Forbes/BevTest Declare Boone County Rye Second Best Rye in America
The six rye whiskeys recognized in the 2026 Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) judging are not variations on a single theme. Rather, they illustrate the incredible range of contemporary American rye whiskey. They range from a 15-year Vermont estate-oak expression to a six-year, cocktail-calibrated 100% rye, with Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, and Canadian-style rye traditions represented in between. What unites them is rye’s singular ability to reconcile sweetness, mature oak, fruit, and spice while preserving its peppery, grain-driven identity. Below are brief backgrounds on BevTest’s top-ranked rye whiskeys, along with my tasting notes and commentary from BevTest’s Judging Panel.
Boone County 8-Year-Old Founder's Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, 45.5% ABV, 750 ml. Gold Medal-Exceptional, 95 Points
Boone County Distilling Co., based in Independence, Kentucky, has built its Founder’s Reserve line around both pot-distilled house whiskey and limited older releases. The eight-year Founder’s Reserve rye is a straight rye blend, from a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted rye. The 100% high-rye composition gives the whiskey an assertive, spice-led profile, while eight years in oak bring out more depth and sweetness than the recipe typically shows in younger bottlings.
The whiskey features aromas of caramelized sugar, stone fruit, toasted rye, and cinnamon. Orange peel and graham cracker follow on the mid-palate, along with a seasoned oak note. It’s robust on the palate with moderate mouth weight, showcasing flavors of brown sugar, vanilla, and toasted grain before the rye turns dry, peppery, and herbal. The finish is long, smooth, and gently tannic, with lingering notes of cinnamon, toasted rye bread, and baked-sugar sweetness. This is a flavorful, mature rye: structured enough for a Manhattan or Sazerac, but polished enough to reward a neat pour.
The BevTest Judging Panel described the rye whiskey as featuring “aromas of rye cracker with apple butter, Grape Nuts cereal with raisins, and cedar plank, along with flavors of dulce de leche, cola float, and sweet spices. A pure and spicy rye with excellent grain and barrel character for a wide variety of serves.”
Forbes/BevTest Declare Boone County Rye Second Best Rye in America
The six rye whiskeys recognized in the 2026 Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) judging are not variations on a single theme. Rather, they illustrate the incredible range of contemporary American rye whiskey. They range from a 15-year Vermont estate-oak expression to a six-year, cocktail-calibrated 100% rye, with Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, and Canadian-style rye traditions represented in between. What unites them is rye’s singular ability to reconcile sweetness, mature oak, fruit, and spice while preserving its peppery, grain-driven identity. Below are brief backgrounds on BevTest’s top-ranked rye whiskeys, along with my tasting notes and commentary from BevTest’s Judging Panel.
Boone County 8-Year-Old Founder's Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, 45.5% ABV, 750 ml. Gold Medal-Exceptional, 95 Points
Boone County Distilling Co., based in Independence, Kentucky, has built its Founder’s Reserve line around both pot-distilled house whiskey and limited older releases. The eight-year Founder’s Reserve rye is a straight rye blend, from a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted rye. The 100% high-rye composition gives the whiskey an assertive, spice-led profile, while eight years in oak bring out more depth and sweetness than the recipe typically shows in younger bottlings.
The whiskey features aromas of caramelized sugar, stone fruit, toasted rye, and cinnamon. Orange peel and graham cracker follow on the mid-palate, along with a seasoned oak note. It’s robust on the palate with moderate mouth weight, showcasing flavors of brown sugar, vanilla, and toasted grain before the rye turns dry, peppery, and herbal. The finish is long, smooth, and gently tannic, with lingering notes of cinnamon, toasted rye bread, and baked-sugar sweetness. This is a flavorful, mature rye: structured enough for a Manhattan or Sazerac, but polished enough to reward a neat pour.
The BevTest Judging Panel described the rye whiskey as featuring “aromas of rye cracker with apple butter, Grape Nuts cereal with raisins, and cedar plank, along with flavors of dulce de leche, cola float, and sweet spices. A pure and spicy rye with excellent grain and barrel character for a wide variety of serves.”
Forbes/BevTest Declare Boone County Rye Second Best Rye in America
The six rye whiskeys recognized in the 2026 Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) judging are not variations on a single theme. Rather, they illustrate the incredible range of contemporary American rye whiskey. They range from a 15-year Vermont estate-oak expression to a six-year, cocktail-calibrated 100% rye, with Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, and Canadian-style rye traditions represented in between. What unites them is rye’s singular ability to reconcile sweetness, mature oak, fruit, and spice while preserving its peppery, grain-driven identity. Below are brief backgrounds on BevTest’s top-ranked rye whiskeys, along with my tasting notes and commentary from BevTest’s Judging Panel.
Boone County 8-Year-Old Founder's Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, 45.5% ABV, 750 ml. Gold Medal-Exceptional, 95 Points
Boone County Distilling Co., based in Independence, Kentucky, has built its Founder’s Reserve line around both pot-distilled house whiskey and limited older releases. The eight-year Founder’s Reserve rye is a straight rye blend, from a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted rye. The 100% high-rye composition gives the whiskey an assertive, spice-led profile, while eight years in oak bring out more depth and sweetness than the recipe typically shows in younger bottlings.
The whiskey features aromas of caramelized sugar, stone fruit, toasted rye, and cinnamon. Orange peel and graham cracker follow on the mid-palate, along with a seasoned oak note. It’s robust on the palate with moderate mouth weight, showcasing flavors of brown sugar, vanilla, and toasted grain before the rye turns dry, peppery, and herbal. The finish is long, smooth, and gently tannic, with lingering notes of cinnamon, toasted rye bread, and baked-sugar sweetness. This is a flavorful, mature rye: structured enough for a Manhattan or Sazerac, but polished enough to reward a neat pour.
The BevTest Judging Panel described the rye whiskey as featuring “aromas of rye cracker with apple butter, Grape Nuts cereal with raisins, and cedar plank, along with flavors of dulce de leche, cola float, and sweet spices. A pure and spicy rye with excellent grain and barrel character for a wide variety of serves.”
