When Kevin Plank, the assured founder of sports apparel powerhouse Under Armour, set his sights on whiskey back in 2012, it wasn’t just another bold business move—rather it was a love letter to his home state’s long forgotten rye heritage. Plank, along with partner Bill McDermott, wanted to invest in Maryland in a way that resonated with the region’s past. Their inspiration? The limestone-rich spring at Sagamore Farm, a thoroughbred horse racing estate Plank had purchased in 2007.

That spring water—long prized in whiskey-making—sparked research that led them to uncover Maryland’s once-booming rye industry. Before Prohibition, more than 40 distilleries thrived in the state, their spicy, full-bodied ryes renowned across the country. By the 1970s, they were all gone, casualties of war, changing tastes (aka the infamous whiskey crash) and consolidation. So Plank and McDermott saw a chance to resurrect rye in Charm City with Sagamore Spirits.

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The early days were about building a foundation. While they steadied themselves, and built their distillery in Baltimore’s Port Covington neighborhood, Sagamore Spirit initially sourced whiskey from Indiana’s MGP. One of the largest rye producers in America, renowned for their 95% rye / 5% malted barley mash bill, MGP’s recipe built labels like Templeton, Bulleit, High West and Redemption, while also being used by the likes of Angel’s Envy, Smooth Ambler, George Dickel and more. 

From the beginning, however, one of the ways Sagamore distinguished itself was utilizing a unique mash bill philosophy. Instead of leaning solely on MGP’s now-classic “high-rye” 95% rye, Sagamore uses two recipes—adding a “low rye” (52% rye, 43% corn, 5% malted barley) to the mix. By blending this other rye that hovers close to a bourbon in its high-corn grain bill, Sagamore creates a whiskey with rye’s spice but also a softer, sweeter profile. “We’re trying to educate the consumer,” Ryan Norwood, the brand’s Vice President of Operations, tells Maxim. “At the same time we’re trying to bring bourbon drinkers into rye.”

Those barrels gave the fledgling brand a foundation while their own Baltimore distillery took shape. In 2017, steel and copper finally met in Sagamore’s Patapsco River waterfront home, and the brand began laying down its own whiskey—mostly replicas of those twin MGP high- and low-rye whiskeys which built the Sagamore name. But the team made a deliberate choice: instead of flipping a switch, they slowly transitioned, blending their own whiskey into the MGP juice until Sagamore’s flagship Small Batch and Cask Strength expressions were fully Maryland-made—an achievement the former only achieved last year, and latter earlier this year.

That approach comes to full expression in Sagamore’s latest Reserve Series release: a 10-Year Rye, bottled at just over 110 proof (55.4% ABV). Made from some of the earliest MGP stock Sagamore ever purchased, the whiskey is both a farewell and a milestone—one of the last sourced barrels before the brand fully transitions to its own distillate. For Norwood, it’s a fitting capstone: “For me, rye kind of has that sweet spot between about six and ten years.”

Despite being sourced from Indiana, Maryland’s climate leaves its own fingerprint on the spirit. With humid summers and frigid winters, the state’s seasonal swings push whiskey deep into the oak barrels’ wood and back again, extracting flavor in bold strokes. Unlike Kentucky or Indiana, Norwood reveals Sagamore’s rickhouses often see proof rise during maturation, adding another layer of character. The result in the 10-Year is a whiskey the VP describes as “super balanced… with notes of peach crumble, roasted nuts, rye spice, with just enough sweetness to round it out.”

The 10-Year release is limited, and rye aficionados will likely snap it up for its SRP of $80. But for Sagamore it’s less about chasing hype than telling a story—about water and wood, about Maryland’s forgotten past, and about a decade-long gamble slowly paying off. Beyond being Sagamore Spirits oldest rye to date, the newest addition to its award-winning Reserve Series is also both an ending and a beginning, a tribute to the barrels that carried them this far, and a promise of what’s to come as more of their whiskey carries the unmistakable mark of Baltimore.

Follow our Deputy Editor Nicolas Stecher on Instagram at @nickstecher and @boozeoftheday.

The release of the new Jack Daniel’s Bottled-In-Bond Rye Whiskey isthe latest step forward into a new future for the iconic distillery, nodding to that heritage while at the same time throwing down the gauntlet in the booming rye whiskey market.

Jack Daniel’s has long been in the business of innovation in its humble home of Lynchburg, Tennessee, as we found out during a visit to the distillery last month.

That includes pioneering efforts like releasing its highest ABV whiskey ever last year, along with revving up a collaboration with McLaren Racing in 2023.

This latest whiskey joins Jack Daniel’s popular Bonded Series, and new though this rye expression might be, it hews to the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 (a whiskey distilled by a single distiller in a single season, aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at 100 proof).

Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller, said the rye grain bill of 70 percent rye, 18 percent corn and 12 percent malted barley delivers “a unique and balanced profile that drinkers have come to expect and seek out from our rye releases.”

Indeed, consistency is king at Jack Daniel’s, as the spirit travels the world, adorns the stages of rock stars and sits handsomely in bar carts of loyal JD fans.

Everything from the limestone water to the charcoal mellowing process to the way Jack Daniel’s crafts its barrels at its Alabama cooperage speaks to attention to detail, an appreciation of the past and a relentless focus on getting it right every single time.

In fact, that charcoal mellowing process, where JD lets its whiskey drip through multiple feet of hard sugar maple charcoal, is a testament to patience, technique and again, reliability.

There’s also a wistful sense of peace that washes over one throughout the famed Lynchburg distillery grounds: If the land helps make the whiskey, then Jack Daniel’s has long been in a prime spot among Lynchburg’s lovely, rolling hills.

And despite the impressive amount of science and behind-the-scenes research that goes into, say, generating the Jack Daniel’s signature yeast strain, it’s up to the barrels and rackhouses to quietly do the work of cultivating the distillery’s iconic whiskey.

Among the rackhouse barrels, it’s the magic of rich wood, narrow walkways, tight corridors and the ebb and flow of Tennessee weather that ultimately weave the narrative of the iconic whiskey maker, the same way it’s been since the late 1800s.

And yet, Jack Daniel’s certainly isn’t resting on its laurels.

“We’re going to continue to experiment with grain, all the way through maturation,” Fletcher said during an intimate tasting of the new rye expression and other Jack Daniel’s expressions.

In the case of the new release, rye spice lands nicely on the finish, with toffee and dried fruit on the palate. Other as-yet-unreleased expressions are no slouch, and sipping whiskey straight from its famed barrels in Lynchburg remains a rare treat.

The bottled-in-bond rye expression is a uniquely Jack Daniel’s take on rye whiskey, as its flagship Old No. 7 also has dried fruit notes and a touch of sweet spiciness (again, consistency is king in Tennessee).

As to the future for the whiskey giant, Fletcher wants to continue to push the envelope, in a literal and figurative sense.

“Let’s push it, let’s challenge it,” Fletcher said as the distillery charts a course with even more innovative whiskey launches in the years ahead. “There’s a really nice, full pipeline of stuff coming. For me, it’s about getting the best grain we can get.”

If Fletcher and Jack Daniel’s have anything to say about it, the best grain and the best whiskey will certainly lend themselves to well-stocked bar carts in the years ahead.

For now, get your own bottle of Jack Daniel’s Bottled-in-Bond Rye online at ReserveBar for a highly agreeable, even legendary, price.

