Buy rare and selected Straight Rye Whiskey

Rye whiskey is a historically significant type of American whiskey made from a mash containing at least 51% rye. It was the original, dominant whiskey in the early days of the United States, but was mostly forgotten after Prohibition. In recent decades, it has made an impressive comeback thanks to the cocktail renaissance and a growing interest in traditional spirits. Rye whiskey is known for its typically spicier and drier profile compared to its corn-based cousin, bourbon. The production of rye whiskey began with European settlers, particularly German and Scots-Irish immigrants, in the north-eastern colonies such as Pennsylvania and Maryland. Rye grew well in the local climate and was readily available. These immigrants brought their distilling knowledge with them from Europe.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, rye whiskey was the quintessential American whiskey. It was more widely available and popular than bourbon, and famous historical figures such as George Washington ran large rye whiskey distilleries (his in Mount Vernon was one of the largest of its time).
In general, American rye whiskey is spicier, drier and often slightly fruitier or more floral than bourbon. The rye content significantly shapes the profile and provides typical aromas of pepper (often black pepper), baking spices (clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice), fine herbal notes with mint, sometimes dill or even grassy notes and also shows fruity notes from citrus fruits to darker fruits (cherry, plum) with rich, sometimes floral hints with a noticeable grain note that can be reminiscent of rye bread. With the influence of the cask and maturation in charred new oak barrels, wonderful notes of vanilla, caramel, toffee and oak notes (similar to bourbon, but often less dominant than the rye spice) also appear.
To qualify as straight rye whiskey, the following criteria must be met: produced from a mash with at least 51% rye and distilled at no more than 80% vol. or 160 proof, matured for at least 2 years in charred new oak barrels and bottled at a minimum of 40.0% vol./80 proof. No colorants or flavorings may be added (only water to adjust the strength).
The resurrection of rye whiskey from an almost forgotten spirit to a celebrated star in bars and on shelves around the world is one of the great success stories of the modern spirits world. This unique whiskey is currently experiencing a renaissance, with special vintage releases or single barrel bottlings from Van Winkle, Sazerac, Thomas H. Handy, Willet, Rittenhouse or Olde St. Nick in particular becoming coveted whiskey rarities and are particularly sought after by connoisseurs and whiskey collectors and are now rare to find.