Rye whiskey’s resurgence isn’t a passing trend. It feels more like a return to form, and a reminder of just how versatile the style really is.
For years, it sat just behind bourbon in the American whiskey conversation. Now, it’s carving out its own space again.
What makes the current moment particularly interesting is the range. Rye is no longer defined by a single profile. There are classic, spice-forward examples built on high-rye mash bills, softer styles that lean into sweetness and texture, and an increasing number of bottles shaped by finishing, blending, or unusual grain recipes. There is no shortage to explore.
That is where competitions like the International Wine & Spirit Competition come in. They are not the final word on quality, but they are a useful way to cut through the noise, whether you are looking for a starting point or something that offers a different take on the category.
The nine ryes below are among the standouts from IWSC 2025. Taken together, they offer a clear picture of what American rye looks like right now.
Pinhook Vertical Series 9 Year Old Rye Whiskey
Medal: Gold Outstanding, Trophy, 98 points
Tasting Notes: “Bursting with rich honey and toasted macadamia, the palate is enriched by a subtle note of gentian that adds complexity. A classic and vibrant rye profile, the tipple enjoys harmonious flavours and sweet undertones.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: $75
If one bottle captures both the tradition and evolution of modern rye, it is this.
Pinhook’s Vertical Series is built around a simple but compelling idea: track the same group of barrels as they age, releasing a new expression each year across a 16-year arc.
This 9-year-old edition represents a midpoint in that journey, where maturity begins to reshape a classic high-rye profile, adding depth without losing its core identity.
At its foundation is a familiar mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, originally distilled in Indiana before being matured in Kentucky at Castle & Key Distillery.
There is nothing experimental about the recipe itself. The interest comes from time, and from the decision to let that process speak for itself.
That makes this whiskey feel both classic and deliberate. It is not trying to reinvent rye, but to show what it becomes when left to develop properly.
Each release in the series is finite, but part of a broader narrative, which gives this particular bottling a sense of context that most standalone releases lack.
Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Medal: Gold, 95 points
Tasting Notes: “Enticing aromas of stewed peaches and star fruit are complemented by cinnamon and earthy slate. The palate bursts with spice and vanilla, revealing roasted coffee and rich, herbal undertones, before a delightful menthol finish, offering lingering notes of charred greens and apple.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: $70
Frank August takes a different approach. Where some producers lean into technical detail, this is a brand built around blending and presentation.
This is a Kentucky straight rye bottled at 50% ABV, produced in relatively small batches of around 10 to 15 barrels. Beyond that, much of the production detail is intentionally left undisclosed. Instead, the focus is on balance and drinkability.
That approach comes through in the style. Rather than pushing aggressively into spice, this is a softer, more fruit-forward rye. The result is something that feels approachable without being simple.
It is also worth noting that this is positioned as a core release rather than a limited edition. That makes it accessible, if you can justify the price tag, particularly for those looking to explore rye without committing to a higher-proof or more assertive style.
Blue Note Rye Whiskey
Medal: Gold, 95 points
Tasting Notes: “Vibrant tropical fruit, spicy cinnamon, layered with herbal nuances and a whisper of dried tobacco leaf. On tasting, sweet, candied notes meld with stone fruit, caramel, and a hint of vanilla custard. A touch of spice to finish. Great example. ” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: $34.99
Blue Note is a good example of how place still matters in American whiskey, even when the liquid itself is sourced.
Produced by B.R. Distilling Company, this rye follows a familiar template on paper. It uses a 95% rye, 5% malted barley mash bill and is aged for a minimum of three years. The twist comes in where it matures.
Instead of remaining in Kentucky or Indiana, the whiskey is aged in Memphis, where higher temperatures and humidity can accelerate interaction with the barrel. The influence shows up in a slightly richer, rounder profile than you might expect from a younger rye.
This is an ongoing release rather than a limited one, and it sits at a price point that makes it easy to return to.
World Whiskey Society 12 Year Old Rye Finished Awamori Whiskey
Medal: Gold, 95 points
Tasting Notes: “Uplifting aromas of fresh mint and playful sweet candies, leading to a palate brimming with juicy green apple and butterscotch notes. An attractive and enticing offering with a generous helping of rye spice.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: $169
This is the outlier in the lineup, and arguably the most experimental.
At its core, this is a 12-year-old Indiana rye, again built on the familiar 95/5 mash bill. What makes it unusual is the finishing. After initial maturation, the whiskey is transferred into casks that previously held awamori, a traditional Japanese rice spirit.
That finishing step introduces a different set of flavours. Alongside the expected rye spice, there are softer, more unusual notes that show fruit, sweetness, and a subtle savoury edge.
Unlike most of the bottles here, this was released in very limited quantities, with only a few hundred bottles produced. It is less a core expression and more a snapshot of what happens when rye is pushed in a different direction.
