Maybe you’ve heard it too.

“I’m not really a rye drinker.” “I’ve tried rye, but it’s not for me.” “I just haven’t found a rye that I like.”

It’s still shocking to me that there are so many hardcore bourbon fans out there who still haven’t gotten into America’s original premier whiskey: rye whiskey. It’s a spirit with a fascinating history in America, a bold flavor profile, and in some cases, it’s really not all that different from bourbon. But for whatever reason, despite the monstrous year that rye whiskey had in 2024, here we are in 2025, and you’ve probably heard one of the refrains above. In fact, you might’ve been the one saying it!