Any Rye Drinkers Here? (red wine, liquor, whiskey, tequila)

[B.K.]

I've never been a whiskey guy. Bad experiences with Jack Daniel's and my mother's scotch as a teenager made me swear off it decades ago. I had tried all of the varieties, Bourbon, Scotch, Irish, Canadian, Sour Mash, etc., and truly it was the kind of stuff I found hard to swallow. Like the get it in your mouth and wonder if you might throw up before you can spit it out hard to swallow.
But about 15-16 years ago I was sitting at the bar with an old man, an old friend named Jack Sandy, professional cabdriver for 53 years. Sandy had a cold, and along with his Bud bottle he ordered a straight shot of Pikesville rye whiskey. Then, as was his custom when the crowd was down to just a few friends he bought a round for the house. I thought I'd try a rye as I had somehow never tasted it, despite my unquenchable thirst for hard liquor, especially as I wasn't buying.
Fully prepared for the nausea inducing sensation of other whiskies, I was astounded to find something with a dry, smooth, mellow, spicy, slightly nutty flavor and an almost butter-like finish. I was hooked, and enjoy rye to this day.
My favorites are the older (and cheaper) brands Pikesville (no longer made here in Baltimore, but still tastes the same), Old Overholt's, then Jim Beam and Wild Turkey 101 (for mixing only!).
I enjoy it best straight up, neat in a collins glass, water (no ice!) back, tho' a perfect Manhattan up, no cherry, is refreshing in summer, and a Sazerac for a serious session if the bar has real Peychaud's.
So any other rye enthusiasts out there? Please post your experiences, product reviews, and cocktail recipes.

[Mr.Bungle]

The only two I've really tried are Bulleit and Redemption Rye. Both are very good.

[ML North]

Rye burns the back of my tongue and makes the side of my mouth water. In fact, the reason I prefer Makers Mark is because it uses red wheat in place of rye.

That said, I think I could probably learn to enjoy it. I like whiskey because of the complex flavors, kind of like a good coffee or red wine. Rye whiskey, being relatively distinct from your standard bourbons, offers a very different flavor profile that at some point I can find myself enjoying.

Maybe I'll give it a try in the near future.

[pgm123]

I have very little experience, but I've been trying to drink more of it. It was historically America's most popular liquor (the Mid-Atlantic had a long tradition with it). For that reason alone, I want to give it a chance.

[TroutDude]

I prefer sipping a nice Tequila or Scotch neat but there are a couple of rye whiskeys I like: 40 Creek Barrel Select is a nice, mid-priced rye with a full, rich, not-harsh glow from start to finish. I also recently tried, and liked, a spiced whiskey, Spicebox.

[OpenD]

One sip of rye and I... tip my fedora back, light up a Lucky Strike, and try my best not to remember that songbird from the Deveraux Club who... wait!... that mug that just walked in... is he carrying a gat?

[Pfhtex]

Saying "rye" is good or bad is like saying tequila is good or bad. There is a massive breadth of quality involved. I know people who only drank Cuervo in their youth, and now they avoid tequilas entirely. Idiots.

Bulleit rye rocks. Literally and figuratively. Hit their website, or esquire.com for some great recipes.

[grmi66]

Read some article a few months ago that said that Rye was the whiskey your grandfather drank and is the whiskey that Don Draper is drinking in Mad Men. So gave it a whirl, but first I had to track it down. None of the local liquor stores or grocery stores carried it. Finally found it at the local beer/wine/liquor superstore in Phoenix.

For everyday drinking usually stick with Jim Beam's Rye, it' only about $13 a bottle around here plus I finally found a local grocery store that always has it. Over the past few months I have worked my way through a bottle of Bullet, Rittenhouse and Old Overholt. So far I have to say that Rittenhouse is my favorite so far. Usually just have it on the rocks or cut with a little water. It's quickly overtaking Bourbon as my whiskey of choice.

[tpk-nyc]

Rye has made a huge comeback in the last few years. If you're in New York, check out Rye House (Rye House) It's a great bar and restaurant that specializes in Rye cocktails.

[caco54]

My rye would be VO or Canadian Club, in my mind interchangeable and I buy whichever is less expensive at the time. If someone else is buying it would be Crown Royal!