Woodford Reserve Rye Whiskey

Woodford Reserve Rye is one of the standout expressions from one of Kentucky’s most celebrated distilleries. While Woodford Reserve is best known for its flagship bourbon, their rye whiskey deserves equal attention. Made with a high-rye mash bill — 53% rye grain, 33% corn, and 14% malted barley — this is a rye that genuinely delivers on the bold, spicy character that defines the category at its best.

At 45.2% ABV, the nose is a wonderful mix of cracked black pepper, dried herbs, floral notes, and a background sweetness from the corn. On the palate the rye takes centre stage — bold spice, toasted oak, a hint of dried fruit, and a satisfying complexity that speaks to the careful maturation in new charred American oak barrels. Unlike some rye whiskies that lean too far into astringency, Woodford Reserve Rye stays balanced throughout, with a long, warming finish that lingers with pepper, vanilla, and gentle oak tannins.

Woodford Reserve Rye is brilliant both neat and in cocktails. It makes an exceptional Manhattan — the rye spice cuts through the sweet vermouth beautifully — and it’s equally at home in an Old Fashioned or a Whiskey Sour. If you already love the Woodford Reserve Bourbon, this rye offers a more assertive, spicier alternative that’s every bit as polished. A must-try for rye whiskey enthusiasts.