The best whiskeys have a presence about them, a way of announcing themselves without quite announcing themselves. Carefully crafted, never quite too much and always right on time. Such is the case with the just-launched Powers Irish Rye, a groundbreaking 100 percent Irish rye whiskey hitting the market at precisely the right time.

It’s assuredly among the best Irish whiskeys for St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, with character to rival your favorite American rye. True to form, it was born of the hard-working ambition of an Irish distiller that’s already made quite a name for itself.

Powers went above and beyond, commissioning 163 acres of rye for planting in Wexford, Ireland – the approach brings a new meaning to the term “farm to table” (or rather, farm to glass, or farm to bar cart).

Powers Master Distiller Eric Ryan notes the approach was the first contemporary commission of an Irish rye crop on a commercial scale, an undertaking that started in 2017. For good measure, the farm rests not far from the ancestral home of the Powers family.

Ryan summed up the approach in fitting fashion: “Powers Irish Rye proved a worthy endeavor.”

The approach yielded a “crop bursting with flavor,” as the distillery notes, and it echoes the quality that Maxim discovered during a recent New York City tasting.

Suffice to say, the final product certainly reflects the DIY, craft-forward approach — it’s flavorful yet delicate when it needs to be, and an excellent alternative to other Irish whiskey offerings for St. Paddy’s Day (and beyond).

The aging process centers around a mix of virgin oak, first-fill and refill barrels, yielding an agreeable 43.2% ABV spirit delivered with a new, sharp green Powers label adorned on the distillery’s characteristically bold bottle.

We’re willing to bet you’ve seen the red diamond label of Powers behind the bar at your favorite neighborhood pub, yet Powers Irish Rye shakes things up ever so slightly, offering a whiskey with a slightly sweet yet rye-spiced touch. As luck would have it, Powers Irish Rye works like a charm in plenty of variations on the timeless Manhattan cocktail.

In fact, Powers teamed up with bartenders in the Big Apple to deliver nine distinct variations on the Manhattan (bolstered by a hearty helping of Powers Irish Rye). One such drink is the “Irish Built Manhattan,” dreamed up by the distillery in a nod to the backbone of (arguably) the world’s greatest city.

There’s a bit of something for every whiskey lover, from the aroma (with notes of charred oak and rye bread) to the taste, which touches on everything from clove spice to sweet cereal and red licorice.

The new launch couldn’t have come at a more opportune time for Powers, or for rye lovers in general: The category grew 13% in volume last year, Powers notes, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

Perhaps the best part about Powers Rye (and indeed, the full Powers lineup) is that tricky blend of accessibility and quality: You’ll find it for a suggested retail price of $32.99, which seems exceptionally hard to beat (especially if you plan to responsibly imbibe for a few rounds on St. Patrick’s Day).

The next time you reach for an Irish whiskey, look for an Irish Rye–make it Powers, and the wind will assuredly be at your back.

Presented by Rabbit Hole

In November, Kentucky bourbon maker Rabbit Hole proudly announced the launch of its first national campaign, a six-part documentary film series titled There’s No Going Back.

The series highlights the paths gifted creatives have followed in pursuit of their dreams and also reflects the inspirational journey brand founder Kaveh Zamanian took after leaving his 20-plus year psychology career to pursue his dream.

Behind the camera with a glass of his whiskey, psychologist-turned-whiskey maker Zamanian interviews people who are linked by their commitment to their chosen crafts. The stylishly-produced Interviews are done with a minimalist flair influenced by legendary photographer Richard Avedon and they comprise an intimate and focused viewing experience. 

With a warm-hearted manner befitting someone who was a psychoanalyst, Kaveh Zamanian gets his subjects to open up about what he calls the “There’s no going back moment”—when they made a real commitment to following through with their dreams.

Zamanian says that the “craziest and most rewarding thing” he ever did “was to put everything on the line to follow my dream of becoming a whiskey maker.”

“Being able to turn a grain into whiskey is something magical,” he says, “and because I took this leap, I get to do what I love every single day.” With his campaign, he says he hopes that he and his team “can inspire others to push past their boundaries, pursue their true calling and create a legacy of their own, regardless of what’s happening in the world today, tomorrow or the next day.”

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The There’s No Going Back campaign artist and activist Briony Douglas, hatmaker to the stars Gunner Foxx, The Kills lead singer Alison Mosshart, furniture maker Stephen Kenn, and glassblower Ché Rhodes. Each subject opens up in a personal and intimate way about really “going all in” and pursuing their passions. 

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The final film of the series features Kaveh Zamanian himself. His wife Heather, also a psychologist—and the muse behind the brand—interviews him as he opens up about fulfilling a lifelong dream. Zamanian also tells the story of how Rabbit Hole got its name.

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Rabbit Hole’s chief marketing officer said Michael Motamedi says that with the brand reaching their “goal of national distribution,” they “felt it was the right time to tell the Rabbit Hole story broadly through There’s No Going Back.” 

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Motamedi notes that the phrase is “emblazoned” on the Rabbit Hole Distillery, and the campaign is called There’s No Going Back because, according to Motamedi, “it speaks to who we are as a brand.” 

“We believe that everyone creates their own destiny,” Motamedi says, “and we are firmly committed to supporting creative voices. In sharing the success stories of people who have made their dreams come true, we hope to inspire individuals, and look forward to being there to celebrate the moments of fulfillment and success that happen for them along the way.”

There’s No Going Back features an original song composed and performed by independent singer-songwriter Ethan Burns, who has also provided original work for Blacklist and other notable TV shows.

Rabbit Hole’s campaign is being featured on murals, wallscapes, and billboards in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, Columbus and the brand’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky with There’s No Going Back screenings and special activations planned for select markets.

You can purchase Rabbit Hole products online via the Spirits Network. There’s No Going Back launched November 16 and is set to run through mid-January 2021. All films are currently available for viewing on YouTube.

We’re not gonna lie, we get a lot of whiskey pushed across our desk. Nowadays most of it is is worthy as standards escalate, very few are swill, but even fewer rise to truly exceptional status. We sampled our way through over a hundred bottles to bring you this list here, an update on our “Best Of American Whiskey” breakdown we crafted last year. Every bottle counted here is new to 2020 — from small boutique distillers offering their first wares to venerable pillars of the bourbon world revealing deep cuts of their rarest honey barrels. So whether you’re buying these for your favorite whiskey nerd or hoarding them like Gollum, here are our favorite 25 new American Single Malts, Ryes, Bourbons and Innovators for 2020. 

