Rye whiskey
Spirits · usually a base spirit · in 3 cocktails here
What it is
American whiskey made mostly from rye grain. Drier and spicier than bourbon, which is why classic stirred drinks call for it.
Typically about £28 a bottle in the UK.
What it tastes like
Dry and peppery, with baking spice and a hard, almost mineral edge. It finishes short where bourbon lingers sweet.
What it does in a drink
Base spirit for stirred classics. Its dryness is what stops a Manhattan or Sazerac turning syrupy.
Cocktails with rye whiskey
Unlocks 3 recipes on Drinki.
What it pairs with
The ingredients that turn up alongside rye whiskey far more often than chance would predict.
Substitutes
- Bourbon — sweeter and rounder, so the drink loses some of its bite
It can itself stand in for bourbon.