The Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC) was held this year from March 5 to 9 in Astor, New York. This annual event assembles panels of qualified experts to rate a variety of spirits on a 100-point scale. This includes whiskey, which is divided into several categories: American Whiskey, Bourbon, Rye, Tennessee Whiskey, Blended Irish Whiskey, Pot Still Irish Whiskey, Single Malt ...

By S.D. Peters Rating: C As recently as 1995, there were only four American Rye whiskies on the market.  One of them, easily the most recognizable of the four, was Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey. The brand’s history is longer in years than most American states, and at times, storied.  Abraham Overholt (the face of Old Overholt today) began distilling ...

By S.D. Peters It could be the Pennsylvania blood in my veins or a taste for the less popular that made a Rye drinker of me.  American Rye whiskey, that is.  But really, if I’m going by taste, then it’s the distinctly dry, spicy qualities that drew me to this often overlooked style of American whiskey. Or, I should say, ...