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American Single Malts

Corsair Tennessee Single Malt

One of our perennial favorites in the burgeoning American Single Malt category…, anything from Corsair is worth picking up. They have a great range of flavor, from their singular Triple Smoke (with barley smoked in peat, beech and cherry wood) to their superb Oatrage (made of oats, 6-row malt and coffee malt). In September the erstwhile Bowling Green, Kentucky now Nashville distillery just released their Tennessee Single Malt, not to be confused with Tennessee Whiskey (largely like a bourbon with the added step of filtering through charcoal chips). Corsair starts with their 100% two row malted barley American single malt aged in first use American oak, the tiny (15- and 30-gallon) casks lending the whiskey a honeyed character. It is then finished in ex-Caribbean rum casks adding complexity and balance with the Caribbean rum’s sweet and spicy character. Only 600 total bottles were made, so if you can’t find it just pick up the Oatrage or Triple Smoke instead, you won’t be disappointed. $70 SRP/ 44% ABV

Westland “Outpost Range” Garryana 5 American Single Malt

Consider Seattle’s Westland the Bruichladdich of America — a distillery dedicated to experimenting deeply and creatively with all forms of terroir. Except where Bruichladdich plays with Islay barley and peat strains, Westland experiments with the Pacific Northwest’s provenance in their famed American Single Malts. Their new Outpost Range aims to further these terroir experiments adding three new expressions to their core single malts. And while two are still a ways from release (Colere in 2021 and Solum in 2023), their Garryana 5 bottle is out now. The 5th edition of Garryana experiments with a higher percentage of casks made from Garry Oak than any previous edition — a local wood which Westland claims to have pioneered in the world of whiskey. Meanwhile other Westland single malts use locally grown barley and/or peat sourced from a nearby bog, underscoring the Seattle distillery’s profound Pacific Northwest terroir. Combine the wood with locally grown barley and peat sourced from a bog only a short drive from the Seattle distillery, and you have an American Single Malt with more local pride than the Seahawk’s 12th Man. $150 SRP/ 50% ABV

Stranahan’s Mountain Angel 10-Year-Old Single Malt

There’s a lot of magic happening in Colorado these days, and not just in the mushrooms they legalized. The state is making some of the best whiskey in the world these days, none better than Stranahan’s. This summer they released Mountain Angel, their oldest and rarest bottle ever and the first and only 10-year-old American single malt. A bunch of craft beer-influenced elements go into the Stranahan’s cauldron, including pristine Colorado mountain spring water, 100% local Rocky Mountain barley, brewer’s yeast and American new charred barrels. Because of the Denver’s distillery’s mile-high altitude and dry climate, the 10-year-old Mountain Angel saw an angel’s share loss on par with a Scotch aged twice as long. The Good: a liquid with candied apple, tobacco and dark chocolate flavor boasting a sensuous, oily mouthfeel; undoubtedly the best Stranahan’s to date. The Bad: not much liquid survived the decade of aging, so fewer than 500 bottles were made. Because of that dearth if you cannot find Mountain Angel substitute with Blue Peak, Stranahan’s first new core product since 2017, aged four years in 53-gallon new American oak and finished via the Solera process. They just put together a kit for the holidays with everything needed to make their signature Highland cocktail at home (rocks glasses, mixing glass, bar spoon, zester, ice cube mold, simple syrup, black walnut bitters and Blue Peak bottle). $130 SRP/ 47.3% ABV  – Stranahan’s Blue Peak Cocktail Pack: $125 SRP/ ABV 43%

Virginia Distillery Co. Dr. Jim Swan Courage & Conviction

Earlier this year the Virginia Distillery Company released the first of its “Courage & Conviction” American Single Malt honoring their founder Dr. George G. Moore. For autumn the second batch nods to the late Dr. Jim Swan, a renowned name in whiskey circles who consulted with award-hording distilleries spread across the planet, from Taiwan’s Kavalan to Wales’ Penderyn all the way to Tel Aviv’s Milk & Honey. Dr. Swan’s expertise was on how warm climates affect cask aging, and was a fundamental influence in the entire Courage & Conviction line. One of the proud founding members of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, VDC takes the craft seriously — using only 100% North American malted barley and aging their spirit for a minimum of three years in various casks (65 bourbon, 32 re-coopered cuvée wine, 18 fino, oloroso and PX sherry) for a singular recipe that offers a spectrum of flavors, from caramel and butterscotch to blood orange and vanilla custard, ending with notes of toasted pecans. $75 SRP / 46% ABV

Ryes

Hillrock Estate Distillery x Anthrax ‘Evil Twin I and II’ Single Barrel Double Cask Rye

Hudson Valley’s Hillrock Estate Distillery spearheads the American “Field-to-Glass” movement by growing all their own organic barley on premises, malting it with Scottish peat at the first American malthouse built since the Prohibition, mashing and distilling via Vendome copper and brass pots, and then aging the juice all on their family farm. This is stuff for true whiskey connoisseurs. Should we be surprised to count Anthrax among the Living converted? Joining Alice In Chain’s collab with FEW (not to mention Metallica x Dave Pickerell’s surprisingly good Blackened blend), the New York metal gods have teamed up with Hillrock Estate to bottle their own limited edition Double Cask Rye, dubbed Evil Twin I. Handpicked by guitarist Scott Ian (who apparently had quite a pleasurable time combing through barrels), the single barrel supplied only 238 numbered bottles meaning the run sold out quicker than a guitar shred. Evil Twin II drops next month but that’s also a single barrel so will also sell out quick, so may we suggest Double Cask Rye –1er Cru Sauternes Finished — the same foundational nectar as in the Evil Twins, but these are then matured for almost two months in exotic French Premier Cru Sauternes wine casks. The third cask not only adds wonderful notes of candied orange peel, flower blossom, peach skin, and citrus lemon, but also a buttery element to the already honeyed liquid. $160 SRP/ 60% ABV

Rabbit Hole “Founder’s Collection” Boxergrail Kentucky Straight Rye

We’re big fans of Kentucky distillery Rabbit Hole, especially founder Kaveh Zamanian’s Heigold high rye bourbon and their original Boxergrail Straight Rye (SFWSC Gold Medal (2020); NYWSC “Best of Class” and Double Gold Medal (2019)). This holiday Rabbit Hole is launching the first bottle under their new Founder’s Collection umbrella, for which Zamanian hand selects honey barrels and bottles them at cask strength in numbered editions. The Founder’s Collection Boxergrail Straight Rye is culled from the first batches of rye whiskey Zamanian ever made at their first Kentucky distillery (95% rye / 5% malted barley mash bill), and packages it in a beautiful gold foil blue box with hand numbered bottle. Only 1,315 sequentially-numbered bottles will be released. $195 SRP / 57.3%

Pinhook Tiz Rye Time 4-Year

Rather than trying to perfectly reproduce a consistent flavor profile like most volume brands, Pinhook’s philosophy is to tap a barrel at just the right moment, whenever it’s uniquely ready, to highlight its best attributes at that exact moment in time. So like a fine wine each year the profile changes — the vineyard stays the same, but the wine within changes annually. The first year into a planned nine-year Vertical Series collection, the 2020 Tiz Rye Time 4-Year is dedicated, as an ode to its Kentucky provenance, to one of Bourbon Lane Stables’ promising young thoroughbreds — in this case a three-year old colt.. Proofed at 97 with a high rye mashbill (95% rye / 5% malted barley), the hot Tiz Rye Time 4 Year features spicy notes of tangerine peel, cinnamon and clove. $45 SRP / 48.5% ABV

High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act VIII

Since 2006 High West has been having fun with the whiskey artform and earning awards along the way. They recently released a pair of barrel-finished cocktails (Manhattan and Old Fashioned) we sipped in the back of a pickup truck watching Bert Kreischer perform, and not only was the ready-to-drink packaging super useful but the spirit inside closely echoed a bar-made concoction. Thank the excellent base High West bourbon and rye blend, plus real demerara simple syrup (Old Fashioned) and two types of vermouth (Manhattan) all married and matured in rye barrels. But it’s the eighth edition of their A Midwinter Night’s Dram that currently has our mouths watering. When Lysander noted “The course of true love never did run smooth,” in Shakespeare’s comedy he certainly wasn’t taking about the Utah distillery’s limited edition Rendezvous Rye finished in French oak port barrels — the perennial release regularly forces collectors to start scouring liquor store shelves. Think luscious flavors like brandied cherries, fig jam and quince paste leading to a long finish of mulling spices and dates. $100 SRP/ 49.3% ABV

