Favorite inexpensive Rye?

[Brandon R]

I consistently see these four rye whiskeys recommended, especially considering their modest prices. I've had all four, but they're never near enough another that I can thoughtfully compare them. I'll have one bottle on hand of one of them, finish it over several months, and then get a different one. Now, I'm not expecting to see significant differences in $20ish ryes, but what do you all think? What's the best out of Dickel, Rittenhouse, Old Overholt, and Sazerac? And, dare I ask, are there any other widely available, sub-$20 ryes worth finding? TIA!

[Brent C l a y t o n]

Rittenhouse is my go-to for cocktails. I am not a fan of Overholt, I don't like 80pf whiskeys and the newer BIB did not impress me. Dickel and Sazerac are great. Jim Beam is another possibility. I can't think of anything around $20 that is a) readily available and b) stands out over these.

[Paul Miller]

Sazerac, but I can't find it easily.

[Corey N.]

Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond. I think it's an excellent bang for the buck. Sazerac has a good flavor profile, but I prefer a higher proof in most of my cocktails (Rittenhouse is 100 v 90 for Sazerac). Plus, Sazerac is sometimes hard to finnd, while Rittenhouse is readily avalable and cheaper too. Overholt is watery and mostly flavorless. If I'm being charitable, it's inoffensive.

[Josh Grossman]

I usually go with Rittenhouse. Dickel is fine but come from the Indiana MGP; as far as I can tell, it's the exact same snake oil as Bulleit Rye. Old Overholt is the cheapest tasting. I don't see Sazerac much as the Buffalo Trace bandwagon is still rolling strong.

[Josh Grossman]

Right now I'm using Old Maysville--but it isn't as cheap.

[Rodrigo B]

Rittenhouse is nice. Though lately I've been going with Redemption Rye as it's around the same price and has a higher rye mash bill which I've been enjoying

[James Lyon]

Rittenhouse and Sazerac would be my choices. I've heard good things about Old Forester Rye.

[twright]

Wild turkey rye is pretty good, granted that I make cocktails (old fashioned) more than drinking it straight.

[Adam Frisch]

Not got huge experience, but Sazerac is good.

[Joe Chanley]

another vote for rittenhouse

[JDavisRoby]

Rittenhouse.

[Mike Maguire]

For sipping Sazerac and Elijah Craig, if you can find it.Cocktails , Rittenhouse is the clear winner.Knob Creek single barrel 115 proof is really good as well.

[Brandon R]

Thanks, All. Exactly what I needed to hear: a pretty clear consensus preference for Rittenhouse. I was asking certainly with the thought of using it for cocktails and not sipping. I won a bottle of Masterson's Rye last year in a booze buy-in FF league and loved it, but I'm not keen to mix expensive stuff like that!

[D B i r d]

I’ve been using Overholt for my Sazeracs. I’ll be trying some of these suggestions.

Thanks for the information.

[Kris Patten]

I sell them, but I like them for different things.

Sazerac, neat or rocks, and old fashioned/Sazerac
Old Fo 100pf, all other cocktails

Sold Rittenhouse for years and loved it....haven't had it since they left. Rittenhouse 25 year old is still one of the coolest whiskeys I have tried.

[Kris Patten]

I’ve been using Overholt for my Sazeracs. I’ll be trying some of these suggestions.

Thanks for the information.

Save some coin and just use Canadian Whiskey. Or try some of the good suggestions here. Beware of mine.

[Mike Cohen]

Ok...let's cool it on the Rittenhouse suggestions. I'm not looking to make it any harder to find.

On a serious note, For cocktails (especially Manhattan's) I'm a fan of High West Double Rye and Rittenhouse

[Kris Patten]

Ok...let's cool it on the Rittenhouse suggestions. I'm not looking to make it any harder to find.

On a serious note, For cocktails (especially Manhattan's) I'm a fan of High West Double Rye and Rittenhouse

I think it will be easier....we were on allocation from distillery from 2013 to 2018, 2019 it opened up and we got double and heading into 2020 we were slated to get even more. It's not a bottomless well, but HH realized the demand.

