What can we say, sometimes you’re just in the mood for the earthy spice of Rye Whiskey. There are a number of cocktails that lend themselves to this peppery spirit— some you’ve likely had (but maybe not with Rye) and some that you’ve maybe never even considered. Lets start with the Old Fashioned. This cocktail is incredibly versatile and is absolutely delicious when made with Rye Whiskey. The spice really comes through and is lovely when combined with the aroma of orange zest from the garnish. If you’d like to explore further, try the Cascara Old Fashioned. The addition of our Cascara Liqueur, in lieu of simple syrup, brings notes of raisin, fig, and cookie to your cocktail glass. Feeling adventurous? Give the Stormy Weather a shot. This drink combines Rye, Cascara Liqueur, and aromatic Pear Brandy. It may sound like a strange combination, but trust us—the flavors blend beautifully.
Another classic you might consider making with Rye is the Manhattan. It’s a simple three ingredient cocktail, but it’s oh-so-delicious. A Rye Manhattan is going to be less sweet than one made with Bourbon and it’s perfect if you are craving an earthier cocktail. In fact, Rye was the original spirit used for this concoction in the 1800s. But maybe you feel like spicing your Manhattan up a bit? If so, you’ve got to try a Ginger Manhattan. Adding a splash or two of our Ginger Liqueur really takes the drink to the next level. Ginger fans will love how the fresh ginger flavor plays with the peppery spice from the Rye. It will likely be a new favorite in your cocktail rotation.
If you’re a whiskey sour fan, we would definitely suggest giving these next two drinks a shot. While a whiskey sour is typically made with Bourbon and lemon juice, we experimented and found that a Rye Whiskey Sour was very tasty when made with lime. If you’re skeptical, we don’t expect you to take our word for it. Give it a try and let us know what you think. Now, how do you feel about raspberries? What if we told you that you could make a quick raspberry syrup and shake up raspberry grapefruit whiskey sour? We took the classic Blinker recipe and changed just a few ‘small things’ to arrive at this tasty cocktail we call the Blinker 182. And if you really don’t have the 30 minutes for the syrup, you could muddle a couple of raspberries in simple syrup to save the time.
Another classic to mix up with Rye is the Vieux Carré. Originating in New Orleans, this spirit-forward cocktail is made up of Rye, Brandy, sweet vermouth, bitters, and a bar spoon of Bénédictine. If you haven’t had one in a while, let this be your reminder sip one soon. If you’ve not tried one, what are you waiting for? If you’re a fan of Old Fashions and Manhattans, this cocktail will definitely be your cup of tea. And since we love to experiment, we tinkered around one day and arrived at the Cascadia Carré. This Pacific Northwest variation swaps in our herbal Cascadia Liqueur for the sweet vermouth and it is quite tasty. It adds just the right amount of sweetness and brings in bitter notes to jazz up an already delicious cocktail.
And since cozy season will quickly be upon us, we have to mention this hot toddy riff we call the Harvest Moon. Rye and Cascadia come together for an earthy, herbal, and pleasantly bitter base. Then, we sweeten with a splash of Ginger Liqueur and honey. Add lemon, cinnamon, and clove and you’ll be ready for the PNW rainy season. But, if you’re like us, sometimes instead of leaning in with a hot toddy, we want to escape the cold with a tropical cocktail. Maybe you’re thinking you can’t make a tropical drink with Rye Whiskey? Think again! The Rye-Kiki really does the trick. Rye is balanced with pineapple juice, orgeat, citrus, and Peychaud’s, creating a truly transportive experience. This one is a must try for tiki and Rye fans, alike. Cheers!