Frey Ranch Straight Rye Bottled-In-Bond

The Frey family dates all the way back to 1854 farming in the Lake Tahoe area, but in 2006 decided to try their hand at distilling. And boy were their instincts sharp, as Frey Ranch came out of the gate at the beginning of the year with a very highly rated Straight Bourbon (90 points by Wine Enthusiast). Unlike some distilleries who claim to be “farm to glass,” every single grain of their Winter Cereal Rye was grown on their farm in Fallon, and is then mashed, distilled and aged on that same 1,500-acre spread. Since it’s certified Bottled-In-Bond that means their Straight Rye is aged for a minimum of four years and bottled at exactly 100-proof. Only 5,400 bottles of northern Nevada’s finest slated for release, and unfortunately for now only available in state — but worth the snooping the digital marketplace for. $60 SRP / 50% ABV

Innovation

Traverse City Whiskey Co. American Cherry Edition

Traverse City Whiskey Co, aka ‘The Whiskey of the North,’ is growing quickly in acclaim largely due to its Barrel Proof expressions. On the side they also craft some great mixologist tools, including delicious jarred Premium Cocktail Cherries that make an affordable substitute for Luxardo branded options. The Michigan distillery infuses more than 10-lbs of these Montmorency sour cherries in each barrel of their bourbon (corn 75% / rye 21% / malted barley 4%) to create their American Cherry Edition. Despite the volume the cherry flavor isn’t cloying or overwhelming — more of a subtle sweetness that complements TCWC’s vanilla finish. While this bottle proof is more widely available, TCWC also have a new far more rare limited Cask Proof edition if you can find it. $40 SRP / ABV 35%

Widow Jane Decadence Bourbon

Widow Jane’s signature 10-year bourbon is already a thing of hedonistic delight, luscious and silky on the tongue. Their brand new Decadence expression raises the indulgence to the next level, taking their 10-year bourbon and finishing them in American Oak Barrels that previously held Crown Maple syrup. Coincidentally we’ve tried the Hudson Valley’s artisanal syrup before tasting Decadence (labeled “bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup”), and now Crown Maple gets to return the f(l)avor — we have to say the collaboration is fireworks on both sides, with Widow Jane’s already luscious bourbon being blessed even further with whiffs of maple sweetness. $80 SRP / 45.5% ABV

Barrell Craft Spirits Barrell Armida

Barrell Craft Spirits do not distill their own juice, but rather have earned a name in the market by hunting, finding and blending obscure barrels and aging them into product coveted the world over. Single cask bottles like their recent Batch 024 and Batch 025 sell out quick, as do their new expressions Honey Badger! and Butter Cake. But it is BCS’s new Barrell Armida — named after founder Joe Beatrice’s mom, so you know it’s gotta be special — that finds its way on this list. The limited-edition release takes three straight bourbons finished separately in Pear Brandy, Jamaican Rum and Sicilian Amaro Casks and blends them to create a unique and complex whiskey that pairs ripe, floral pear notes with hints of spice and citrus. $90 SRP / 56.05% ABV

Distillery 291 “M” Colorado Rye

Distillery 291 founder Michael Myers has told us his flagship 291 Colorado Whiskey tastes like the holy matrimony of rye whiskey and maple syrup, but his new M expression finished in maple syrup barrels “takes it to a whole other level.” Similar to Widow Jane, Distillery 291 sells their barrels to a maple syrup producer in Wisconsin for their barrel-aged maple syrup, some of which are then returned to Colorado for Myers to play with. The experiment went so well Distillery 291 created their first new label in 5 years. Their aspen-stave-finished Colorado Rye already boasted silky viscosity, the maple M indeed takes it to a new level of mouthfeel and flavor — think rye bread French toast in liquid form. Only 800 bottles to be released for the holidays. $105 SRP / 62.5% ABV

FEW Immortal Rye

The pride of Evanston, Illinois, FEW Spirits excels in innovating the artform. Last year we sang the praises of their Cold Cut which used cold brew to proof their bourbon. No not an infusion, mind you, rather they used actual coffee to substitute for water in bringing their whiskey down to 93-proof. Insane in concept, but delicious in execution. This year their Immortal Rye repeats the magic trick, except the Lake Michigan distillery taps Denver’s The Tea Spot “8 Immortals” tea to proof their cask-strength Straight Rye (70% rye / 20% corn / 10% malted barley) instead of coffee. So cold-extracted tea instead of cold brew coffee, with the Chinese hand-harvested Dancong oolong adding subtle harmonies of peach, honey, and dragon fruit to the rye’s peppery spice vocal. Only 6,000 bottles.  $45 SRP / 46.5% ABV

Laws Whiskey House Centennial Straight Wheat Whiskey

Only established in 2011, Laws Whiskey House is yet another Colorado startup making a name for itself as a grain-to-bottle distiller. While they make plenty of traditional browns, including several Bottled in Bond expressions, its Laws’ Centennial Straight Wheat that we’re handpicking for this roundup. Surprisingly it’s the only wheat whiskey on this list, as we really enjoy the category. Laws’ offering mashes the eponymous ‘centennial’ heirloom grain for its whiskey, grown exclusively for Laws in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. As is de rigueur for wheats, Centennial’s smoothness and gentle palate are its calling cards — but since Laws uses a rare pre-industrial spring varietal the whiskey offers a more diverse spectrum of flavors than one can summon from commercial Monsanto wheat. Laws is also packaging a 100 mL Holiday 4-Pack (Four Grain Straight Bourbon, San Luis Valley Straight Rye, Henry Road Straight Malt Whiskey and the Centennial) for a deliverable tasting flight, the ideal way to familiarize yourself with an upcoming label. $70 SRP / ABV: 50%

Hudson Back Room Deal Straight Rye

Hudson helped pioneer the Empire State’s rise in bourbon making, cementing its position as one of the most important American locales for whiskey. And since NYC has gone through its share of challenges lately, Hudson is going in deep on the Big Apple. Their new packaging nods to New York’s famed subway system utilizing san-serif fonts, bright, monoblock colors and names that evoke the boroughs’ culture (e.g. flagship Bright Lights, Big Bourbon and Do The Rye Thing). Meanwhile the spirits inside have matured — you can thank the invaluable Yoda-like guidance of David Stewart, the oldest tenured Malt Master in Scotland (almost 60-years leading The Balvenie, a William Grant & Sons sibling). Hudson’s first new product in 7 years is our favorite: Back Room Deal is a limited edition straight rye (95% rye / 5% malted barley) finished in Scotch barrels that originally came from Hudson, and were shipped to Scotland to age peated single malt… we’re guessing The Balvenie’s peated offerings. And then they’re shipped back to New York for Hudson to use. It’s the quid pro quo type of deal the Sleepless City was built upon. $40 SRP / ABV 46%

Bourbons

Hirsch The Horizon Straight Bourbon

Uber whiskey nerds will recognize the name A.H. Hirsch, as the investment banker is credited with bottling back in 1974 what some consider the best American bourbon ever produced. A.H. Hirsch Reserve 16-Year-Old is the stuff of legend, with entire books written about the “Best Bourbon You’ll Never Taste”. This summer the label was resurrected by San Francisco’s Hotaling & Co. with Hirsch’s The Horizon, with more expressions in its Selected Whiskeys collection coming next year. The Horizon celebrates “The Spirit of the Journey” with a blend of mostly (94%) 5-year-and-4-month aged bourbon (75% corn / 21% rye / 4% malted barley) with a splash (6%) of 6-year-old high-rye mash for added spice and complexity. As Hirsch was imagined to appeal to true aficionados exacting batch specs are printed on every label. Given its heritage The Horizon aims for classic bourbon appeal with whiffs of sweet cornbread and vanilla complimented with warm flavors of cinnamon and oak. $40 SRP / 46% ABV

