For other uses, see Rye whiskey (disambiguation).

A bottle of American rye whiskey

Rye whiskey can refer to either of two, different, but related, types of whiskey:
1. American rye whiskey, which must be distilled from at least 51 percent rye;
2. Canadian whisky, which is often referred to as (and often labelled as) rye whisky for historical
reasons, although it may or may not actually include any rye in its production process.
Contents

[hide]

1American rye whiskey

o 1.1Differences between rye and bourbon
2Canadian rye whisky
3See also
4References

American rye whiskey[edit]

In the United States, "rye whiskey" is, by law, made from a mash of at least 51 percent rye. (The other
ingredients of the mash are usually corn and malted barley.) It is distilled to no more than 160 U.S.
proof (80% abv), and aged in charred, new oak barrels. The whiskey must be put into such barrels at
not more than 125 proof (62.5% abv). Rye whiskey that has been so aged for at least two years and
has not been blended with other spirits may be further designated as "straight", as in "straight rye
whiskey".[1]
Rye whiskey was historically the prevalent whiskey of the northeastern states,
especially Pennsylvania and Maryland. Pittsburgh was the center of rye whiskey production in the late
1700s and early 1800s.[2] By 1808, Allegheny County farmers were se