The Best American Rye Whiskeys Of 2025
From bottles inspired by Shakespeare and William H. Macy’s namesake expression to the oldest ryes ever released by pillar labels.
When Maxim first launched our humble year-end roundup of the very best American whiskeys in 2019, it was only a single list. Nothing fancy, just all our favorite bottles from that year compiled into one group. Now in our 7th year, we’ve grown the awards to five categories—a compartmentalized exploration of the finest examples in each pillar of American whiskey: Ryes, Double-Barrel Finishes, American Single Malts, Innovators and, of course, the king daddy of all American whiskey, Bourbon.
We’ve selected a standout in each field, followed by our other favorites that dropped this year. While we tasted over 200 expressions in 2025 alone, by no means is this list meant to be exhaustive—instead, consider it a list of the very best we’ve had a chance to pour a dram of. First up, let’s get a bit spicy and take a look at the 11 best rye whiskeys from the year.
Best Rye Whiskey Of 2025: Proof and Wood Tumblin’ Dice Special 11-Year-Old Rye Whiskey
Via its various bottlings like Deadwood Bourbon, The Representative Bourbon and The Senator Rye, Proof and Wood built its reputation on craftsmanship, transparency, and a deep respect for whiskey-making tradition. As one of America’s most awarded independent bottlers, P&W continues to impress with small-batch releases that highlight the particular arts of barrel selection and aging. Hence the name founder Dave Schmier gave his label. P&W’s latest showcase: a pair of rare 11-year-old rye single barrels that feature an unconventional mash bill of 51 percent rye / 49 percent malted barley, a recipe that emphasizes balance and nuance over raw spice. With just under a dozen years, this Tumblin’ Dice is aged to perfection, the time in wood revealing layers of fruit like ripe Fuji apple and orange peel, followed by the dark spice and cinnamon rye is famous for and a long, complex finish.
With over 4,000 barrels aging in warehouses across Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and California, P&W maintains full control over its maturing stock, releasing only when the whiskey reaches its ideal character. For this release, Schmier opted to bottle his rye as a single barrel and at barrel proof (62.2 percent ABV), a joy for whiskey-heads everywhere. As the brand approaches its 10th anniversary, the Tumblin’ Dice lineup has already claimed top honors, including Best Single Cask Rye and World’s Best Bourbon at the World Whiskies Awards. Proof and Wood Special 11-Year-Old Rye may be tough to find, but worth the effort. $110 SRP
Lost Lantern X New York Distilling Co. ‘Single Distillery Series’ Opulent Orchard Rye Whiskey
Initially unplanned, Lost Lantern’s Spring 2025 Collection included a sub-collection of apple-influenced expressions—two with apple brandy barrel finishes (New York Distilling Co. rye and Santa Fe Spirits New Mexico single malt), and a Finger Lakes Distilling rye single cask finished with pommeau, a traditional French mistelle that blends unfermented apple cider with apple brandy.
Launched by duo Adam Polonski and Nancy Ganley-Roper in 2020, the latter Lost Lantern co-founder explains that while the trilogy all have apple influence, luckily they were different enough from one another that none feel repetitive or overlapping. She credits the versatility of apple as a finish, comparing it to the various sherry categories (e.g. Oloroso, Fino, Amontillado, PX, etc.), and their wildly different effects on whiskey.
“Adam and I are both hoping that apple brandy will become one of the more common finishes in the U.S.,” Ganley-Roper revealed to Maxim. “If done well, apple brandy rounds out and enhances the flavors of the spirits and it lends a rich, full mouthfeel. And it is a spirit with a very long history in this country.” In addition to the trilogy above, the Spring 2025 Collection also included single casks of peated Texas single malt from Andalusia finished in tequila barrels, a 4-year-old Indiana bourbon from Starlight finished in honey barrels, and an 8-year-old Ohio bourbon from Watershed finished in Nocino barrels.
But it’s the aforementioned New York Distilling Co. rye dubbed Opulent Orchard that stands out most, offering an indulgent and evocative drinking experience that sets the bar even higher. The latest entry in Lost Lantern’s “Single Distillery Series,” the Opulent Orchard expression is coincidentally an older version—aged 7 years—of the very first rye Lost Lantern ever released. That New York Distilling Co.-sourced apple brandy finished rye was so popular, it partly inspired this Spring Collection. Only 410 bottles of Lost Lantern’s Opulent Orchard (57.45 percent ABV) are available at a very approachable price. $100 SRP.