Uncle Nearest 1884 Premium Small Batch Tennessee Whiskey

After about a century and a half Nathan “Nearest” Green is finally getting some of his long overdue appreciation. Widely recognized as the Godfather of Tennessee Whiskey, Uncle Nearest is credited with perfecting the Lincoln County Process (filtering the spirit through sugar maple charcoal) that famously separates Tennessee Whiskey from bourbon. He’s also finally widely acknowledged as the man who taught some guy named Jack Daniels how to make whiskey (the ex-slave was Jack’s first Master Distiller). While 1856 Premium Aged is the crown of the label it released in 2017 so we’re going to tip our hat to the most affordable of the bunch, the 1884 Premium Small Batch. The 7-year-old whiskey’s namesake comes from year Uncle Nearest retired, and since its lower proof it makes for an easy sipper. A clean, light-colored Tennessee Whiskey with slight butter and sugar cookie notes honoring the man who pioneered the art form. Sure 1884 came out at the end of last year, but given Nearest had to wait 150 years for some love we can fudge a couple months. $50 SRP / 46.5% ABV

Baker’s Bourbon

Legendary distiller (and Jim Beam’s grandson) Booker Noe created Baker’s Bourbon  as an homage when his cousin, Baker Beam, retired in 1992. Along with Basil Hayden’s, Knob Creek and Booker’s, Baker’s launched the soon-to-be-landmark Jim Beam Small Batch Bourbon Collection. Apparently Baker was quite the motorcycle-riding, black leather jacket-wearing rebel, so Booker wanted to craft a spirit as unique in nature. Last year Baker’s returned to the Jim Beam lineup as a single barrel product, aged at least seven years to maximize the vanilla notes pulled from the virgin American oak. This year’s bottle is aged over eight years, and since each bottle is filled from one singular honey barrel every edition of Baker’s will be unique — much like the man it was named after. And since it’s bottled at 107-proof the bourbon packs enough punch to make the perfect Old Fashioned or boulevardier — although its sufficiently multifaceted and rich to be sipped neat. Jim Beam just announced a “Behind The Barrel” experience where you can enter the Barrel ID from your Baker’s to learn about your bottle’s unique journey from start to finish, and therefore its distinctive characteristics. You may even win an exclusive tasting with Freddie himself. $60 SRP/ 53.5% ABV

Jim Beam Lineage

Further elaborating on their rich Kentucky heritage, Jim Beam’s aptly named Lineage looks much more recently for its inspiration. Whereas Baker’s Bourbon reaches back a couple generations for its muse, the Lineage expression unites the two most recent of Jim Beam’s Master Distillers: Fred and Freddie Noe, the illustrious house’s 7th and 8th generation family distillers. The first bourbon collaboration between the father and son, Lineage aged for 15 years at the Clermont, Kentucky rickhouse where it seeped generous vanilla, caramel and spice notes from the virgin white oak. The barrel was then hand-picked by Fred and Freddie to take on the serious honor of being the first Jim Beam whiskey to bear Fred’s name on the bottle. Beautifully packaged in a wood box with Jim Beal seal embossed in glass, consider Lineage a drinkable baton. $250 SRP / 55.5% ABV

Wild Turkey Russell’s Reserve 2003

The amicable raconteur Master Distiller Eddie Russell took over from his dad Jimmy a couple years back, and ever since taking the baton from the living legend he’s been pushing the venerable brand in new directions. Case in point: Russell’s Reserve 2003, which is the third expression in Wild Turkey’s relatively new “Vintage” series. Handpicked by Eddie and knighted to represent the apex of the brand, the barrel which held Russell’s Reserve 2003 matured for 16 years in the Lawrenceburg rickhouse. Like everything truly special in life, Russell’s Reserve 2003 will never be repeated by the illustrious Kentucky distillery, making this one of the most coveted bottles of the year. Although the MSRP may say $250, if you find a box for twice this price pick it up quick — it’ll soon be a collector’s treasure. They say the nectar hints to their product in the mid-80s, but we’ll have to take their word for it. Expect notes of sweet baking spices, confectioner’s sugar, caramel and butterscotch bursting from the dark amber nectar. (Fun side note: on a recent Zoom when asked who he’d have a drink with if he could choose anyone, Eddie called out his dad’s best friend/bourbon rival Booker Noe, highlighting the spirit’s longstanding comradery.) $250 SRP (yeah right) / 44.75% ABV

Blue Run 13-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

What do you get when a Nike designer, one of Facebook’s first employees, a hospitality executive, a political advisor, a philanthropist and a Hall Of Fame whiskey distiller walk into a bar? Blue Run Bourbon of course, a project born of the collective’s deep love of whiskey (and we’re guessing astute marketplace analytics). The critical member of the cabal is Jim Rutledge, the man responsible for building Four Roses into the revered label it is today (over half-a-century there, including 20 years as Master Distiller). While the Blue Run team acquired a treasure chest of 13-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon barrels, it was Rutledge who handpicked the final blend from some 30 versions before settling on the final recipe. While quite strong (113 proof), Blue Run is an exceptionally smooth bourbon offering waves of brown sugar and maple, shaping this juice as the quintessential drug for bourbon junkies. Of course with a Nike designer on board the packaging is also top notch, utilizing a heavy, hand-numbered bottle with beautiful profile and gold butterfly medallion. Only 2,600 bottles of the first run of Blue Run so keep eyes peeled. $170 SRP / ABV 56.5%

Parker’s Heritage Collection 10 Year Old Heavy Char Bourbon

Heaven Hill, 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Distillery of the Year, is a bastion of independent bourbon making offering everything from affordable labels (Evan Williams) to the most premium. Their Parker’s (named after late Master Distiller Parker Beam, cousin of Jim Beam’s aforementioned Baker Beam) defines the latter, its 14th edition Heritage Collection experimenting with char levels to study how it plays with flavor. Using Heaven Hill’s established Bourbon mash (78% corn / 12% malted barley / 10% rye) and aging it for 10 years in Level 5 heavy char barrels — as opposed to their regular Level 3 — distillers note how qualities like stave penetration of the liquid helps develop rich notes of caramel and maple syrup. Because Mr. Beam died of ALS Heaven Hill donates a portion of all Parker’s to research, and have so far raised more than one million dollars toward ALS via their previous 13 Heritage Collection editions. $120 SRP/ 60% ABV

Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Speaking of Heaven Hill and wood charring exercises, their latest limited edition Elijah Craig expression takes their regular Small Batch, always aged a minimum of 12 years, and then places it in specially made barrels from the Independent Stave Company. The new American oak was extensively experimented on with various chars and toasts to bring forward dark sugar notes to balance the original Small Batch’s smoke and sweetness. To achieve these results the wood was air-dried for a year and a half, and then toasted and flash-charred to moderate temperature and time. All this wood experimentation is appropriate under the Elijah Craig label, as the “Father of Bourbon” is renowned as the first distiller to age his white lightning in charred oak back in 1789. $50 SRP/ 47% ABV

