bottle directly from Still Austin for $65. Consider this peppy Texas rye a drinkable whiskey you’ll want to spend plenty of time with.
8. High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram
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Each year, fans of Park City-based distillery, High West, eagerly await the release of A Midwinter Night’s Dram, and this year’s offering knocked our socks off.
Made from High West’s Rendezvous Rye whiskey and finished in ruby and tawny port barrels, High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram hits the market during the Fall of every year. Though the whiskey hosts a suggested retail price of $150, there’s a slight chance you may have to hunt for it, as it tends to sell out fairly quickly.
Clocking in at 98.6 proof, this rye is winter in a bottle. With aromas of cranberry, lingonberry and spearmint, High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram channels major alpine energy upon first sniff. The palate segues into rye spice intermingled with dill and red berries. The rye whiskey finishes beautifully with berry, rye and fresh acidity.
This was one of the best Midwinter Night’s Drams we’ve had in a long time, and we feel it’s well worth the hunt. If you feel like you may need a bit more convincing on whether to hunt for A Midwinter Night’s Dram, check out our First T8ke video on this whiskey below.
7. Frey Ranch Straight Rye
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Frey Ranch has been knocking things out of the park lately with its impressive rye whiskeys. We couldn’t praise this rye enough this year: We featured it in our 8 Best Rye Whiskeys to Spice Up Holiday Gifting in 2023 and 11 Best Whiskeys We Tasted In October 2023 lists. This delectable rye was also one of our Bottle of the Month Club selections.
A grain-to-glass Nevada distillery, Frey Ranch bottled its rye whiskey after a minimum of five years of aging. It is composed exclusively of Frey Ranch’s own Winter Cereal Rye and hosts an ABV of 50%.
The nose on this rye is poppin’, with plenty of brown sugar and pepper that signals to your tastebuds that a party is about to begin. On the palate, bold rye spice interlaced with cola and caramel candies, coupled with tobacco and raisins jumps out of the glass. The whiskey finishes beautifully with sweet oak, ginger and caramel.
If you’re looking to score a bottle, Frey Ranch’s Straight Rye is a relatively easy find and can be purchased directly from Frey Ranch for $62.99.
6. Peerless Double Oaked Rye
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History buffs will fall hard for this rye whiskey from Kentucky-based Peerless Distilling. Peerless dates back to 1889, and during Prohibition was one of the few distilleries allowed to sell whiskey for medicinal purposes.
Peerless ages this rye in two separate oak casks, which the brand claims adds a little extra “oomph” to an already “oomphy” rye.
The enticingly rich nose hosts aromas of fudge, cocoa, cherry cordials and brown butter. On the palate, expect a bit of coffee and espresso, interlaced with pepper and tobacco. The palate finishes with beautifully integrated oak, dry cocoa, espresso and honey.
Though it’s a bit hard to find, you can pick up a bottle of this whiskey for around $125.
5. 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection: Sazerac Rye 18-Year
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The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection really brought it this year in terms of rye whiskeys, and this offering was aged for 18 years and five months before being pulled from barrels aged in Warehouses K, L and M and bottled at 90 proof. The MSRP for the 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Sazerac Rye 18 Year is $124.99, but as with all BTAC expressions, good luck finding it at that price.
This rye whiskey is considered one of the hardest offerings of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection to find. If you’re curious to learn more about this expression, you can view our first impressions of this rye in the video below.
Though this is rye and has a spicy nose, it’s softer with baking spice, clove and cracked pepper. On the palate, there’s a lot of oak, with plenty of sweet cream, cracked pepper and candied ginger. The whiskey finishes moderately, with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and herbal characteristics.
If you’re one of those whiskey drinkers who love their oak, the 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Sazerac Rye 18 Year is the rye whiskey to get.
4. Barrell Rye Batch 004
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Barrell Craft Spirits blends together some truly knockout ryes, and the brand’s Seagrass Gray Label is the best rye our in-house spirits critic, Jay West, has ever tasted — which is a huge freaking deal. So, it should come as no surprise that Barrell released one of the best ryes of 2023.
As for Barrell Craft’s Rye Batch 004, this spicy beast is a blend of 10-year-old Indiana rye whiskey, 5-year-old Tennessee rye whiskey, 6-year-old Kentucky rye whiskey and 14-year-old Canadian rye whiskey. The final mashbill is composed of 89% rye, 7% corn and 4% malted barley.
Bottled at 57.85% ABV, Barrel Rye Batch 004 is herbal on the nose, with plenty of spice and pep and a kick of mint for good measure. On the palate, picture brown sugar, with pepper, ginger and orange peel. This rye whiskey finishes with plenty of herbs and balance, making it a hit.
Barrell Rye Batch 004 is relatively easy to find and can be purchased directly from Barrell for $84.99.
3. Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye
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Bottled at 68.65% ABV and bearing a suggested retail price of $59.99, this single-barrel, barrel-proof rye has a rich nose with brown butter, barrel char and some cherry. The palate is hot, rich and fully of cherry, banana and orange peel flavors coupled with plenty of maple. The whiskey finishes long, with maple and rye spice, making it a balanced blend of fruit, maple and spice all throughout.
This offering from Jack Daniels’ received a score of 8/10 at Whiskey Raiders, which is nothing to sneeze at, and we’re excited to see where Jack Daniel’s goes with its increasingly premium releases.
2. Boss Hog X: The Commandments
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Some of the wildest rye expressions we’ve ever tasted hail from Vermont-based WhistlePig, and Boss Hog X is definitely distinctive — which is why we love it.
This Canadian rye whiskey was finished in bespoke barrels which previously housed a spirit WhistlePig distilled from rye and whey and infused with resins from Boswellia and Commiphora trees. The whiskey was additionally finished in craft mead casks for a truly zany aging process.
Boss Hog X hosts an ABV of 53.9%, and possesses a fascinating nose that is a heady mixture of cider, black tea, pine and maple. On the palate, picture clover honey, lemon, lime, and slate and pine. Boss Hog X finishes with lemon, honey, cream and pepper.
Though this distinctive rye whiskey that costs a pretty penny with a suggested retail price of $599.99, drinking it is one heck of an experience. If you want to watch our first impressions on this fascinating rye, check out our video below:
1. 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye
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The 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye is one of the best THH releases we’ve had in ages. This 124.9-proof rye whiskey has a massive nose, loaded with nutmeg, brown sugar, cracked pepper and buttercream.
On the palate, a symphony of dessert, heat and spice makes this one opulent rye whiskey. Picture massive layers of baking spice, brown sugar, candied ginger and brown butter. The lengthy and proofy finish is packed with brown sugar, dessert and spice, making this a monster rye whiskey.
A true stunner, the MSRP on this bad boy is $124.99 but goes for significantly more on the secondary market. If you want to know more about our favorite rye whiskey of 2023, check out this video below.