Sagamore Spirit 10-Year-Old Straight Rye Whiskey
The pride of Baltimore, Sagamore Spirit’s latest Reserve Series release is also their oldest rye to date. Made from some of the earliest MGP stock Sagamore ever purchased, the 10-Year Rye is both a farewell and a milestone—one of the last sourced barrels before the brand fully transitions to its own distillate made at its Patapsco River waterfront distillery since 2017. For Ryan Norwood, Sagamore Vice President of Operations, the age statement hits a bullseye. “For me, rye kind of has that sweet spot between about 6 and 10 years,” he told Maxim.
Despite being sourced from Indiana, Maryland’s climate leaves its own fingerprint on the spirit. With humid summers and frigid winters, the state’s seasonal swings push whiskey deep into the oak barrels’ wood and back again, extracting flavor in bold strokes. Unlike Kentucky or Indiana, Norwood reveals Sagamore’s rickhouses often see proof rise during maturation, adding another layer of character. The result in the 10-Year is a whiskey Norwood described as “super balanced… with notes of peach crumble, roasted nuts, rye spice, with just enough sweetness to round it out.”
The 10-Year release is limited, and rye aficionados will likely snap it up. The newest addition to its award-winning Reserve Series is also both an ending and a beginning, a tribute to the barrels that carried them this far, and a promise of what’s to come as more of their whiskey boasts the unmistakable mark of Baltimore. $80 SRP
Old Overholt Cask Strength 12-Year Rye Whiskey
It’s easy to get lost in the oft-compelling heritage and mythology of American whiskey, especially styles that evoke a sepia-tinged sort of legacy: America’s long history of rye whiskey production, often traceable largely through Pennsylvania, certainly qualifies. But how does the liquid itself stack up in modern times? For the team making bartender-favorite Old Overholt under the historic umbrella of the James B. Beam Distilling Co., the company remains an accessible staple, with its core offerings a staple in rye-forward cocktails.
Its Cask Strength 12-Year Rye rightfully turned heads when the third edition dropped this year—and that timeless Old Overholt heritage was a guiding light in the process. Billed as “a high-value vintage style liquid designed and blended from select warehouses and highly curated barrels, 12 years of aging across four warehouses tucked within the rolling hills of Clermont, Kentucky makes for a simply remarkable rye at a fairly agreeable (albeit premium) price if you love historically inclined rye whiskey that punches above its weight.
The proof (it clocks in at 107.4) isn’t all that overpowering, and this Cask Strength Rye drinks more mellow rather than overly spiced or oaked. Of course, charred oak and spice still dance delicately in pleasing fashion, while the aroma calls to mind tobacco and leather—classic whiskey notes any Old Overholt fan will assuredly recognize and appreciate. For those times when you’ve got your “daily drinker” Old Overholt flagship bottle close at hand, but want something with more age and a dash more complex in character, look to this evolved take on a cask-strength rye. $110 SRP —Beau Hayhoe
Distillery 291 XIV Anniversary Rye Whiskey
Distillery 291 founder Michael Myers distilled his first ever batch of straight rye on August 27, 2011—only his second recipe ever after his acclaimed bourbon. “This is the whiskey I sent out to make when I started 291,” he tells Maxim. “I wanted rye whiskey that was big, bold, and beautiful like the state of Colorado.” For the Colorado Springs distillery’s 10-year anniversary, they decided to batch some of their oldest rye. So they released X as their oldest to date from a single barrel and now make a special anniversary blend to celebrate their birthday annually.
Crafted from hand-selected barrels of their 61 percent malted rye and 39 percent corn mash bill, aged over four years, and steeped with their signature aspen wood staves, this “Fourteener” limited-edition release boasts notes of warm cinnamon roll, toffee and dried apricot. “Since the 10th anniversary, we’ve done one every year,” Myers continues. “And we will keep doing them!” As Distillery 291 loves to do, they’re releasing the XIV Anniversary Rye at a barrel proof 65.8 percent ABV (131.6-proof), with only a couple over 500 bottles to be found. $150 SRP
High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 13 Rye Whiskey
“When we created A Midwinter Night’s Dram, we wanted the name to capture the same kind of imagination and artistry that Shakespeare brought to the stage with A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The timing of the release in the heart of winter made the play on words feel just right,” High West’s Tara Lindley explained of the naming inspiration for their annual rye gem. “For us, it’s not just about the rye and the port barrels; it’s about creating something that connects people to a season, a story and a shared sense of wonder.”
High West’s Director of Sensory QA / New Product Development mentions how High West sources two types of port barrels, ruby and tawny, from across Portugal every year. The use of different port woods allows the team to really modulate and play with the exact properties they want that year’s particular “Act” to offer. Specifically she pinpoints notes of baking spice, vanilla, and both dried and preserved fruit—flavors High West believes evoke the late seasons of fall and winter.
