Premier Drams PLDC Rye 1 (BBQB)

A Kentucky small batch rye that's better balanced than a Simone Biles vault. Dark cherry, burnt vanilla, and spices for days, it'll feel substantive, complex, and layered. In the spring of '36, the Willett Distillery was built on the family farm, just three short years after the repeal of prohibition. And here we are, nearly a hundred years later, comparing this banger to some of our best gymnasts - it was the logical conclusion.

Factoid alert: during Prohibition, Peerless product was one of the few available by prescription for medicinal use. Which makes perfect sense because this thing is flatout dope. Well balanced spicy cinnamon and cool wintergreen with notes of store-brand cola (trust us: dope!) and brown sugar make it smooth and sippable. This thing is like John Wall in a Kentucky uni - fast and memorable.

Old Overholt is said to be America’s oldest continually-maintained brand of whiskey, having been founded in West Overton, Pennsylvania in 1810, which honestly means very little if the liquid isn't particularly good. But the caramel-colored, butterscotch-tipped, juice has an underlying roast note, which is really just us saying this bottle's a tremendous value play, like getting that three and D player on a rookie contract who outperforms the more expensive starter.

New Riff Distilling’s core Rye whiskey is full-bodied, offering a spicy character (think of this as Andy Cohen hosting a Real Housewives reunion). It features a unique mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted rye, and represents an elegant new riff (hey, see what they did there) on the Rye whiskey traditions. Watch what happens live when you enjoy this after a hard day.

The women-led team at Milam and Greene knocked this one out of the park. There’s just something about the combo of Indiana rye, Port barrels, and the Texas sun (shoutout Leon Bridges) that’s pure magic. Starts with the heat and finishes with the sweet, makes for a whiskey that we think is…pretty neat. And yes, that was free-style.