A man walks into a bar and orders a Manhattan. Not just any Manhattan but one made with rye. Not just any rye. He specifies a brand.

So who do we have here? A fuddy-duddy who doesn't realize we're living in the age of the mojito? Old granddad clinging to the bourbon-and-branch days?

No. He's the hippest sipper at the bar, so in-the-know it hurts. He's the man with the rye.

Rye, for those of you lapsed trendoids still clutching your Cosmos, is a hot commodity in cocktail culture. Once an iconic American spirit, rye fell out of favor after Prohibition as tastes shifted and brands disappeared. Read more...