The Best Rye Whiskey Cocktails
Sipping straight spirits on the regular may not be everyones plate of poutine but Beehan insists theres a serve for all.
Yielded in a Whiskey Sour or Whiskey Smash, the additional sugar and citrus of those drinks help tame ryes rougher edges. The Whiskey Smash is such a beautiful drink, he says. If you muddle the lemon, you get the oils and the juice. Add some mint in there: Its fresh, its lively, and a really nice way to start appreciating rye.
But Beehan remains a cocktail classicist at heart, and for his loonie, theres nothing as magical as a Manhattan. Theres the historical connection to start, with the golden age of cocktails coinciding with an earlier boom in rye production, he says. Then theres the Manhattans adaptability as a template.
Sub out the sweet vermouth and split the support between Averna and Punt e Mes and youre soon shaking hands with a Longshoreman opt instead for a full ounce of Averna and you have the darker, brooding Black Manhattan using dry instead of sweet vermouth, along with Maraschino liqueur and Amer Picon, transports you across the East River to the Brooklyn cocktail.
Finally this being a Canadian-led exploration we cannot forget the combination of rye, Fernet-Branca, simple syrup, and Angostura, better known as the Toronto.
All of are essentially stirred, three- or four-ingredient cocktails, and they really highlight the base spirit, Beehan says.
The Right Tools Make All The Difference
Moonshining is a fun hobby that yields results that your friends and family will love. Creating the perfect spirit does require a great recipe and the right tools. Since many items are not easily available at the corner store, getting an all-in-one tool is invaluable.
Making moonshine is a fun way to easily create spirits for personal use, friends and family. Getting the right tools can quickly turn a beginner into a seasoned moonshiner! We love this Mist 1 Gallon Mini Air Still for those who want a simple distillation process with an appliance that can fit on your kitchen counter.
Jack Daniels Single Barrel Rye
Tennessee whisky behemoth Jack Daniels added a new mashbill to their core range for the first time in 150 years, with the creation of their rye. Its a refined and elegant take, great for fans of the range that want to try something new. Each batch will vary slightly, but expect lots of punchy spice, toffee-sweetness, and hints of oak and black pepper, alongside characteristic Jack Daniels fruitiness.
, £49.99
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Rye Whiskey Health Benefits
It was long believed that whiskey and other alcoholic spirits offered numerous health benefits. Indeed, whiskey was commonly retailed in pharmacies. In fact, it was helped brands like Brown-Formans Old Forester become so popular in the late 19th century.
However, today things are a little different, to say the least! One clear benefit is that if youre going to be drinking anyway, straight rye whiskey contains no additives, including caramel colouring.
Furthermore, its relatively light and features few calories with only 70 in a single 1 Oz shot. Meanwhile, it doesnt have any carbohydrates either.
As for practical health benefits, whiskey does feature quantities of ellagic acid, which help lower the risk of obesity by reducing bodily inflammation. Nevertheless, despite being historically used to treat high blood pressure, congestion, and even tuberculosis, it isnt the healthiest beverage!
Potential Health Benefits Of Whiskey
Whiskey contains fewer calories compared to other alcohols and has no carbohydrates or sugar. Its ellagic acid content may also reduce bodily inflammation and lower the risk of obesity.
Research suggests that there are other health benefits to drinking whiskey. However, these benefits are all associated with moderate consumption â heavy drinking can lead to serious health issues.
A glass of whiskey a day may offer health benefits like:
Heart Health
Whiskey has high levels of polyphenols, plant-based antioxidants linked with lowering your risk of heart disease. The polyphenols in whiskey have been shown to decrease âbadâ cholesterol and increase âgoodâ cholesterol levels, and reduce triglycerides, or fat in your blood.
Bad cholesterol and triglycerides can clog your arteries, while good cholesterol helps to keep them clear. Maintaining healthy levels can help prevent heart disease and stroke.
Relief of Cold Symptoms
Whiskey can temporarily widen your blood vessels. In small amounts, this can help clear mucus congestion in your sinuses and chest, which lets your body better deal with sickness and infection. This effect may also relieve other symptoms of a cold or flu, like coughing or wheezing.
Immune System Support
Brain Health
One study found that people who consumed one to six drinks weekly had a lower risk of dementia than non-drinkers. Another showed that moderate alcohol intake might reduce cognitive decline in people with Alzheimerâs Disease.
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Distilling Rye Whiskey At Home
Once the fermentation process is finished, strain your mash through a cheesecloth to remove any solid particles that may interfere with the distillation process.
Siphon the wash into the still.
Slowly heat the wash in the still to a temperature of 120 to 140°F . During the first part of the distillation, toxic byproducts like methanol and acetone are removed from the wash. So make sure not to increase the heat to quickly to best separate the bad from the good elements. Reaching 150°F should take around 45 minutes.
