Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve Rye Whiskey, Lexington Brewing and Distilling (Alltech)
Updated November 2026 · BourbonTown Tours
Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve Rye Whiskey is a single barrel rye whiskey that is distilled and bottled at the Alltech Lexington Brewing & Distilling Company in Lexington, Kentucky. Rye gives the whiskey its signature spicy flavor. Each bottle comes from one barrel, aged in new charred oak.
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What is Rye Whiskey?
Rye whiskey is a type of whiskey that is made with at least 51% rye in the mash-bill. Rye tends to taste drier and more peppery than corn-led bourbon. For how it compares with bourbon, see rye vs bourbon, explained.
Tasting Notes
Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve Rye Whiskey is a complex and flavorful rye whiskey. On the nose, it has aromas of rye spice, black pepper, cedar, and cassia bark. On the palate, it is bold and spicy, with flavors of rye, clove, cinnamon, and mint. The finish is long and lingering, with a subtle hint of sweetness.
Serving Suggestions
Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve Rye Whiskey can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail. It is a versatile rye whiskey that can be used in a variety of cocktails, such as the Manhattan, Old Fashioned, and Sazerac.
Here are a few serving suggestions for Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve Rye Whiskey:
- Neat: Pour 2 ounces of Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve Rye Whiskey into a rocks glass. Add a splash of water (optional). Swirl the whiskey in the glass and enjoy.
- On the rocks: Pour 2 ounces of Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve Rye Whiskey into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Add more ice to taste. Enjoy.
- Manhattan: Combine 2 ounces of Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve Rye Whiskey, 1 ounce of sweet vermouth, and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until chilled. Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry. Enjoy.
- Old Fashioned: Combine 2 ounces of Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve Rye Whiskey, 1 sugar cube, and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until the sugar cube is dissolved. Strain the mixture into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with an orange twist and a cherry. Enjoy.
- Sazerac: Combine 2 ounces of Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve Rye Whiskey, 1/2 ounce of absinthe, 1/4 ounce of simple syrup, and 2 dashes of Peychaud’s bitters in a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until chilled. Strain the mixture into a chilled Old-Fashioned glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lemon twist. Enjoy.
Who makes Town Branch
The rye comes out of Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co., the downtown company Alltech founder Pearse Lyons started in 1999. Beer came first, with Kentucky Ale in 2000. Distilling followed in the late 2000s, the first aged spirits went on sale in 2011, and visitors could tour the Town Branch Distillery from 2012. The Town Branch line includes a bourbon and a rye, and the brewery and the distillery share one downtown campus.
What makes it a rye
A rye whiskey mash must be at least 51% rye under the federal standard, the same threshold that requires at least 51% corn in bourbon. Both go into new charred oak, come off the still at no more than 160 proof and enter the barrel at no more than 125 proof. The Town Branch line carries both a rye and a bourbon from the same Lexington distillery, which makes it a clean side-by-side comparison of what the majority grain changes.
How we fit Town Branch into a Lexington day
Town Branch is a good stop for a rye drinker in a bourbon group, because the same downtown distillery makes both, and the brewery on the campus covers anyone who would rather have a beer. Because it sits a short ride from central Lexington hotels, we usually put Town Branch first or last, so the rye tasting bookends the day. One shape we use: the morning downtown at Town Branch and its neighbors in the Distillery District, James E. Pepper and Barrel House, then Woodford Reserve in Versailles, 15 to 20 minutes out, after lunch. Custom tours typically run three stops, and we can add or subtract on your planning call. Private tours run $275 to $425 per person depending on group size, plus 6% KY sales tax and a 3% booking fee.
Visit Town Branch in Lexington
To see where this rye is made, head to Cross Street in downtown Lexington, where Lexington Brewing and Distilling runs Town Branch, near Barrel House and James E. Pepper in the Distillery District. We can add it to a private day for your group, and private bourbon tours from Lexington shows how we pair a downtown stop like Town Branch with the distilleries out of town.
Frequently asked questions
What is Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve Rye?
It is a single barrel rye whiskey distilled and bottled by Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. in downtown Lexington. Each bottle comes from one barrel, and rye gives it a spicy, peppery profile. The company behind it was started in 1999 by Alltech founder Pearse Lyons.
What makes a whiskey a rye?
Under the federal standard, a rye whiskey mash must be at least 51% rye, the same threshold that requires at least 51% corn in bourbon. Both go into new charred oak, come off the still at no more than 160 proof and enter the barrel at no more than 125 proof.
How does rye taste next to bourbon?
Rye tends to taste drier and more peppery, while corn-led bourbon tastes sweeter and rounder. This rye shows rye spice, black pepper, cedar and cassia on the nose, with clove, cinnamon and mint on the palate. Taste the two side by side and the grain difference is easy to spot.
Which cocktails suit a rye whiskey?
A Manhattan, an Old Fashioned and a Sazerac all suit rye. Its spice holds up against sweet vermouth and bitters better than a soft wheated bourbon does, so the drink keeps its edge. Start with the Manhattan if you want to taste the whiskey through the cocktail.
Can we visit where Town Branch rye is made?
Yes. Town Branch sits on Cross Street in downtown Lexington, near Barrel House and James E. Pepper in the Distillery District. We can add it to a private Lexington day, often with Woodford Reserve in Versailles, 15 to 20 minutes away, in the afternoon.
Plan your private bourbon day
BourbonTown Tours has run 3,000+ private tours since 2012. Every tour is private to your group, never mixed with strangers, and covers everything except lunch and driver gratuity. Distillery tickets are included.
Private tours run $275 to $425 per person depending on group size, plus 6% KY sales tax and a 3% booking fee.
