A Scottish distillery recently announced that they would be using rye in their whisky for the first time in over a century.
The InchDarnie distillery in Fife, Scotland, found evidence indicating that rye was historically used to make scotch. Their recipe, which uses this ryelaw, was inspired by the discovery. Although ryelaw can generally be described as a rye whisky, it is technically a single grain scotch, made using malted rye. This makes it a combination of an American rye whiskey that generally uses upto 51% rye and a scotch whose integral element is malted barley. This will be the use of rye in Scotch for the first time in over 100 years.
Distillation will take place at the distillery’s exclusive London Hill still where there is scope for greater experimentation in shaping flavour. Ryelaw will be the first rye whisky to be distilled at this premium still. It is to be matured in oak casks fused with malted rye and fresh wood, which are designed to take on a spicy flavour, which rye whisky is celebrated for.
Ryelaw is made with a high proportion of malted rye and malted barley, both of which are essential elements of American rye and Scotch whiskies, respectively. This recipe, with its high proportion of malted rye, and the fact that it will be made and matured in Scotland, means it will meet the descriptions of both a Scotch whisky and an American rye whiskey.
After its release, Ryelaw will be a part of the basic range being created at the distillery that will include other avant-garde whiskies.