Scotch and bourbon tend to get the glory when it comes to whiskey. You don’t hear Don Draper on ‘Mad Men’ asking for a glass of rye. It’s cool to like Scotch. Or Irish whiskey (after all, it’s fun being Irish). And it’s the tough guy who drinks bourbon (former marine Gibbs on NCIS for instance). But rye tends to be forgotten. It was once more common in the United States, but fell out of favor for bourbon and blended brands.
But the glories of a good rye whiskey have been making a comeback in some circles.
Case in point is Michter’s US ‘1’ Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey.
The folks at Michter’s have made a nice formula with their small batch whiskey. They sacrifice quantity for quality, aiming for a unique and satisfying product above all else.
Michter’s US ‘1’ Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey is a nice treat. It has a light spice flavor to it – almost peppery. You’ll notice a little fruit taste as well – plums, agreed our tasters – as well as vanilla and caramel.
It was also quite smooth – especially when mellowed with an ice cube or two. We also recommend it for mixers – great with a Manhattan or Old-Fashion. But like most rye whiskey, it isn’t as sweet as a bourbon. It has a nice character to it. Rugged, yet approachable.
Rye whiskey may not be to everyone’s taste – but we recommend you try it – and this is a good starting point.
A Michter’s US ‘1’ Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey bottle will cost about $40. A bit expensive for the overall product, but worth it for someone wanting to try a good bottle of rye. Or for someone who loves their rye whiskey.
We think Don Draper would approve.