Why did rye whiskey go out of fashion?!
Why did rye whiskey go out of fashion?
10 years ago single batch rye whiskeys were nearly impossible to find. Recently more and more distillers are bringing it back but why did it go away in the first place? It was supremely popular in the first part of the 1900s and then by the 1980s it was gone. Was there a reason for this or did people just find that they didn't care for it despite it's similarity to bourbon?
Answers:
Drink preferences changed. Post-war (wwII) America developed a taste for vodka and gin mixed drinks, leaving the darker spirits for their parents. Only recently (last 10-15 years) have Bourbons and whiskeys made a resurgence...probably due to boredom with the lighter spirits (you can only mix so many things with vodka but each Bourbon or whiskey can be different).
The resurgence of rye in particular shows the serious drinking public is demanding "new & different" experiences with their liquor.
Things come and things go...ask any bartender what they served most 2 years ago...4 years ago...etc. Alcohol is a fickle thing my friend. Also we have more choices these days then before.
What people order in a bar has far more to do with advertising, television characters & movies than most people care to admit or accept! Go to any bar and you'll soon hear someone ordering a "Cosmopolitan"...