Best Rye Whiskeys For 202: Top 5 Bottles Recommended By Expert Websites
Containing at least 51 percent rye and aged in newly charred oak barrels, rye is a favorite among whiskey aficionados. To be called rye whiskey, the liquor has to be produced exclusively in the U.S, and the best rye whiskeys often have a lighter body finish, but never lack their iconic spice and boldness.
Lovers of whiskey variety rejoiceagain, owing to the distinct, assertive flavor of rye, which even after mellowing in charred oak can kick around in your palate with a lively spiciness. Rye will also have notes of caramel and vanilla from the barrels, and, depending on how its aged or blended, might showcase a variety of other flavors. Rye doesnt have specific aging minimums, but as with any whiskey, it benefits from some carefully regulated aging, VinePair explains.
If you are in good health and choose to drink responsibly, rye whiskey is a pretty decent choice. Ringing in at just 140 calories per two-ounce pour and low in sugar and gluten, rye is a great option for even those who are trying to maintain a healthier lifestyle . And why not grab a snack while youre at it? Research suggests that drinkers who opt for high-protein, lean foods consume fewer calories overall than people who abstain from drinking entirely. Such snacks include olives, popcorn, cocktail onions, deli meats, cheeses, raw veggies, dips and dried or fresh fruit.
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Differences Between Rye And Bourbon
Rye grain is known for imparting what many call a spicy or fruity flavor to the whiskey. Bourbon, distilled from at least 51% corn, is noticeably sweeter and tends to be more full-bodied than rye. As bourbon gained popularity beyond the southern United States, bartenders increasingly substituted it for rye in cocktails such as the whiskey sour, Manhattan, and Old Fashioned, which were originally made with rye. All other things being equal, the character of the cocktail will be drier with rye.
Base Ingredients & Materials
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Collecting The Hearts And Separating The Tails
Now, the toxic elements have mostly evaporated and you can keep the heat at 175 to 185°F . At this temperature, ethanol evaporates and you can collect the hearts of your DIY rye whiskey.
Slowly increase the temperature and collect the output in several small containers. The alcohol content will slowly decrease. Initially, you will get some great and complex aromas that will make your rye whiskey especially tasty. Once the temperature reaches 205°F , fusel oils will start evaporating. These will not only add a bad taste to your whiskey but are also toxic. So make sure to dispose these so called tails. Your distillation run is now complete and you can turn off the still and clean it for the next use.
After getting rid of the toxic forshots and tails, it is on your nose to decide which parts of the distillate you want to keep and which you want to discard. If youve collected and numbered the output in several small containers, you can now soak in their aromas and decide if they should be part of your home made moonshine rye whiskey or not. The first portions may have a strong pungent smell and you might want to get rid of some of those as well as some at the end. Overall, it is quite common that around 20-30% of the total distillation output are discarded. Blend all the parts you want to keep together.
The List: Best Rye Whiskey According To Experts
1. High West Whiskey Double Rye!
Bold, spicy and with bright botanical notes, High Wests Whiskey Double Rye is well-loved by many rye drinkers and considered among the best rye whiskeys available.
From High West, Utahs ski-in distillery, the Double Rye bottling is heavy on the spice, making it a great option for diehard rye fanatics who are heat-seekers at heart. Its a blend of two different rye whiskeys , and its designed to be twice as spicy as your average rye, Liquor.com writes.
Due to its versatile flavor profile, reviewers love this rye in both top-shelf cocktails and neat.
David Perkins is a creative distiller, and Double Rye! was among his first to push the envelope. He blends ryes from two to seven years old, including MGPs famed 95/5 rye and its own 80 percent rye, 20 percent barley rye spicey-meets-sweet, basically. The result is a whiskey that feels green and springy, with a strong, mellow finish, Gear Patrol writes.
2. Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye
If youre looking for luxury rye, or a really over-the-top wedding gift for your rye-loving friend, Thomas H. Handys Sazerac Rye is sure to impress.
The rye is named after the New Orleans bartender who reportedly first used rye whiskey in the Sazerac Cocktail. Notably, the Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye Whiskey won the 2022 Bronze Singapore World Spirits Competition, 2022 Silver Luxury Masters Asia, 2022 Gold New York World Wine & Spirits Competition and 2022 Best in Class/Gold Whiskies of the World.
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American Rye Whiskey Styles
Rye whiskey is one of the hottest categories in the whiskey world recent years. In fact, rye has quite the extended history in the US, one which is arguably older than bourbons. But Prohibition almost killed the category completely. Fortunately, there are several emerging styles of traditional American rye whiskeys and these days were spoilt for choice. If youre unsure about the different types, dont worry. Weve got your back. Lets look at the major rye whiskey styles that are currently on shelves and how they differ from one another.
Clear Peach Moonshine Recipe
Peach moonshine recipes that are simple and user friendly. A good clear peach moonshine recipe starts with quality peaches.