Beyond using both ruby and tawny port barrels, High West also begins the entire process with rye from two separate distilleries that use slightly different mash bills—a combo they also use for their flagship Rendezvous Rye expression: MGP’s famed “95/5” rye and a pure rye mash bill (80 percent rye / 20 percent malted rye) distilled by High West themselves at their Wanship, Utah distillery. Bottled at 49.3 percent ABV (98.6-proof), A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 13 can be found at High West’s Wanship Distillery and Saloon in Park City. $150 SRP
Frank August Case Study: 03 Winter Cover Rye Whiskey
Frank August has never been shy about its epicurean ambitions. Since launching in 2020, the Louisville-based label has treated American whiskey less like a commodity and more like a design discipline—one rooted in precision, aesthetics, and a willingness to experiment. “The intent of Case Study was and is to be a program that allows Frank August to push the boundaries of traditional American whiskey,” co-founder Johnathan Crocker told us earlier this year. “All in an effort to create truly ‘one of one’ world-class whiskey expressions.”
Case Study, the brand’s experimental arm, takes inspiration from the iconic Arts and Architecture Case Study Houses of the 1940s—those modernist, forward-looking homes imagined by the likes of Neutra, Eames, and Saarinen. Just as those midcentury starchitects re-envisioned domestic space, Crocker and team explore new possibilities in blending, finishing, and maturation. Their first two releases—Mizunara Oak and 1948 XO PX Brandy Cask—set the tone. Awards quickly followed across their core portfolio, with Double Golds and high IWSC scores adding credibility to the brand’s strikingly minimalist visual identity.
But Case Study: 03 marks a milestone: Frank August’s first-ever rye. “Personally, I love rye and have wanted to release a core rye since we launched,” Crocker revealed over lunch. While the flagship bourbon took precedence, impatience nudged him toward a workaround—an experimental rye released under the Case Study banner. After months of blind tasting the brand’s entire rye inventory, one pattern emerged: the best barrels were all winter distillations. Inspired by rye’s agricultural role as a winter “cover crop,” the name—and the whiskey—took shape. Blended from nine winter-distilled barrels and bottled at a muscular 53.13 percent ABV, Winter Cover Rye is lush, layered, and deeply expressive. Plum, toffee, candied apple, dark chocolate bitters, and warm rye spice glide into a long, oily finish—good enough to earn the IWSC’s Best Rye Trophy with a 95/100 score. A “one of one,” indeed. $125 SRP
Templeton Hidden Stash Collection, 13-Year-Old Rye Whiskey
This 13-Year-Old Rye pulls the curtain back on Templeton’s most prized sourced barrels, quietly resting for more than a decade in the fields and seasons of their eponymous Iowa town. The inaugural release in the aptly named Hidden Stash collection, Templeton’s newest gem is also the crown jewel of their aging program. Bottled at 108-proof, non-chill filtered, and wrapped in elevated packaging, Templeton 13-Year-Old Rye showcases just how far Templeton has evolved.
Whiskey fans surely know the history of Templeton as one of the first labels to catch the business end of #whiskeyhead ire for being a bit nebulous with where they got their rye whiskey. Initially the label obfuscated the fact that their rye was not actually made in Iowa—rather it was sourced from Indiana, using MGP’s ubiquitous “95/5” recipe. These days, not only is sourcing better understood and accepted, but Templeton has also been distilling its own juice in Iowa since 2018. This new release is not part of the latter, however—but its MGP 95 percent rye / 5 percent malted barley mash bill has benefitted greatly from over a dozen years of slow Midwest aging.
The release opens with bold, fragrant rye and candied orange zest on the nose, while its palate lands with a warming, sweet chipotle note before softening into citrus, spice, and honeyed warmth. In many ways, the release feels like a reclaiming of Templeton’s somewhat controversial roots—both by releasing its oldest barrels that built the brand from the ground up, and by nodding to the town’s bootlegging history, when whiskey was key to the town surviving both Prohibition and the Great Depression. $170 SRP
Woody Creek Distillers William H. Macy Reserve Rye, Batch 2
Some celebrity spirits are boardroom inventions of leveraging Q scores—this ain’t one. William H. Macy didn’t go looking for a whiskey gig; it stumbled into his own backyard. Literally. When Macy and his wife, actress Felicity Huffman, moved into her childhood home in Woody Creek, Colorado, he noticed the pasture out front blanketed in white blooms. Assuming they were petunias, he was quickly corrected: They were potatoes, part of a neighborly barter between the Huffman family and the Scanlans—who, as fate would have it, had just founded Woody Creek Distillers. A week later, Mark Scanlan knocked on Macy’s door to share the news. Macy cut him off with a grin: “I’m in.” And just like that, the Oscar nominee became the brand’s self-proclaimed “Spokesdude.”
