Top 10 rye whiskies from outside North America

Once upon a time, rye whisky was seen as a strictly North American pursuit – all spice and swagger, hailing from strongholds of Pennsylvania and Canada. But that’s changing fast. 

The rye-naissance is in full swing. Across the US and Canada, new whiskey makers are popping up, but the creativity and craft stretch far beyond that. From Danish distilleries to English innovators, the grain that built American whiskey is thriving well past US borders.

That said, the rye world’s not without its dramas. Just recently we discovered that European rye whisky could no longer legally be called rye whisky under new EU regs. Dig deep into the history of this style of whiskey, though, you’ll quickly see rye is nothing if not resilient. 

Here are ten rye whiskies from outside North America that reflect a simple truth: rye whisky is delicious and people want it. 

Top 10 rye whiskies from outside North America

English Rye 8 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

Eight years is a long time in English whisky, and this rye makes every one of them count. It’s full of bold spice, dark fruit, and buttery fudge, with layers of complexity that prove English rye isn’t just a novelty – it’s a serious contender. Boutique-y’s been waving the English rye flag since the start, and this one plants it firmly in flavour-packed territory. The cute cow on the label is just a bonus.

Kyrö Single Cask Smoked Rye Finished in PX Cask (MoM Exclusive) Whisky

From Finland with love, Kyrö has taken its already-excellent 100% malted “whisky made from rye” (thank you dumb legislation) and smoked it under Alderwood in a 100-year-old barn near the distillery. The single cask was then aged in a second-fill Pedro Ximénez hogshead. The result is a whisky that’s nutty, fruity, and full of silky spice.

Millstone 100 Rye Whisky

Zuidam Distillers in the Netherlands take the number 100 very seriously – 100% rye, 100% pot still, 100 months in new American oak, 100° Proof. Thankfully, it also takes flavour seriously. This is rich, warming, and impossibly well-structured. 

Stauning Rye Whisky

Stauning is part of the proof that Scandinavia is among the most important and impressive whisky regions. This Danish rye whisky is made from floor-malted local grains distilled over open flames and matured in new American oak. It’s full of bready, toasted spice notes and just a hint of smoke. Like fresh Danish rye bread – if someone soaked it in whisky and then set it on fire (in a good way).

Fielden Harvest 2019 Rye Whisky

A love letter to heritage grains, this small-batch English rye is all about celebrating the fact that, at its core, whisky is an agricultural product. It’s rustic, complex, and cleverly put together by the Fielden team. Read more about them here, but if this is what rye’s future tastes like, we’re on board.

Spirit of Hven Hvenus Rye Whisky

From Sweden’s Spirit of Hven distillery comes an astronomically good blend of 42 American oak casks, matured for at least six years. With a mash bill that’s 78.6% rye (plus wheat, corn, and grain), it’s as complex as it is characterful. The name nods to Venus, the copper-linked planet – a neat reference, considering the whisky stills wouldn’t run without the stuff. Celestial branding, serious spirit.

Stork Club German Rye Malt – The Heart Cut #13 Whisky

This one’s a bit special. A limited-edition, single-cask from Germany’s Stork Club, matured in rare German Napoleon oak and bottled by Heart Cut – the independent outfit co-founded by Georgie Bell and Fabrizio Leoni. It’s a chocolate dessert in a glass. Ideal for Easter!

Shortcross Rye & Malt Irish Whiskey

From the family-run Rademon Estate comes a bold Irish rye and malt combo, aged in Chinkapin and bourbon barrels. Unfiltered, full of flavour, and bottled at 46%, this release proves Ireland’s not just about triple-distilled pot stills and smooth talk – it’s got rye fire in its belly too. Well worth a place in our top 10 rye whiskies, I’ve lost count of the times I’ve recommended this whiskey.

Domaine des Hautes Glaces Moissons Single Rye Whisky

Grown, distilled, and matured in the French Alps, this biodynamic beauty is as terroir-driven as whisky gets. Aged in French oak and made entirely from rye grown on the Domaine’s own land, it’s earthy, elegant, and a little bit wild – like hiking through a forest in a tailored suit.

RyeLaw Fife Single Grain Scotch Whisky

The debut whisky from InchDairnie in Fife, and they haven’t played it safe. It was made with 53% malted rye and 47% malted barley, hammer milled for maximum extraction and then fermented with rye-specific yeast before being aged in freshly charred American oak. The Scotch whisky is punchy, spicy, and polished – a strong start from one of Scotland’s most forward-thinking distilleries. And deserving of more than to be lumped in with the “single grain” category.

The Last Drop: Top 10 rye whiskies from outside North America

Forget borders. Rye is going rogue – and thriving. Whether it’s from the Baltic coast, an Irish farm, or a Dutch pot still, the best rye whiskies outside the US aren’t trying to imitate the classics. They’re charting their own course, one spicy sip at a time.

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