Clear peach moonshine recipe using peaches, sugar and water
Ingredients
6 lbs of granulated sugar or even better use cane sugar or raw sugar
6 gallons of water
2 packets of champagne yeast 10 grams or 1 packet of Pot Still Turbo with Pectic Enzyme
Remove pits and mash up the peaches in a 10 gallon stock pot then add 6 gallons of water. Put over heat until temperature comes up to 150F then add sugar. Keep stirring so solids dont stick and burn to the bottom. After sugar is completely dissolved turn the heat off and let the mixture cool to 80F then put in fermenter and add yeast. Use an air lock on fermenter and ferment 7 days. Estimated ABV should be 12%-15%. Strain through brew bag or strainer then through cheesecloth. Distill through a pot still. Pot still will carry over flavor well and the product will come out clear just like a peach brandy but it will be a clear peach moonshine.
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Running Your Whiskey Still
Now for the step youve prepared for. Distilling rye whiskey is an incredible process. If youre not familiar with the science, here is a quick break down. Distillation is the process of separating different alcohol chemicals by taking advantage of different evaporation temperatures points between the chemicals.
The distilling process is not creating the alcohol, it is simply separating it from all of the other substances in your whiskey mash water. Therefore distilling it down to a purified spirit. The alcohol was already created during the fermentation step.
Slowly bring your temperature up to 150 °F. Once you reach 150 °F, turn on the condensing water, if your setup has a condenser.
After that, dial up your heat source to high until your still starts producing. Time your drips as they speed up until you reach 3 to 5 drips per second. Once you reach this rate, dial down your heat to maintain this drip rate .
Testing The Abv Of Your Rye Whiskey
After the aging process, you should test the ABV of your rye whiskey and dilute if necessary. You can use a hydrometer to do this. You can dilute the whiskey with purified water prior to bottling it if the ABV is too high. Rye Whiskey must have a minimum of 40% ABV to be classified as a rye whiskey.
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Collecting Your Rye Whiskey Distillate
Collecting your rye whiskey distillate is the best part of this entire process. This is where the magic happens! A mixture of accurate calculations and good instincts, this step takes an experienced distiller to get this process down perfectly. That being said, dont let this deter you if youre new to distilling whiskey. After you run a few batches with your whiskey still, youll be able to dial the process in by taking notes and making the necessary adjustments. As the old adage goes, Practice makes perfect.
Congratulations, youre well on your way to making your own rye whiskey! As youre producing the distillate in this step, be sure to use a glass container. Never use plastic containers for this step because they may lace your product with BPA.
There’s So Much You Can Do With A Bottle Of Rye
Rye whiskey is featured in a number of cocktail recipes, from timeless classics to modern creations that offer extraordinary, complex flavors. It’s a versatile style of whiskeyrye’s signature spice always lets you know it’s there, no matter what you’re mixing it with.
While the selection of rye whiskeys was rather limited not long ago, it’s back in full force! There are many great ryes to explore today that are just waiting for a place in your cocktail adventures.
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How Long To Age Your Whiskey
The amount of time that you decide to age your whiskey is completely up to you. Generally, a rye whiskey will be aged from 1 to 3 years. In this time the barrel or bottle that youre aging your whiskey in should be kept in a cool and dry environment.
At Mile Hi, we have a variety of different oak barrels, oak chips, and oak spirals to allow you to capture the exact aged flavor profile for your spirits.
Know Different Rye Whiskey Styles
There are no ground rules for drinking rye whiskey. However, you must know the different rye whiskey styles because not all rye whiskeys are created the same.
Rye has a wide range of flavors, from American and Canadian rye whiskey to high rye bourbon. American whiskeys consist of Indiana, Maryland, and Pennsylvania styles.
Knowing the percentage of rye per style can easily help you decide how to consume it with utmost enjoyment.
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Canadian Rye Whiskey Vs American Rye Whiskey
Those already well versed in rye whiskey will know that, despite Canadas love of rye, bottles labeled so in the country may not actually be classed as such in the United States. Canadas fast and loose use of the word is reflected somewhat in the regulations surrounding its production there.
As a quick primer, one of many factors that govern U.S. rye whiskey production is the use of at least 51 percent of the grain in a mash bill. This is not the case across the border. The major difference between Canadian and American rye is that we dont tend to use a mash bill of different grains, Beehan explains. We essentially ferment and distill each grain on their own, then blend after maturation.
Neither is that final blend bound by a minimum rye whiskey content even if its labeled with the term. For large portions of modern whiskey history, Canadian distillers have instead produced a mainly corn-based rye whiskey that was simply influenced flavor-wise with the spicy grain.
Still, Beehan says the nations leading modern brands are taking a different approach. Weve really gone all in with our rye and the majority of our whiskeys today that I think are our better products are 100 hundred percent rye, he says.
Confusing though that brief detour may be, its important to recognize the distinctions. And for the purposes of this piece, any future mentions of rye whiskey refer to bottles where the grain represents a majority, and whose profiles reflect its prickly character.