[David K o l i n]

I usually pour Rittenhouse, but did like Old Forester.

I don’t think that Canadian whisky is a good substitute as they seldom have a good slug or rye even though they are colloquially known as “rye” because they have a little dollop of rye

[Brent C l a y t o n]

Thanks for the reminder about Old Forester. That's another good one.

[Kris Patten]

I usually pour Rittenhouse, but did like Old Forester.

I don’t think that Canadian whisky is a good substitute as they seldom have a good slug or rye even though they are colloquially known as “rye” because they have a little dollop of rye

That was only in reference to wasting money on Old Overholt 86....Canadian is almost as spicy.

[Mich@el Ch@ng]

Rittenhouse or knob creek. My buddy inadvertently made manhattans with handy once which was great but I wouldn’t recommend it.

[James Lyon]

Thanks for the reminder about Old Forester. That's another good one.

You're welcome.

[Mike Maguire]

I usually pour Rittenhouse, but did like Old Forester.

I don’t think that Canadian whisky is a good substitute as they seldom have a good slug or rye even though they are colloquially known as “rye” because they have a little dollop of rye

That was only in reference to wasting money on Old Overholt 86....Canadian is almost as spicy.

Good choice on the Canadian, the Crown northern harvest rye is great for little $$

[Kris Patten]

I usually pour Rittenhouse, but did like Old Forester.

I don’t think that Canadian whisky is a good substitute as they seldom have a good slug or rye even though they are colloquially known as “rye” because they have a little dollop of rye

That was only in reference to wasting money on Old Overholt 86....Canadian is almost as spicy.

Good choice on the Canadian, the Crown northern harvest rye is great for little $$

Wiser's is cheap too.

[Andrew Kotowski]

Yet another vote for Rittenhouse... but unless you're drinking a bunch of rye cocktails, I'd upscale it and go with the Willett 4 yr (~$66 OTD with our nonsense taxes). Using Death & Co's 2 oz rye, .75 vermouth (they use .5 Punt e Mes, .5 Dolin, but I usually Carpano Antica).

Here's my logic - 25.4 oz in a bottle, so effectively 12 manhattans (2 x 1 oz). That's $5.5 of rye, mixed with $1 worth of Carpano Antica (Costco for the win) and $.50 cherry/bitters.

$7 for a top shelf cocktail at home? Buddy, you're worth the extra $2 a glass #winning

[Mike Maguire]

Speaking of Willet 4 year, is there going to be a five.I have 2,3 and 4.I think I picked up the 4 at least 2-3 years ago, pretty special stuff neat.

[Adam Noble]

Also re: Willet 4, Andrew is shopping at a better place than I. My last bottle was about $80 otd.

[bweimer]

Of those you listed, to sip, I prefer Sazerac and it makes a good (you guessed it) Sazerac cocktail. There is a new Rye out from Old Forester that is a decent sipper, and at 100 proof should make a good cocktail, too. Best of all, it's $22-25.

[Andrew Kotowski]

Also re: Willet 4, Andrew is shopping at a better place than I. My last bottle was about $80 otd.

Will keep an eye open for you. Hope all is well!

[Adam Noble]

All is well. Definitely don’t need more Willet 4, but thank you. I have two unopened bottles. But I’ve been enjoying an opened bottle Michters Rye quite a bit lately. And while not as cheap as Rittenhouse, it’s better and not bank breaking. I think I got it for $40.

[Mike Maguire]

All is well. Definitely don’t need more Willet 4, but thank you. I have two unopened bottles. But I’ve been enjoying an opened bottle Michters Rye quite a bit lately. And while not as cheap as Rittenhouse, it’s better and not bank breaking. I think I got it for $40.

