Best Rye Whiskeys Announced at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Who makes the best rye whiskey in the world? The San Francisco World Spirits Competition has a shortlist. Each year, experts name the best spirits in whiskey, tequila, rum and other categories.

Far from being second fiddle to bourbon in 2023, rye is everywhere these days, being distilled by everyone. It’s a category where distilleries and independent bottlers can make a distinguished, delicious, and unique product.

The SFWSC judges whiskeys in an annual blind tasting in San Francisco, awarding honorable mentions, silver, gold, bronze and the top honor: double gold.

Finalists from the pool of double golds may eventually be crowned “Best in Show,” which will be announced later this month.

Below, we’ve noted who made the finalist cut in the rye category. Rest assured: Every bottle on this list is top tier.

We know a name like Colonel E.H. Taylor doesn't need an introduction, but independent bottlers like Lost Lantern and Pursuit United are scooping up incredible rye whiskeys from other distilleries every year, even while brands like Traverse City and King’s Family Distillery become coveted fan favorites without ever showing up on the public’s radar.

Maybe things will change this year. Maybe Laws’ Saint Luis Valley Straight Rye will finally level up from cult classic to outright classic. But until rye finally gets to stand on equal footing with bourbon, these underdog bottles are always going to be underappreciated opportunities.

Best Rye Whiskey of 2023, According to the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

• ANNX Spirits Co. Collection (Finalist)

• Baltimore Spirits Company Epoch Reserve

• Barber Lee Spirits Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey

• Broad Branch Distillery Rye Fidelity 6yr BiB

• Bushwood Stillwater Rye

• Buzzard’s Roost Sipping Whiskey Char #1 Straight Rye Whiskey

• Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

• Detroit City Homegrown Rye Whiskey

• Doc Swinson’s Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey

• Hard Truth Distilling Co. Master Distiller’s Reserve Malted Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey

• Hillrock Estate Distillery Double Cask Rye – Single Field – Wiltsie Bridge 2016 Harvest

• Journeyman Distillery Not A King Rye Batch 8 at 90 proof

• King’s Family Distillery Ryeconic

• King’s Family Distillery Rye Whiskey

• Laws Whiskey House San Luis Valley Straight Rye

• Lock Stock & Barrel Vatted Straight Rye Whiskey (Finalist)

• Lost Lantern 2023 Single Cask #4: Corbin Cash California Straight Rye Whiskey (Finalist)

• Luca Mariano Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

• Millstone 100 Rye Whisky

• Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery 15 Year Rye Whiskey

• New England Barrel Company Single Barrel Select – Rye

• Noble Oak Port Wine Cask Double Oak Rye

• Old Hillside Last Rye’d Whiskey

• Proof and Wood Tumblin’ Dice Straight Rye Whiskey, Small Batch, Barrel Proof

• Pursuit United Rye

• Redemption Whiskey Sur Lee

• Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey

• Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey

• Ron Colón Salvadoreño RCS Rye 100

• Sagamore Spirit 8-Year-Old Rye

• Shortbarrel Rye 101

• Stellum Fibonacci Rye #1 (Finalist)

• Stellum Rye

• Still & Oak Bottled-in-Bond Rye

• Still Austin Whiskey Co.The Artist Straight Rye Whiskey

• Templeton Distillery 6 Year Rye Whiskey

• Templeton Distillery 10 Year Rye

• Traverse City Whiskey Company 626WC “GOAT” Rye

• Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey Single Barrel Rye Whiskey – Batch 002

• Watershed Distillery Watershed Straight Rye

• WhistlePig The Boss Hog IX – Siren’s Song

• Widow Jane Apple Wood Rye

• Wilwood Spirits Co.Rendition

See more results from the 2023 San Francisco Spirits Competition

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