vamtnlion Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Wondering how most drink rye whisky - neat, on the rocks, or as a cocktail? Seems like with rye, the cocktail is the favored method. But so far I prefer mine neat or with 1-2 ice cubes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesbassdad Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 It depends upon the rye.Last night I carefully poured a few drops of Old Rip Van Winkle Old Time Rye 12 y/o (an extinct and truly marvelous bottling) into a Glencairn blender's glass, and then nosed and sipped for nearly two hours before it was finally gone.Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 y/o gets a similarly respectful treatment, save for the larger serving size -- two ounces or even more.At the other end of the spectrum I have enjoyed Old Overholt and Jim Beam ryes diluted about 5:1 with Ginger Beer and served over a fistful of ice in a tall glass. I didn't enjoy either of them neat.In between those extremes there is Wild Turkey rye, which I will drink neat or as a highball, as the mood strikes me.I keep intending to make a Manhattan with WT rye someday. (I no longer keep OO or JB on hand.) I have the fixins, but I just never seem to get around to it. I wonder why.Yours truly,Dave Morefield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrispyCritter Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 My rye drinking varies - I like both rye-based cocktails and rye served neat.Some ryes, like Old Overholt and Rittenhouse 80, work best for me in cocktails. Rittenhouse BIB, on the other hand, is equally good served neat as it is in a cocktail; Wild Turkey rye also falls into this category.Sazerac Jr. is another versatile rye. Saz 18 makes an unbelievably good Sazerac Cocktail, but it's expensive (and rare!!) enough that I prefer it neat. Even so, I make a point of mixing a couple of Sazeracs with each bottle... and I might even try a Saz 18-based Red Hook soon.Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye (labeled as 13yo) is another one I'd put into the premium class.I have yet to open a bottle of THH, but I'm really looking forward to it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbyvirus Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 I mostly drink rye on the rocks. The Rittenhouse BIB is especially nice this way. The Van Winkle rye is good neat, but I have stomach problems that prevent me from drinking much neat these days. And a Sazerac cocktail is awesome, although I haven't had many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowdery Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 I suspect most of us here drink our rye the same way we drink our bourbon, which is neat or with a little bit of room temperature water. I have, however, developed a personal preference for using rye rather than bourbon when I am in the mood for a manhattan. I also like it with ginger ale.A lot of the renewed interest in rye is coming from New York, which is really cocktail country, so it may seem as if rye gets mixed more often because of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasH Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 I love to drink rye with ginger ale. I doesn't matter what brand, although the more expensive brands I drink neat. WT and Rittenhouse BIB are my favorites to mix! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake_Parrott Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 I have, however, developed a personal preference for using rye rather than bourbon when I am in the mood for a manhattan. I also like it with ginger ale.And both of those are the classical approaches.I love OO or WT rye with Blenheim Extra Spicy ginger ale. But it is the worst hangover ever. And I drink more than my share of Sazeracs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camduncan Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 I always start off neat. Then, depending on the taste and how I'm feeling, I might add some room temperature water, or large ice cubes.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jspero Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 I like all of the ryes I've tried neat. Sometimes I'll have WT or Pikesville on the rocks, but mostly in the summer.Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ambernecter Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 VW or Saz 18 I would always have neat. Rittenhouse 80 I have mixed with ginger ale now and again but as Chuck says I drink it like my Bourbon (straight up) 99% of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVB Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 I drink almost everything neat. Some are just better then others. For the really high proof stuff, whenever I run across it, I'll add an icecube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VT Mike Posted December 22, 2006 Share Posted December 22, 2006 I almost always drink Rye neat. The rare exception would be an Old Overholt Manhattan (stirred so it's not too cold). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Lamplighter Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 Rittenhouse BIB, on the other hand, is equally good served neatPicked up my first bottle tonight. Not being a big rye fan, I did so due to the recommendations on here plus the fact it was $17 'out the door'. I went in the store with every intention of purchasing Blanton's to replace the holiday consumption. Talk about saving some money! Anyhow, I tried it neat and must say - this is really good whiskey. For the buck, it is quite a bang IMHO. I am by far a novice and likely could not adequately describe a vanilla milkshake......however, I detected something in this rye I have not experienced previously. It is kind of a 'minty' cinnamon after taste.....very good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nor02lei Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 I drink rye in the same way as bourbon except that I generally prefer it at a slightly lower proof. Leif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NARDA1 Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Almost always in a cocktail and occassionaly on the rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musher Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 I drink it neat the same way I drink bourbon. Except ones that I can't stand, that is. Like Woodford for example. Then it gets mixed in a Manhattan or with ice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweetmeats Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Always neat. Last night was a Rye night. Michters Single Barrel then Sazerac Jr. followed by WT Rye. All different and all tasty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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