Woody Creek Distillers quickly gained acclaim with its potato vodka—taking Double Gold, Best Vodka and Best Overall Spirit at the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition—and has since expanded into gin, bourbon, and a suite of impeccably crafted rye whiskeys. Everything is Colorado-grown, distilled in towering German-made Christian Carl stills, and produced with a no-shortcuts philosophy Macy champions.
The standout of the portfolio in 2025 is the William H. Macy Reserve Rye, Batch 2—a single-barrel, 100-percent rye whiskey aged a full decade in new American oak and bottled at 100 proof. The result is a velvet-rich rye bursting with honey crisp apple, singed orange peel, yellow raisin, and a deep backbone of clove and baking spice. Available at the Basalt distillery and select retailers, it’s a whiskey that embodies Woody Creek’s ethos: uncompromising, character-driven, and rooted in friendship, land, and a little bit of Hollywood serendipity. $199 SRP
Minden Mill Single Estate Rye Whiskey
Along with their Lake Tahoe neighbors at Frey Ranch, Minden Mill Distilling is helping put Nevada on the whiskey map with truly farm-to-table spirits. Every step of production—from cultivating the grains to milling, malting, fermenting, distilling, aging, and bottling—happens on-site at its 1,200-acre high desert estate in Minden, underscoring the distillery’s rare commitment to full traceability and craftsmanship. We very much appreciate their Single Estate Rye. Distilled from a mash bill of 80 percent rye, 10 percent soft white wheat, and 10 percent estate-malted barley, the whiskey reflects the character of Nevada’s climate, where sharp temperature shifts and short growing seasons yield grains with earthy, nutty depth.
Distilled in a former century-old creamery using both a Headframe continuous still and a Christian Carl hybrid still, the whiskey ages in Seguin Moreau New American oak barrels with a No. 3 char, resting in rickhouses calibrated to mirror the humidity and temperature of Kentucky’s Nelson County. Under the hand of Master Distiller Joe O’Sullivan, the 94-proof, non-chill filtered spirit achieves a refined balance of savory complexity and approachable smoothness, prioritizing flavor harmony over the punchy spice typical of rye. Aromas of bright orange peel and toasted spice lead into rich notes of cherry syrup, crème brûlée, and vanilla, finishing long with candied fruit, graham cracker warmth, and a touch of minerality.
Unsurprisingly, Minden Mill earned the 2025 Nevada Distillery of the Year title at the New York International Spirits Competition, Best Straight Rye Whiskey at the Craft Distillers Spirits Competition (2024), and Platinum Medals at both the 2025 San Diego International Spirits Competition and the 2025 Ascot Awards. With a very approachable price, Minden Mill Single Estate Rye is perfect to stock all your holiday Manhattan needs. $45 SRP
Three Chord Riot Double Bonded Rye
Forgive the overused phrasing, but to quote the timeless Nigel Tufnel, with Riot Double Bonded Rye, Three Chord Bourbon founder Neil Giraldo turns the volume all the way up to 11. Known for blending music and whiskey with equal virtuosity, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Giraldo’s Three Chord Bourbon carved out its own lane in the spirits world through innovative cask finishes, meticulous blending, and a deep-rooted commitment to the creative community.
The brand’s bold new visual chapter, Volume 2, pushes that ethos even further with a quartet of new expressions manifesting those skills. Consider Strange Collab, the only Pinot Noir-finished bourbon on the market. But our preferred of the foursome is the aforementioned Riot Double Bonded Rye. A category first, Riot blends two Bottled-in-Bond rye whiskeys sourced from MGP and Bardstown Bourbon Company, aged 4 to 7 years, all built on a classic 95 percent rye / 5 percent malted barley mash bill. The result? A high-rye firecracker with structure, swagger, and edge—a 50 percent ABV banger that snagged a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition before it even hit its stride.
Extra points for Giraldo’s dedication to old school rock aesthetics. Decked out in hot pink and black, featuring the energy of underground punk band The Darts, Riot intentionally disrupts the sea of plebeian green-clad rye bottles on the shelf. Every Three Chord label serves as a mini-concert poster, complete with kinetic live photography and album-inspired design, tying the whiskey directly to the artistic world that birthed it. As songwriting partner and husband of Pat Benatar who also played guitar on epic hits like Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl,” it’s fitting Giraldo’s Three Chord label pioneers by blending artistry and authentic musical inspiration. $50 SRP
Follow Deputy Editor Nicolas Stecher on Instagram at @nickstecher and @boozeoftheday, and Contributor Beau Hayhoe at @beauhayhoe.