Blame it on Don Draper if you like, but right now one of the trendiest drinks around is rye whiskey. From Manhattans made with spicy rye (instead of sweeter bourbon), to Crown Royal straight up, rye is now popular with more than just my dad and his cronies. In fact, I’ve had a tremendous response to the Manhattan Cocktail Drops featured in my recent LCBO Food & Drink magazine story.
While as a proud Canadian I’d like to see this trend focused on enjoying Canadian rye exclusively, the fact is American ryes (made from mash containing 51 percent rye or more before being aged for at least two years in oak barrels) are catching the attention of serious aficionados.
What about you, do you love rye or loathe it? Do you drink it straight up like a Scotch or use it in cocktails?
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June 2, 2009 at 8:51 am |
I am a Scotch drinker. If someone offers me a drink and only has rye I will drink it and enjoy it but it is not my first choice. I love the Manhattan Drops concept! I would certainly try one of those!
June 2, 2009 at 9:04 am |
A lot depends on the brand. I’m not a huge rye drinker and tend to go for whisky based on taste. Forty Creek makes a great whisky, which I drink on the rocks, but I think it’s from corn.
To be honest, I’ll go for wine 9 times out of 10.
June 2, 2009 at 9:33 am |
Like any other booze, there is good rye and bad rye. Bad rye is the swill we drank in our early twenties, with coke or ginger ale. Good rye makes an excellent cocktail, but not one I generally reach for. But I consider rye a gateway drink – to scotch. Oh, my loverly scotch.
June 2, 2009 at 11:16 am |
I like my rye with a little roast beef and horseradish in the middle. (*Groan.*)(Sorry.)
Never had the drink. What’s wrong w/ me?
June 2, 2009 at 11:44 am |
yet another reason for you to come to Canada so we can get you all liquored up and converted to our socialist tendancies!
June 2, 2009 at 1:02 pm |
I like rye mixed in a cocktail only by someone who knows what they’re doing. The best rye cocktails I’ve ever had were in NYC. Both at Pegu Club, my first try at rye. And, then later at Death and Company. I do love it. -Chris Ann
June 2, 2009 at 1:28 pm |
There are very few cocktails that I don’t love … but I think you may have already guessed as much. I don’t often drink rye, but I do like it – both mixed into a Manhattan and either on the rocks or with a splash of soda. Loving your Manhattan Cocktail Drops! Must try these very soon.
June 6, 2009 at 12:23 am |
I made some of those for my coworkers when they came over one night after work, they were a huge hit! I now have plans to make mojito jellies…
June 6, 2009 at 6:57 am |
mmm! Mojitos jellies! Love it.
June 6, 2009 at 5:29 pm |
Hi, I just found your website. I tried your Manhattan Drops. They were FABULOUS!! I made them for my niece who is a rye drinker, my dad always made Manhattans on Christmas morning, altho’ I loathe rye I always drank one of these. Now that he’s no longer with us I thought I’d try these jellied ones. Fantastic! They turned out perfectly. Thanks for the great recipes. I also made the Black Russian bars, they were great tasting but the top sort of slid off the Kahlua base.
June 6, 2009 at 7:58 pm |
Too bad about the white Russian bars…I wonder what went wrong? I tested that recipe a gazillion times to get the thickness of the layers right and it never slid around. Hmmm…maybe that means I need to test them again?
Glad you liked the Manhattan Drops. If you get a chance try the gin and tonic cubes. they were actually my favs in that story.