Sweetens Cove Tennessee Bourbon

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When you hear a cabal of celebrities got together to launch a spirit line, you’d be forgiven for an unsolicited eyeroll. Such is the case when sports superstars Peyton and brother Eli Manning, Andy Roddick, Jim Nantz and more join forces to release a high-priced bourbon dubbed Sweetens Cove. Skepticism would be understood, but the 100 barrels of 13-year-old Tennessee bourbon from which Sweetens Cove is sourced is some exceptional brown. A hat tip is also due to Marianne Eaves, the former Master Distiller of Castle & Key and Brown-Forman blender whom the Cove team tapped to blend the barrels into five batches (she also happens to be Kentucky’s first female Master Distiller since Prohibition). The first batch released in May and made our Father’s Day Guide, and the second released in September. Although the source of the bourbon is a kept secret, some speculate that given its Tennessee provenance, 13-year age and specific mashbill (84% corn / 8% rye / 8% malted barley) that it’s sourced from George Dickel. Given the quality of whiskey that comes from Cascade Hollow, that can only be a good thing. $200 SRP / 50.7% ABV

How to Drink It

Nachtmann Punk Whisky Decanter Set

You’ve scoured the dark corners of the web and secured your rare single cask at probably triple the MSRP. Good hunting, sport! Now you can’t just throw that bottle on a dusty bar shelf – you need the right decanter and matching tumblers to properly display your pricey tipple. Nachtmann Crystal’s Punk Whisky Decanter Set updates the 19th-century Bavarian crystal maker’s venerable nobility with a more youthful appeal, the light from its studded exterior playing beautifully with your favorite whiskey’s amber hues. The perfect holiday gift for the homies… or yourself. $150 SRP

The best whiskey in the world—at least according to Whisky Bible author Jim Murray—is Alberta Distilling’s Premium Cask Strength Rye. Murray gave the Canadian rye the title of World Whisky of the Year for his 2021 edition of the Whisky Bible, which he has published annually since 2003.

Alberta Distilling’s winning bottle—a first for the distillery—is only the second Canadian whisky to ever take home Murray’s coveted top spot (Crown Royal’s Northern Harvest Rye won the award in the 2016 edition). It’s made with a mixture of malted and unmalted rye, and bottled at an eye-twitching 65.1 percent ABV, which translates to 130.2 proof.

The whisky has been on his short list for a long time, and took the crown of Best Canadian Whisky in his books from 2006 through 2009.

This year’s notes described the winning whisky as having:

“A succulence to the oils, balanced perfectly by ulmo and manuka honeys ensure for the most chewable Canadian mouthful possibly ever and yet this is constantly salivating, from the very first nanosecond. Truly world-class whisky from possibly the world’s most underrated distillery. How can something be so immense yet equally delicate? For any whisky lover on the planet looking for huge but nearly perfectly balanced experience, then here you go. And with rye at its most rampantly beautiful, this is something to truly worship.”

Murray is one of the most well known and controversial writers in the business, having proclaimed himself the first full-time whiskey writer in the world, and having been the first in the business to produce an annual book-length collection of tasting notes.

Murray is infamous for controversial picks, but within that space his picks have ranged from profound to irrelevant. While the 2016 Northern Harvest Rye pick caused such a demand for the whisky that it was sold out for months of 2016 and may very well have led to a distillery strike.

But on the other end, Murray seems to have a favorite brand or two. Almost half of his World Whiskies of the Year have been produced by Sazerac, parent company of Buffalo Trace, and most of those have been rye whiskies produced by Buffalo Trace.

He’s also made things hellish on his audience with regards to supply; Booker’s Rye was a one-time release that has yet to be replicated, and the William Larue Weller bourbon he crowned for his 2019 edition was actually the 2017 vintage release of the whiskey, meaning that every bottle had been sold out for more than a year before his list was even published.

As for this year’s pick, we haven’t tasted it ourselves—it’s only available in Canada at the moment (for around $65, depending on the market). Sadly, this isn’t a great year for a quick international trip to pick up a bottle.

Here’s hoping the Beam-Suntory folks (owners of Alberta Distilling) can get some into the country soon. In the meantime, his other picks included two more Sazerac picks: Stagg Jr. Bourbon and Paul John Mithuna single malt. Pick up Murray’s book to see the full list, and over 1,200 other ratings.

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Clay Whittaker is a Contributing Editor at Maxim.com. His work has appeared in Cigar Aficionado, Playboy, Esquire, Forbes, Town and Country, and elsewhere. You can subscribe to his whiskey newsletter here, and follow him on Instagram here.

Basil Hayden’s is launching a 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey as a special edition collector’s bottle. Bottled at 80 proof, Basil Hayden’s latest spirit is a light but full-flavored rye with the kind of spicy finish that you’d expect from a good rye whiskey. 

The golden-hued spirit smells like sweet vanilla, oak and fruit, and look for spice, oak, caramel, cinnamon and tobacco flavor notes on the palette.

Basil Hayden’s 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey is best enjoyed neat or with a drop or two of water on the rocks. It’s available for a limited time nationwide for an SRP of $69.99 for a 750mL bottle.     

Just as crowning the world’s best bar is a fundamentally flawed concept, so is the notion of calling a beer, wine or whiskey the absolute best on the planet. It’s all a matter of personal opinion. But that didn’t stop spirits world experts from heaping such accolades on WhistlePig’s Boss Hog IV: The Black Prince, which won best whiskey and best rye at the San Francisco World Spirits competition last year. 

Now, the Vermont-based distillery has unleashed the follow up to that prize-winning bottle, The Boss Hog V: The Spirit of Mauve. Not only is the 13-year-old straight rye named after a porcine Dukes of Hazzard villain, but the barrel proof hooch comes in a tiny coffin because it was inspired by the death of WhistlePig Master Distiller Dave Pickerell’s beloved pet pig, Mauve. 

Pickerell recently made headlines by unleashing Metallica’s $43 Blackened whiskey onto an unsuspecting world, but at $500 a bottle, the limited-edition Boss Hog V stands to be a significantly more upscale experience.

Here, Maxim gets the exclusive first look at Boss Hog V: The Spirit of Mauve, and talks to Pickerell about his latest creation. 

Last year, the Boss Hog IV won “best in show whiskey” and “best rye whiskey” at the San Francisco World Spirits competition, and some even called it the best whiskey in the world. How does the Boss Hog V compare to the IV, and is it even better?

While we didn’t get the whiskey done in time to get it entered in to any competitions this year, it is my belief that Boss Hog V: The Spirit of Mauve, is better even than Boss Hog IV: The Black Prince, was. The Spirit of Mauve is not quite as bold as The Black Prince, but it is more elegant, with plenty of spice and warm apple notes.

Please explain the origin story of “The Spirit of Mauve”, as apparently the Boss Hog V is a tribute to your pet pig?

Mauve was one of our first two pet pigs, along with her life long partner, Mortimer. Mortimer passed away in 2014, and Mauve mourned him ever since. They had one child together, Mortimer, Jr., whom we lovingly refer to as MJ. Sadly, Mauve passed away on Valentines Day 2018, and we suspect it was because of a broken heart. 

Mauve’s guilty pleasure was apples. She LOVED apples. As such, we thought it was appropriate to announce Boss Hog V: The Spirit of Mauve, in her honor, finished in Calvados barrels. The pewter topper on this year’s Boss Hog features Mauve, in her choir robe, with her wings, looking towards heaven and her beloved Mortimer.

Whistlepig was founded in 2010. How do you manage to make 13-year aged whiskeys when you’ve only been around since then?

