Rye whiskey

In the United States, rye whisky is whisky made from a fermented mash of at least 51 percent rye. That is laid down in the federal rules of the TTB, in title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations, paragraph 5,143. The spirit may be distilled to no more than 160 proof, about 80 percent alcohol, and goes into the cask at no more than 125 proof, about 62.5 percent.

The cask must be made of new, charred oak. Every whisky in this class is bottled at no less than 40 percent alcohol (80 proof). The remaining 49 percent of the mash may consist of other grains, such as corn or malted barley. Besides rye whisky, the law also recognises rye malt whisky, made from at least 51 percent malted rye.

Straight rye whiskey is rye that has matured for at least two years in new, charred oak barrels. Here too, the barrel entry proof is at most 125 proof. Under the same American rules, no colouring, flavourings or blending materials may be added to straight whiskey, and no neutral spirit.

A straight whiskey may be a blend of straight whiskeys from the same state. If they come from different states, or colour or flavour has been added, it is called blended straight whiskey. The word straight therefore says something about maturation and purity, not about age beyond two years. If an age is stated on the label, as with the Templeton Rye 4 Years Old, you read it as an additional statement.

The difference is in the main grain. Under the same paragraph, bourbon must contain at least 51 percent corn, rye at least 51 percent rye. Otherwise the rules are the same: distillation to no more than 160 proof, ageing in new charred oak barrels and a barrel-entry strength of no more than 125 proof.

The straight variants also run parallel: straight bourbon and straight rye both mature for at least two years. On the label you recognise an American rye by the mention rye whiskey or straight rye, as with the Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye.

Yes. Under the name Millstone, Zuidam in Baarle-Nassau makes whisky from 100 percent rye. According to the distillery, the grain for the Millstone 92 Rye and the Millstone 100 Rye consists of 49 percent malted and 51 percent unmalted rye. It is distilled in small copper pot stills and matures in new American oak casks.

The name Millstone refers to the Dutch mills that grind the grain. Zuidam mentions a fermentation of seven days, longer than average. According to the maker, the Millstone 92 Rye is at least four years old and bottled at 46 percent; the Millstone 100 Rye is at least 100 months old, at 50 percent. The shop also stocks rye from Belgium, Germany, Denmark and Finland.

Yes, but only alongside malted barley. According to the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, Scotch whisky is distilled from water and malted barley, to which only whole grains of other cereals may be added. Rye is such a cereal. The spirit must mature in Scotland for at least three years in oak casks of no more than 700 litres.

Single malt Scotch whisky may not contain any grains other than malted barley. A Scotch whisky with rye therefore falls outside single malt. The new-oak casks that are mandatory for American rye are not prescribed by Scottish law. From Scotland, the shop stocks among others the Teaninich 08Y Daring Rye.

In the shop on the Brink there are now 62 bottles of rye. Most of it comes from the United States. There is also rye from Scotland, the Netherlands, Belgium, India, Germany, Denmark and Finland.

From America you will find, among others, Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye, Wild Turkey 101 Rye Whiskey, Templeton Rye 4 Years Old, Sagamore and Jack Daniel's. The Netherlands is represented with Millstone Dutch Rye 92 from Zuidam and with Stokery Amsterdam; Belgium with Filliers. From India comes the Amrut Rye Whisky 2nd Release. Also on the shelf are Old Hunter's, Cley and Teaninich.

Would you like to know what a label says, or are you looking for a rye for a cocktail? Feel free to call or drop by ’t Bockje at Brink 2 in Bathmen.

The shop is at Brink 2 in Bathmen. Open Tuesday to Friday from 09.00 to 18.00 and Saturday from 09.00 to 17.00. For advice, call 0570 541 278 or email info@bockje.nl.