Whisky · Style · Short entry
Rye whisky (United States)
A US whisky made from a mash of at least 51% rye, distilled at no more than 80% alcohol and stored in charred new oak barrels. In Canada 'rye whisky' is a legal synonym for Canadian whisky and has no rye minimum.
Method
Distilled at 160 US proof (80% abv) or less; stored in charred new oak barrels at 125 proof (62.5% abv) or less; 'straight' rye at least two years.
Definition
US rye whisky shares the rules of bourbon except for the grain: the fermented mash must contain not less than 51% rye. It is distilled at 160 proof or less and stored in charred new oak barrels at 125 proof or less; the standards table allows colouring, flavouring or blending materials for this group of whiskies, with bourbon the stated exception.
The same words mean something else in Canada, where "Canadian Whisky", "Canadian Rye Whisky" and "Rye Whisky" are interchangeable legal names for Canadian whisky, made from cereal grain without a rye minimum.
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