We have never made it a secret that we started WhistlePig with whiskey from third party distilleries. All the way back in 2001, when I began working on the concept that would become WhistlePig, I began to identify rye whiskey that could be used to get the project up and running. It took four and a half years to get a building permit in Vermont, and about two years to build out the distillery. Our in-house distillery is only about three years old. We will be using third party whiskey for some time.

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What’s the secret to making a rye whiskey of this quality, and how do you see the rye market expanding?

Rye whiskey is amazingly spicy and complex. From my perspective, there are a few secrets to making a top-quality rye. First, there needs to be a concerted effort to minimize the effect of tannin on the final product. Second, there needs to be a focus on gaining a balance between the rye spice and the caramel extract from the barrel. 

Third, the bottling proof needs to be deliberately set to showcase the whiskey in its best light. Finally, if a finish is to be applied, the right one needs to be selected and the proper amount of time needs to be used so as to gain the proper effect without overwhelming the rye taste.

What’s the best way to drink Boss Hog V? 

I suggest that consumers at least TRY my whiskeys neat first, because there is a reason it was bottled at that proof. Then, decide what it needs to suit their own palate…a little water, a little ice, or even a cocktail. My job is to make it so good that you can drink it any way you like. So, as long as you are enjoying it, I’m OK with it.

Whiskey is a hot ticket item for the holidays this year—maybe more than any year before—and that means you have to bring your A game to the liquor hunt. 

We know the disappointment of getting a “safe” bottle pick handed to us by a well-meaning relative: It’s like opening a second copy of a video game you already have, or that time your grandmother got talked into buying a Zune by someone at Best Buy.

Not this year. We won’t let that happen.

We’ve assembled a gift guide of fresh, smart whiskey ideas at every (and we mean every) price point. If you can’t find something for the whiskey lover in your life on this list, you must be shopping for us. And even then, we’ll take an extra bottle of anything below. Gladly.

Under $20

Four Roses Yellow Label – $19

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Okay, so bear with us here. No, there’s nothing new or exciting about Four Roses Yellow Label—it’s just a damn good bourbon for under $20, and it has been for years. 

It’s the versatility of this bourbon that makes it a great gift: at $19 no one will feel guilty mixing it, but it’s plenty tasty by itself, so there’s no way not to please. Get a case now, so you’ll have last-minute gifts available in case you forgot someone.

Under $30

Jack Daniel’s Rye – $27

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Jack Daniel’s Rye is the brand’s first new mash bill since prohibition, so it’s some exciting stuff to say the least. 

Whether you’re buying for a low-key drinker and want to expose them to good rye for the first time, or a seasoned whiskey lover who will be surprised by how good this new JD whiskey is, you can’t go wrong. It’s great for old fashioneds and Manhattans, for your cocktail loving friend.

Under $35

The Shackleton – $35

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The Shackleton is a blended whisky with a story: a recreation of the 1907 bottles of whisky carried by Sir Ernest Shackleton on his failed Antarctic journey, and left behind only to be found a few years ago. 

The recreated blend (which is bright and tasty) will, likewise, keep someone you care about warm through this winter, but we doubt it will get left behind.

Under $40

Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye – $40

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This Basil Hayden rye release is brand new to the market, and we can safely say that only the most aggressive collectors will have picked it up before the holidays. 

That means you have a chance to get in under the radar and get a whiskey for the person who has every whiskey. It’s also a well-balanced, sippable rye, regardless of how much they care about novelty.

Under $75

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – $60

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof actually got the nod from Whisky Advocate magazine this year for Whiskey of the Year, so it’s going to be on a lot of people’s radar for gifting. 

We’d suggest this for your trendier friends, who will appreciate that you did your research, but that doesn’t mean newbies won’t like it just as much.

Under $100

The Macallan Edition No. 3 – $95

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A rich, tasty Macallan limited edition release is just the thing most single malt drinkers want this holiday season. It’s the perfect safety gift, because you’re dealing with a limited supply of aromatic, tasty scotch. 

We’re pretty sure, given the limited nature of this release, that no one will be upset by receiving a bottle—even if they already have one.

Under $150

Highland Park Full Volume – $120

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Full Volume is a fun, conversation piece of a single malt to gift for the holidays. The backstory for the whisky is a discussion of how whisky blending (it’s a single malt) is similar to writing a symphony. 

The whisky inside, meanwhile, is 18-year-old delicious ex-bourbon-cask juice, so you may not have to have much of a conversation at all.

Under $200

Compass Box Phenomenology – $180

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In contrast to some of the other bottles on this list, Phenomenology doesn’t really have much background information. 

It was designed entirely to prevent consumers from knowing too much about the liquid inside before they had a chance to taste it (the information will be available on the company website later this year). That makes this a perfect gift for the whisky lover who likes to dissect what’s in his glass (oh, he’ll enjoy the whisky itself, too).

Under $300

Lock Stock & Barrel Rye 18 – $230

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Lock Stock & Barrel 18 is such a rich and flavorful rye whiskey that it might surprise even the most experienced whiskey lover. 

We’ll let you decide if it’s best for someone that knows what rye whiskey is capable of, or someone who deserves to know, but if you’re shopping for yourself, you might want to grab two of them.

Under $1,000

Michter’s 25-Year-Old Bourbon – $800

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Michter’s hasn’t released a 25-year-old bourbon in nearly a decade, so when they announced they’d do so this year it got everyone pretty damn excited—and for good reason.

The whiskey in the 300-odd bottles of this release is so rare and precious that, well, you’ll have to remind the lucky recipient that whiskey is for drinking, not saving.

Under $1,500

Yamazaki Mizunara 18 – $1,000

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The new, 2017 limited edition from one of Japan’s most prestigious distilleries is aged in rare Japanese oak casks that impart subtler flavors to an already complex whisky. 

Yamazaki really hit it out of the park with this year’s limited edition, and is exactly the kind of gift for someone without peers.

No Limit

Last Drop 1971 – $4,000

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One of the rare releases from The Last Drop, this year’s bottle is not to be missed. It’s the 2017 blend of the year according to Jim Murray, there are only 300 bottles available to the U.S., and it’s likely among the most collectable bottles released in 2017. 

Of course, the prize for delivering this to someone you care about might just be an invite when it’s opened—and that’d be worth the effort alone.

Rye whiskey is extremely popular these days, but the spirit itself is nothing new. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was the whiskey of choice for many Americans, particularly in Pennsylvania and Maryland where it was often distilled. 

Even further back, according to unearthed recipes and ledgers, George Washington was most likely making his own rye whiskey at Mount Vernon. The working distillery there now makes an un-aged rye based upon that recipe. But after Prohibition, rye fell out of favor for many years. For a long time, the only references to rye whiskey came from scenes in westerns in which a cowboy moseys on up to the bar to order a shot of the hard stuff.

Times have certainly changed. According to the Distilled Spirits Council, the volume of rye production increased by a whopping 536 percent from 2009 to 2014. That’s a whole lot of whiskey. “American whiskey has increased in popularity with the expanding number of brands and the return of rye to popularity,” says Templeton Rye co-founder Keith Kerkhoff, a brand that sources its rye and is starting to build its own distillery. 

“[Consumers’] palates are looking for more adventurous experiences. This has driven a shift from clear spirits to more distinctive brown spirits such as bourbon and the quintessential American spirit of rye whiskey.”

So what is rye exactly? The main thing that differentiates it from its kissing cousin, bourbon, is that it must be made from a mash bill of at least 51 percent rye (bourbon is made from at least 51 percent corn). 

