wo decades ago, the only American rye whiskeys on the market were Kentucky-style (also known as accountant’s ryes, because of the minimal rye content and high corn content), and a 95/5 rye, made by a former Seagram’s plant known today as Midwest Grain Products, which was primarily used as a blending agent for Canadian whiskey. Jimmy Russell began to joke 10 years ago that demand for Wild Turkey’s rye whiskey had grown so much that the distillery had to double its production — from one day a year to two. The rise of cocktail culture brought rye whiskey back to the forefront, and visionaries such as Redemption Rye co-founder Dave Schmier began purchasing that 95/5 MGP rye whiskey and selling it as a standalone product. WhistlePig Rye, first sourced and later distilled by WhistlePig after opening a distillery in
