Rye is an amazing grain, and so many people still haven’t experienced it in the right way. By “the right way,” I mean whatever works best for you, whether that is a neat pour, a cocktail, or a splash of water. The point is finding a serve that shows off just how complex and rich rye whiskey can be.
The bottles below are some of the best value rye whiskeys to win Double Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026, with quite a few already attracting serious attention.
What do you think of the list? Let us know if you’ve tried any of them.
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ASW Distillery Fiddler Toasted Straight Rye Whiskey, 50.7%, £50/$65 – Double Gold Medal
Using whiskey sourced from MGP in Indiana, this rye has been aged for at least six years and finished across multiple different barrels with varying char levels. As a result, all of the information is listed on the inset label, so you know exactly what you’re getting with each batch.
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That finishing period can range from two to twenty months, depending on what the char level is doing to the whiskey. This isn’t a classic rye spice bomb. Instead, it is more about butterscotch, maple, honey, and nutmeg. I can imagine this being excellent in an Irish coffee, or would that be an American coffee at that point?
Baltimore Spirits Company Epoch Maryland Straight Rye Whiskey 6 Year Old Cask Strength, 64.3%, £68/$90 – Double Gold Medal
A 100% pot still rye distillate from Maryland, the home of rye whiskey in America. This is a 10th anniversary bottling at a rather eye-watering 64.3%, and it delivers a very classic rye flavor, supercharged by that remarkable barrel-to-bottle ABV.
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READ THE STORYIt is full of freshly cut mint, dill, and lemon oil, with a huge hit to the senses as that earthy spice drives home on the palate. Dark and earthy, with dark chocolate, cinnamon, lemon oil, and dried herbs, this is a bottle for those who love a vintage-style rye with real spice and intensity.
Frey Ranch Distillery Farm Strength Rye Whiskey, 61.2%, £68/$90 – Double Gold Medal
Another 100% rye bottling from the folks at Frey Ranch. Their whiskeys are building a stunning reputation on both sides of the Atlantic, and this bottle is one that UK rye drinkers are already hunting down.
Hailing from Nevada, this is laced with classic rye character: lots of pineapple, licorice, zingy citrus notes such as lemon and grapefruit, and classic Christmas spices like nutmeg and cloves. The taste and finish are massively dominated by those licorice and citrus notes, which really drive home the power of a 100%, cask strength rye. This is a rollercoaster of classic rye style. It won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it will certainly leave an impression.
Hooten Young Rye Whiskey 7 Year Old, 46.5%, £45/$61 – Double Gold Medal
A bottle of whiskey inspired by a battle that later became the movie Black Hawk Down, and now something you can sip. This seven-year-old rye has a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, and it has already picked up decent awards, including a place in Fred Minnick’s Top 100 list of 2025.
This is a rye with some delicate notes, pushing forward caramelized sugars, tinned apricots, and fresh pear. It still has some welcome spice and intensity, as you would expect from rye, but there are also softer, more comforting notes that take center stage when it comes to flavor.
King’s Family Distillery Rye Whiskey, 45%, £/$50 – Double Gold Medal
This one pulls back slightly on the rye influence, being distilled in more of a classic Kentucky style with 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley.
One of my favorite things about this bottling is the cherry note. We’ve been waiting for one to fill the room with that kind of fresh cherry character. It also brings notes of mint, honey, toasted nuts, and oak. It’s a great neat pour, but it works so well in a Manhattan, especially with sweet Italian vermouth.
Pine Bluffs Distilling Straight Rye Whiskey, 49.5%, £38/$54 – Double Gold Medal
A very interesting release here. There is no corn to help balance out the rye. Instead, wheat and oats make up part of the mash bill.
Built around a 68% rye foundation, with 14% malted white wheat, 14% malted barley, and 4% oats, this is a seriously distinct rye with plenty to draw people in. All the grains are sourced locally in Wyoming, coming together to create a spicy style led by lemon, mint, and Christmas spice.
The wheat and oats add serious texture, giving it a strong, syrupy mouthfeel that allows the rye to push home with a massive finish of mint, lemon, raisins, and dark chocolate.
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co Bottled-in-Bond Rye Whiskey, 50%, £40/$55 – Double Gold Medal
A bonded rye aged between four and five years, with a mash bill of 75% rye and 25% corn. There is no malted barley in the mix, which isn’t unheard of, but it is rare to see outside 100% rye mash bills.
This is a rye that feels a little more welcoming to bourbon drinkers, or to whiskey drinkers who want less spice and more sweet, creamy flavors. It is loaded with butterscotch, vanilla, brown sugar, and just a little touch of that classic dill note you can get with rye whiskeys.
Final Thoughts
This list showcases the diversity of rye whiskey across the U.S., without even getting into products from Canada or Europe. The huge variation in mash bills, flavor profiles, and bottling strengths shows just how exciting rye can be when it comes to distillation and aging.
The bottles on this list all sound wonderful, even if their taste profiles vary quite significantly. Nonetheless, rye is here to stay, with a dominance and versatility that is hard to underestimate.
