Why you should try rye

Until recently, rye whiskey was thought of as an old-fashioned spirit imbibed by the likes of a gumshoe detective in a paperback mystery. That is changing, however, due to a US-led rye whiskey revival. According to The Telegraph, a “resurgence in artisanal distilling and aging in America has led to a rye renaissance. Old brands have been revived, new brands born, and the most grown-up of American whiskies is back.” And it’s better than ever, which means it’s time to try a rye-based cocktail.

Arguably the most famous rye cocktail is the Manhattan. The story of its invention is (like many cocktails) in dispute. The Manhattan traces back to “a banquet either in honour of Winston Churchill’s mother or losing presidential candidate Samuel J Tilden in the late 19th Century.” The drink comes dry, perfect or sweet, depending on which type of vermouth and the amount you like to use.

There are newer cocktails that celebrate the spirit, like the Red Hook, which dates back to the 1980s and NYC bartender Enzo Enrico, or the even more recent Conference cocktail from the team behind Death & Co.: Modern Classic Cocktails. Whether you want to revisit a classic or find something new, the EYB Library features over 200 drinks highlighting rye whiskey, like these popular libations:

The slope (Time for a Drink) from Serious Eats
Artillery punch from The Joy of Mixology by Gary Regan
Hibiscus Sazerac from Food Network Magazine by Masaharu Morimoto
The scofflaw cocktail from The Kitchn (pictured above)
Rye and maple fizz from Australian Gourmet Traveller Magazine
Caraway rye cocktail from Food & Wine Magazine by Richard Blais