Larrikin Bourbon High Wheat Rye Whiskey
Medal: Gold, 95 points
Tasting Notes: “Enticing aromas of milk chocolate, vanilla custard, and a hint of spice. On the palate, luscious creaminess, revealing tropical fruits, raisins, and hazelnut, all wrapped in a warm, peppery embrace. Long, smooth finish with a velvety essence that lingers beautifully.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: $115
Mash bill is often where rye whiskey defines itself, and this is one of the clearest examples of that.
Instead of the typical high-rye formula, Larrikin uses a two-grain mash bill made up of 65% rye and 35% wheat.
Wheat tends to soften the sharper edges of rye, bringing more creaminess and a rounder texture.
This whiskey is aged for eight years and bottled at barrel proof, giving it both maturity and intensity. It is not trying to be subtle, but the wheat keeps it from becoming overly aggressive.
Produced by Larrikin Bourbon Co., a relatively new operation, it reflects a willingness to move away from established formulas. Most releases are single barrel or small batch, which means availability is naturally limited.
High West Bottled In Bond Straight Rye Whiskey
Medal: Gold, 95 points
Tasting Notes: “Inviting aromas of honeyed green tea and black-peppered apricots captivate the senses, leading to a luxuriously soft mouthfeel bursting with vibrant citrus. A complex character which ends with a bright, refreshing finish.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: $79.99
Some bottles stand out because of what they add. Others stand out because of what they restrict.
This rye from High West Distillery is made under Bottled-in-Bond rules, which impose strict requirements on how the whiskey is produced and aged. It must come from a single distillery, a single distilling season, be aged for at least four years, and bottled at exactly 50% ABV.
Within those constraints, High West uses an 80% rye and 20% malted rye mash bill, giving the whiskey a distinctive structure. It is clean, focused, and precise, with spice that feels controlled rather than dominant.
This is not a one-off release, but it is batch-driven. Each iteration reflects the same framework, even as the details shift slightly over time.
Sazerac Company Thomas H. Handy Straight Rye Whiskey
Medal: Gold, 95 points
Tasting Notes: “A vibrant wave of citrus is underscored by inviting hints of butterscotch and cereal. The palate bursts with buttered beer and pepper, intermingling with toasted rye, golden syrup, and caramel. Bold yet balanced, with a delightfully moreish finish of toffee popcorn.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: $579
Few American rye whiskeys carry as much weight as this.
Produced by the Sazerac Company at Buffalo Trace Distillery, Thomas H. Handy is part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. It is released once a year, bottled uncut and unfiltered straight from the barrel.
The proof is high, the flavours are concentrated, and the structure is unapologetically bold. It is a rye that has lots of intensity.
Age statements vary slightly from release to release, typically just over six years. Mash bill details are not disclosed, though it is understood to be based on Buffalo Trace’s rye recipe.
This is a limited annual release, and demand far exceeds supply. For many, it sits as much in the world of collecting as it does in everyday drinking.
The 2025 release is bottled at 129.8 proof after aging for 6 years and 3 months.
Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. Small Batch Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Medal: Gold, 95 points
Tasting Notes: “The aroma captivates with notes of leather, buttery pastry, and apple tarte tatin. Mouthwatering, revealing abundant flavours of richly spiced orchard fruits, which linger on the persistent finish alongside tones of caramel, vanilla, and a beautiful subtle smokiness.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: $104
Kentucky Peerless is one of the few producers here that puts process front and centre.
Everything is made in-house in Louisville, using a sweet mash approach rather than the more common sour mash method.
The whiskey is distilled to a relatively low proof, entered into the barrel at a lower strength than many competitors, and bottled at barrel proof without chill filtration. Each of those decisions contributes to a fuller texture and a more concentrated flavour profile.
The mash bill itself is not publicly disclosed, but the house style is clear. This is a dense, structured rye that prioritises mouthfeel as much as flavour.
Production is small batch, and while releases are ongoing, scale is limited compared to larger distilleries.
King’s Family Distillery Ryeconic Whiskey
Medal: Gold, 95 points
Tasting Notes: “Rich aromas of burnt sugar, vanilla ice cream, and toasty spices invite you in. The palate reveals an impressive complexity with spicy rye, black liquorice, and charred oak, before a delightful blend of spiced mixed berries and vanilla lingers on the finish.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: $67.82
Ryeconic sits somewhere between tradition and experimentation.
Produced by King’s Family Distillery, the whiskey is built on rye from MGP with a 95% rye mash bill. It is then shaped further through a secondary maturation process, often described as double-barrelling.
That additional time in wood pushes the profile in a richer direction. There is more sweetness, more oak influence, and a dessert-like quality that contrasts with sharper, more traditional ryes.
Given the age of the spirit and the age of the distillery itself, this is almost certainly a sourced product. That is not unusual in American whiskey, particularly for younger brands building their portfolios.
Releases are small batch, and availability is correspondingly limited.
The New Shape of American Rye
Rye whiskey has never been short of character. What the best bottles in this lineup demonstrate is that it is also no longer short of range.
From the restrained precision of a Bottled-in-Bond to the experimental edge of an awamori finish, from Memphis heat to Louisville sweet mash, the category is being pulled in genuinely interesting directions.
Whether you are new to rye or already deep into it, there has rarely been a better time to explore.