Rye whiskey is back in the spotlight, better than ever! Taking the righteousness place in the hearts of cocktail lovers. Savoury, filled with a unique personality that’s firm, rye whisky is sure to elevate every one of these classic cocktails, adding complexity and depth to each little sip.
As you prepare for bettering your home bar, start with these five classic rye whiskey cocktails. Now take a dive into the recipes that show off the versatility of this spirit.
1. The Classic Rye Old Fashioned
An Old Fashioned is a drink that will never die, and with rye, it becomes a true classic. The hot spice of rye balances perfectly with the sweetness of sugar, adding dimension and depth to an otherwise very simple drink.
Directions:
- Place sugar cube into a glass, add bitters.
- Add a splash of water to help dissolve sugar.
- Place a good amount of ice in the glass and pour in your rye whiskey.
- As you mix well, try garnishing it with an orange peel for that extra color.
Pro Tip: When choosing rye whiskey for your Old-Fashioned drinks, look towards the Bulleit Rye or Woodford Reserve Rye, exclusively available at The Epicurean Traders Store.
2. The Manhattan: A Timeless Rye Whiskey Cocktail
Rye whiskey is one of the most revered of all cocktails. It is characteristically a stimulating drink, its dark-rouged marriage of vermouth, bitters, and rye whiskey becomes occupying with esteem. Rye whiskey’s spiciness cuts through the sweetness of vermouth, which makes it the perfect spirit for this cocktail.
Components:
- 60 ml of rye whiskey
- 30 ml of sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- A Maraschino cherry for garnish
Preparation:
- On the rocks, in a mixing glass, stir the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
- Stir around 30 seconds, we’ll want to allow the drink to get cold.
- Get the drink into a pre-chilled coupe, and top it off with a Cherry.
Historical Note: The Manhattan that people like to consume nowadays, is a different type of Manhattan, with which the 1800s New York City came, made complete with rye whiskey.
Want to try the Manhattan Cocktail? Click here for our website.
3. The Sazerac and New Orleans
Through the Old-Fashioned, the Sazerac is one of the oldest American cocktails, closely linked to the rich tradition of New Orleans. The Sazerac has a dense aromatic, cardamom on-infused hot flavor, the best for the spice lovers out there.
Components:
- 60 ml of rye whiskey
- 1 sugar cube
- 2 dashes of Peychaud's bitters
- Absinthe (to rinse the glass)
- A twist of lemon peel for garnish
Preparation:
- Rinse an ice-chilled glass with absinthe and discard the excess.
- In another glass, muddle the sugar cube and add the bitter drops.
- Then add rye whiskey and ice and stir briskly.
- Fill the prepared glass with the strained cocktail and garnish with the twist of lemon peel.
Memory Hook: The first Sazerac cocktail was made with Cognac, which was at the height of city priorities, yet rye whiskey prevailed by its prominence in the American diet; try for the best effect High West Double Rye whiskey from The Epicurean Trader.
High West Distillery - 'Double Rye' Rye (750ML)
4. Whiskey Sour: A Concord of Ingredients with Rye Whiskey
This Cross Cultural cocktail is refreshing and zesty; it also makes a great pairing with lemonade and ginger ale.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz rye whiskey
- ¾ oz lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- Lemon wheel or cherry for garnish
Instructions:
- In a shaker, we’ll start off by mixing all the ingredients with ice.
- Shake for 10-15 seconds.
- Filter into a glass filled with ice and, garnish with a lemon slice or any other fruit that’s appealing.
Rye royal: The spicy rye whiskey adds depth and character to this classic cocktail. Recommended brands at The Epicurean Trader include Redemption and Old Forester Rye.
Old Forester Distilling Co - '1924' 10yr Kentucky Bourbon (750ML)
5. The Boulevardier: A Sharper Bitter Drink
A Boulevardier is a Negroni, but we’ve the rye whiskey replacing the gin for the punch. Campari adds to the stout-and-bitter palette while the rye whiskey present lends it a sense of further strength to complement the looks.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz rye whiskey
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 1 oz Campari
- Orange twist for garnish
Instructions:
- In a shaker, we’ll start off by mixing all the ingredients with ice.
- Mix till everything’s chilly as desired.
- Strain into a glass filled with ice, and garnish with some orange zest to elevate the experience.
The Negroni Connection: Since Negroni is gin based, Boulevardier is present on the side of the spectrum, with rye whiskey delivering denser and more complete offers. Rittenhouse Rye or, Michter's Rye, will work splendidly for this recipe: great brands to check out at what is offered by The Epicurean Trader.
Heaven Hill Distillery - 'Rittenhouse: Vintage Label' Bottled-In-Bond Rye (750ML)
Conclusion: Elevate Your Home Bar with Drinks Made with Rye
With addition of rye, a few cocktails of yesteryear elevate to sublime. It's from the sweet rides, such as Boulevardier to leviathan Sazerac, a home mixologist can hardly go wrong. Take the opportunity to elevate these recipes further with The Epicurean Trader's expansive range of rye whiskey.
What are we waiting for? Let’s shop for the Rye Whisky delights we just read about at the Epicurean Trader.
You may also like to read our blogs, on such:
- Margarita Cocktails: A Step-by-Step guide to Making the Perfect Drink
- The Ultimate Manhattan Cocktail Drink
- The Essentials of the Spritz Kit