The result is a whiskey that is not as sweet and has flavors that are often described as “spicy” – think baking spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, and the zing from black pepper. Traditionally, rye whiskey has been used in a variety of classic cocktails like the Manhattan and the Vieux Carre.

Bartenders who know their shit tend to love rye whiskey. Nicholas Bennett, head bartender at Manhattan’s Porchlight, says that the characteristic bite and spice of rye brings a more aggressive flavor to cocktails. 

“It also tugs at the nerd strings most bartenders have,” he says. 

“When we are looking into the origins of some cocktails (i.e. Old Fashioned and Manhattan), they were made when rye was still the more popular spirit. Not to diminish bourbon at all, but if you were in the room where it happened with Alexander Hamilton and George Washington, you were probably drinking rye.”

Jeremy Oertel, formerly of Manhattan cocktail emporium Death and Co. and now head bartender at Donna in Brooklyn, concurs. 

“Now that everyone is re-discovering these old recipes and making them again, it only makes sense that rye is making a comeback. It can hold its own in most cocktails, where sometimes bourbon can get lost.”

In short, rye whiskey has made an undeniable comeback. Nowadays, both major brands and smaller start-up distilleries are adding rye expressions to their portfolios. 

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here are 15 bottles of rye, both recent additions and familiar standards, which you should be drinking now:

Basil Hayden’s Rye

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Basil Hayden’s, part of the Jim Beam family, released its first rye expression this past spring. Basil Hayden’s bourbon is already a high-rye whiskey, but the rye expression obviously has more of the spicy grain (the exact mash bill is undisclosed). This NAS whiskey is unique in that it contains a small amount of four-year-old rye that has been re-barreled in quarter casks for an additional seven years. The result is an easy drinking, low proof (40% ABV) rye that works well in cocktails.

Redemption Rye

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Redemption Whiskey gave its bottles a much-needed redesign last fall, although spirits conglomerate Diageo seems to think it looks a little too much like the Bulleit bottle… However that lawsuit plays out, the liquid inside (95 percent rye whiskey aged for at least a year, sourced from MGP in Indiana) is light and lovely (and tastes older than it is), perfect for sipping or mixing.

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye

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This whiskey came out in 2016, Jack’s third rye release since 2012 after an Unaged and Rested Rye, but it’s important for a couple of reasons. First of all, this was the brand’s first new grain recipe in a century and a half, with a mash bill of 70 percent rye. Secondly, Jack Daniel’s will add a new, fully aged Tennessee Rye (not a single barrel expression) to its lineup this coming fall, marking a major shift for the iconic Tennessee whiskey company. If you like Jack and you like rye, you’ll definitely like this.

Hochstadter’s Family Reserve 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

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This is one powerful rye whiskey. Hochstadter’s Family Reserve is 100 percent rye that is sourced from Alberta Distillers Limited and is aged for 16 years, and it hits you fast and hard at almost 124 proof. Drink it slow, don’t be afraid to add some water, and enjoy a mouthful of some very good, spicy rye whiskey.

High West Yippee Ki-Yay

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Utah’s High West Distillery is always doing interesting things with its sourced and distilled whiskey, and this release is no exception. It’s a blend of rye whiskey aged from 2 to 16 years from both MGP and Barton Distillery. After aging in new charred American oak barrels, the whiskey is put into French oak previously used to age vermouth and Syrah wine. The result is almost like a Manhattan in a bottle, a smooth and slightly sweet rye that is a perfect after-dinner sipper.

Woodford Reserve Distillery Series Blended Rye

Released this past May, Woodford Reserve’s Blended Rye is only available at the distillery and select Kentucky retailers. So if you are in state, find yourself a bottle. The liquid is a blend of rye used in the Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Aged Cask Rye and Distiller’s Select Straight Rye. All that might not mean much to you if you haven’t tried those before, but take a sip and all will become clear.

Peerless Rye

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Kentucky Peerless Distilling released its first whiskey in about century this past May, a two-year-old barrel proof rye that is a labor of love from father and son team Corky and Carson Taylor. This 107 proof rye isn’t cheap, at about $125 per bottle, but it’s already gaining fans in the whiskey world.

WhistlePig FarmStock

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Vermont-based WhistlePig sources its premium aged rye whiskey from Canada and Indiana, but the brand is working towards becoming a farm-to-bottle operation. FarmStock is the first step in this endeavor, blending very young rye distilled and aged on the farm with 5 to 6-year-old and 12-year-old sourced rye. This new release doesn’t taste exactly like what you’ve come to expect from WhistlePig, and opinions have been varied. But the bottom line is this is the first step in a new direction for WhistlePig.

Wild Turkey Rye

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Listen, there’s nothing new or groundbreaking about Wild Turkey Rye. It’s just a classic rye whiskey that’s really, really good and affordable. It’s an approachable 81 proof, and the distillery uses what it calls a deep “alligator” char in its barrels for extra flavor. You be the judge – Wild Turkey rarely disappoints.

Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Rye

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Michter’s released its 10-year-old rye in March, the only release planned for the year of this particular expression. This rye comes from the distillery’s “phase two” of production, when they were sourcing from an unnamed distillery using their own particular recipes (the Michter’s distillery is now fully operational in Louisville, and we should start seeing the whiskey in a few years). This is a delicious rye whiskey, rich and deep and complex in all the right ways.

Bulleit Rye

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This sourced rye whiskey is another one that’s not particularly new, but it’s become kind of a standard and something of a bar staple. This could be due in part due to its appealing, old-timey packaging, but the whiskey within is generally solid. Bulleit Rye veers towards the floral side of the taste spectrum, and that’s just fine. Go ahead and mix up a classic cocktail or two with this one.

Old Potrero Hotaling’s Single Malt Whiskey

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Anchor Distilling Company is sort of the OG of craft distilling, having come out with one of the first American craft gins, Junipero, about 20 years ago. The company was also well ahead of the curve with rye whiskey, releasing its first batch of Old Potrero before rye was at all popular. This new release is very interesting, with a 100 percent malted rye mash bill – rather unusual in the world of rye whiskey. This 16-year-old release is fairly limited, and will set you back about $165, but it’s worth it for fans of rye whiskey and craft spirits.

Lock Stock & Barrel 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

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Another excellent sourced rye from The Cooper Spirits Co., this release is a 16-year-old whiskey made from 100 percent rye and aged in the colder climate of our neighbor to the north. It’s an excellent sipping rye whiskey, with just the right amount of spice balanced out by fruit and chocolate notes.

Barrell Rye Batch 001

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Barrell Bourbon is always up to something interesting. It sources its whiskey (although distilling will begin in the near future), and the company is always refreshingly transparent about where the whiskey comes from (they will tell you if NDAs don’t allow that). If you ever get the chance to participate in a Barrell tasting, do so – these guys are serious whiskey experts. This brand-new release should come out later this summer – it’s a 4.5-year-old, 100 percent rye made from two different styles of whiskey from MGP and Tennessee, bottled at 117 proof.

Templeton Rye Special Reserve 10 Year Old

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Templeton Rye has been through the PR ringer a bit over the past few years, which we won’t get into here. Instead, let’s talk about this 10-year-old rye – it’s an excellent release of just over 6,000 bottles that are already getting pretty hard to find. At $150, this whiskey is a bit of a splurge, but it’s worth it. The spicy rye flavor is bold and forward, something that will hopefully continue as the new distillery is constructed and the brand starts distilling its own juice.