Rye whiskey originated in colonial America, particularly in Pennsylvania and Maryland, where early settlers began distilling rye whiskey in the 18th century. Whilst the spirit enjoyed widespread popularity through the following centuries, it suffered a slump during and after prohibition.
In recent years, the industry has been experiencing something of a rye whiskey renaissance. With popularity again on the rise, distillers across the US have been trying their hands at producing this spicy spirit, and with some award-winning results.
The World Whiskies Awards (WWA) is one of the most prevalent and competitive whisky competitions in the world. With over 1,600 entrants across 22 categories, the whiskies (or, in this case, whiskeys) that are awarded Gold medals and Category Winner status are the recipients of high praise from the expert panel of judges.
Continuing my venture into award-winning whiskeys, these are all of the Gold medal and Category-winning rye whiskeys from the 2024 World Whiskies Awards.
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Widow Jane Paradigm Rye
Category: No Age Statement Rye
Medal: Gold, Category Winner
Tasting Notes: Lemon meringue pie, spring flowers, cut grass, lychee, buttered rye toast, mandarin marmalade, cedar, white pepper, thyme, artichoke, earl grey, sandalwood, peach
BUY NOW: $36.98
Widow Jane, located in Brooklyn, New York, sources the best casks of whiskey and bourbon from across the US and expertly blends them to create unique expressions. This such expression, Paradigm Rye, was the No Age Statement Rye Category Winner at the 2024 WWA, clinching a Gold medal.
Paradigm Rye was blended from rye whiskeys sourced from Red Hook, Kentucky, and Indiana. The rye was then aged in oak and bottled at 46.5% ABV.
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According to the Widow Jane website, “Its intriguing and approachable flavor profile goes beyond the spice notes for which rye is known, and incorporates the sweetness and mouthfeel emblematic of the diversity of rye.”
In the near future, Widow Jane plans to bring all whiskey production in-house, which means that we could soon be treated to some fantastic New York ryes.
Saints Alley The Nobleman Rye Whiskey
Category: 12 Years & Under Rye
Medal: Gold, Best American Rye – WINNER
Tasting Notes: No official tasting notes available
BUY NOW: $79.99
Saints Alley is a Texan spirits brand created by Jonathan Likarish (Head Distiller at Ironroot Republic) and Chris Trevino (an avid whiskey collector), two friends with a mutual love of whiskey. The brand is named after the alleyway that runs behind the company’s barrelhouse in Denison, Texas.
Saints Alley The Nobleman Rye Whiskey is a meticulous blend of Ironroots rye and spirits from MGP, finished in Tokaji casks.
Tokaji is a sweet wine hailing from the Tokaj wine region in northeastern Hungary that imparts a sweet and smooth mouthfeel to the rye.
Bottled at 53.5% ABV, only 2,400 bottles were produced.
As this was a limited edition release, there are no official tasting notes on Saints Alley’s website. However, the WWA website describes the whiskey as follows: “Dusty, earthy spice, caramel, and candied apples on the nose. The palate offers a blend of coconut cream, stone fruit, coffee, and tawny port with deep spice undertones. Great viscosity. The lingering finish is sweet and complex.”
Saints Alley The Nobleman Rye Whiskey was the overall winner of the Best American Rye category.
Proof And Wood Tumblin’ Dice Single Barrel Rye
Category: Single Cask Single Rye 12 Years & Under
Medal: Gold, Category Winner
Tasting Notes: No official tasting notes available
BUY NOW: N/A
You will notice that this is the first of two Proof And Wood expressions that won Gold at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards.
The first, the Tumblin’ Dice Single Barrel Rye was distilled from a mash bill comprising 95% rye and 5% barley. The whiskey was then aged for at least seven years (and up to eight) prior to bottling between 112 and 117 proof. This particular expression was bottled at 57% ABV.
Whilst there are no official tasting notes on the Proof And Wood website, the judges at the 2024 WWA describe the rye as such: “Vanilla, baking spices, burlap, toasted rye grain, maple, and orange zest on the nose. The palate has maple up front, with peppery spice, rye toast, and salted butter. Roasted grain and coffee candies on the finish.”
This expression seems extremely difficult to find at retail or at auction. Proof And Wood stockist, ReserveBar, does not currently have any in stock. So, good luck getting your hands on one of these!
Proof And Wood Tumblin’ Dice Small Batch Rye
Category: 12 Years & Under Rye
Medal: Gold
Tasting Notes: No official tasting notes available
BUY NOW: $79.99
The next expression from Proof And Wood is, at least, available at retail. However, there is not much official information on this expression.
From my research, I gather that the mash bill for Tumbin’ Dice Small Batch Rye is the same as the single barrel expression: 95% rye and 5% barley. The difference here being that the rye whiskey was bottled from a selected number of casks that had been vatted together, rather than a single barrel.
Either way, it was enough for the brand to win a second Gold medal at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards.
Proof And Wood is a “purveyor and blender of American and global spirits”, named for the two things under their control during blending and aging: the bottling strength and the wood the whiskey was aged in.
Sourcing fine spirits from across the US and blending and aging in-house, founder Dave Schmier is committed to creating something for everyone. Whether you prefer to drink your whiskey neat or in a cocktail, Proof And Wood has something for you.
Smooth Ambler Contradiction Rye Whiskey
Category: 12 Years & Under Rye
Medal: Gold
Tasting Notes: Tropical fruit, cream soda, brown baking spices, garden herbs
BUY NOW: $29.96
Smooth Ambler Distillery, located in West Virginia, prides itself on the “fiercely independent spirit” of its team, allowing high-quality bourbon and rye to be made in the Appalachian hills.
The award-winning Contradiction Rye is a blend of one such West Virginia whiskey, as well as others sourced from Indiana and Tennessee. Four different whiskeys make up this velvety expression: 95% Indiana rye, 88% West Virginia rye, 70% Tennessee rye, and 51% Tennessee rye from a different distillery.
The rye is bottled at 52.5% ABV.
Smooth Ambler does not shy away from recommending this rye for use in cocktails such as The Manhattan, the Old Fashioned, and the West Virginia Mulep. The recipes for said cocktails can be found on the brand’s website.
Angel’s Envy 2023 Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Sauternes and Toasted Oak Barrels
Category: 12 Years & Under Rye
Medal: Gold
Tasting Notes: Pears, cream, rye spice, cream soda, black tea, floral sweetness
BUY NOW: $349.89
This limited edition release from Kentucky-based Angel’s Envy was limited to just 5,500 bottles.
Angel’s Envy 2023 Cask Strength Straight Rye is the first such barrel-proof rye release from the brand. Crafted by Angel’s Envy Master Distiller, Owen Martin, the whiskey plays with different finishing casks, rather than the port and rum finishes for which Angel’s Envy has become known.
The rye whiskey was blended from two finishing casks: one Sauternes, and one toasted oak. According to Martin, “While experimenting with blending, I found that they complemented each other and couldn’t imagine cutting the blend down. And so, Cask Strength Rye was born.”
Angel’s Envy, founded by Bourbon Hall of Famer Lincoln Henderson and his son, Wes, is named for the ‘angel’s share’ – the whiskey that is lost to evaporation as the cask matures. According to the brand’s website: “After tasting our finished whiskey, Lincoln joked that we had finally struck a better deal than the angels. And so, Angel’s Envy was born.”
More Award-Winning Whiskies
Week by week, I delve deep into the award-winning whiskies of the world across multiple competitions and categories.
For more on the best whiskies in the world, keep an eye on the Awards Series page.
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