That Michters is really good.Funny story , I took a bottle of this to Sitka this Summer,
All my fishing buddies are Vodka drinkers, after an especially wet and cold day, though the fishing was great,back at the house after showers we were still shivering.
I went to the kitchen and brought back the Michters. Poured the 3 of us a couple fingers.A couple sips and they were hooked, finished the bottle that night.My buddys
wife goes into town the next day in search of more, we are about 10 miles out in the Pacific and she calls, it’s $80 a bottle my buddy says buy all they have.Long story short we drank Sitka out of Michters Rye over the next couple weeks.Have since bought a case for Christmas presents
O

[Adam Noble]

And the Toasted Barrel Rye is even better!

[Brandon R]

All is well. Definitely don’t need more Willet 4, but thank you. I have two unopened bottles. But I’ve been enjoying an opened bottle Michters Rye quite a bit lately. And while not as cheap as Rittenhouse, it’s better and not bank breaking. I think I got it for $40.

That Michters is really good.Funny story , I took a bottle of this to Sitka this Summer,
All my fishing buddies are Vodka drinkers, after an especially wet and cold day, though the fishing was great,back at the house after showers we were still shivering.
I went to the kitchen and brought back the Michters. Poured the 3 of us a couple fingers.A couple sips and they were hooked, finished the bottle that night.My buddys
wife goes into town the next day in search of more, we are about 10 miles out in the Pacific and she calls, it’s $80 a bottle my buddy says buy all they have.Long story short we drank Sitka out of Michters Rye over the next couple weeks.Have since bought a case for Christmas presents
O

Great story! I know it's not the rye or even the standard Bourbon, but on the show "Billions," Bobby Axelrod is frequently pouring something from Michters.

[William Segui]

Piling on, Rittenhouse & Sazerac are the champs here. I prefer Rittenhouse for my Manhattans, Saz for Old Fashioned but they are interchangeable at my house. I do like Michters but the price point is almost 2x.

[Mike Maguire]

At my local Costco today Sazerac $32 OTD, bought a 6 pack.Good buy even with Wa.
excessive liquor tax.

[Kris Patten]

At my local Costco today Sazerac $32 OTD, bought a 6 pack.Good buy even with Wa.
excessive liquor tax.

With no restaurants we have built up a little glut....nice find.

[Mike Maguire]

At my local Costco today Sazerac $32 OTD, bought a 6 pack.Good buy even with Wa.
excessive liquor tax.

With no restaurants we have built up a little glut....nice find.

You da man! Still haven’t seen 4R LE , I think Bobs might have some coming up, maybe I’ll get lucky.Struck out on the auction, but happy to support a great cause.

[Kris Patten]

At my local Costco today Sazerac $32 OTD, bought a 6 pack.Good buy even with Wa.
excessive liquor tax.

With no restaurants we have built up a little glut....nice find.

You da man! Still haven’t seen 4R LE , I think Bobs might have some coming up, maybe I’ll get lucky.Struck out on the auction, but happy to support a great cause.

We only got 144 bottles for all of WA.

[Mike Maguire]

I should be able to get you a sample of EHT marriage 18 yr., if you haven’t had one yet.It will take a little arm twisting, but I’m good at that.

[Adam Noble]

I should be able to get you a sample of EHT marriage 18 yr., if you haven’t had one yet.It will take a little arm twisting, but I’m good at that.

That’s the exact opposite of inexpensive and rye. I didn’t even try to find a bottle of that. It was $70 or so in Oregon and secondary is like $1300 or so.

[Mike Maguire]

Sorry, should have been a PM.

[Brandon R]

Grabbed an Old Forster Rye and will try it with Manhattans on Christmas Eve. Never had it so will report back.

[jbray23]

Speaking of Willet 4 year, is there going to be a five.I have 2,3 and 4.I think I picked up the 4 at least 2-3 years ago, pretty special stuff neat.

It looks like they are going to hold at 4yr since it’s their own distillate going forward. Higher age statements will be very limited releases, it could change but for now just 4yr...

[w.fu]

Smooth Ambler 4 year rye. Retails for $50, I’d say my favorite rye in that price range