Rye whiskey is where American whiskey gets its spice — and right now the rye shelf at Del Mesa Liquor, a family-owned liquor store in San Diego, California, runs from a $29.99 liter of Wild Turkey 101 to the only rye Booker's has ever bottled. Whether you are hunting an allocated Antique Collection bottle or a barrel-proof workhorse for Manhattans, every bottle below is in stock and available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor today, in our rye whiskey collection.
The collector tier
- Booker's Limited Edition 13 Year Old Rye 'Big Time Batch' — $2,499.99 (4 in stock). Aged 13 years, 1 month and 12 days and bottled uncut at 136.2 proof — released in June 2016, it remains the first and only rye ever bottled under the Booker's name. Four bottles in stock, unusually deep for this bottle.
- Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye Whiskey 2021 — $1,999.99 (1 in stock). The 2021 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection release: barreled in spring 2003, aged 18 years in #4 char oak, bottled at 90 proof. One of the oldest rye whiskeys bottled in America. One bottle on the shelf.
- Colonel EH Taylor Jr Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey — $799.99 (1 in stock). The barrel-proof expression of Buffalo Trace's E.H. Taylor rye — the allocated end of a line built on a rye-and-malted-barley mash with no corn at all.
The enthusiast shelf
- Leopold Bros Three Chamber Rye Whiskey 2022 — $249.99 (8 in stock). A single-barrel rye from Denver built on 80% Abruzzi rye — a heritage grain the distillery grows itself — with a 168-hour fermentation, bottled at 100 proof. One of American whiskey's rarest experiments, and our deepest-stocked enthusiast rye.
- Colonel EH Taylor Jr Straight Rye Whiskey — $149.99 (3 in stock). Bottled-in-bond at 100 proof from a rye-and-malted-barley-only mash — no corn, unusual for Kentucky — distilled at Buffalo Trace. At least four years in new charred oak by law.
- The Senator Barrel Proof 6 Year Old Rye — $79.99 (6 in stock). Six years old (one full Senate term), 95% rye and 5% malted barley, bottled at barrel proof — typically 112 to 121 proof — undiluted and non-chill filtered by Proof & Wood in Bardstown.
- Wild Turkey 101 Rye Whiskey 1L — $29.99 (1 in stock). The cocktail workhorse: 101 proof, at least four years in the deepest-char barrels in Kentucky, in the full liter format. The best dollar-per-Manhattan on this list.
Frequently asked questions
What does rye whiskey taste like compared to bourbon?
Drier and spicier. Rye grain brings baking spice, dill and black pepper where bourbon's corn brings sweetness — which is why rye is the classic base for a Manhattan.
What does bottled-in-bond mean?
One distillery, one distilling season, at least four years in a bonded warehouse, and exactly 100 proof — the standard the E.H. Taylor Straight Rye is bottled under.
Which rye is best for cocktails?
Wild Turkey 101 Rye at $29.99 for the liter — its proof stands up to dilution and vermouth. For a special-occasion pour, step up to The Senator Barrel Proof at $79.99.
Can I order rye whiskey online?
Yes — every bottle listed is in stock and available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, with shipping where permitted; see our shipping and return policy and FAQs for details.
Rye sits beside bourbon in the Rare & Top Shelf collection; browse the wider bourbon whiskey collection or read our rare bourbon guide for the wheated side of the family. New arrivals land on the Del Mesa blog first.