Produced using at least 51 percent of its eponymous grain, rye whiskey is no doubt associated by cocktail aficionados with classics like the Manhattan and Sazerac. Those drinks simply wouldn’t be the same without the American-born, herbaceous, savory whiskey. It’s also true that without those drinks, as well as the cocktail renaissance of the turn of this century, rye whiskey could easily have become irrelevant, all but lost to the pages of history.

Those who prefer their whiskey neat might sooner equate rye to bourbon, considering it a spicy alternative to America’s so-called native spirit. That’s also hard to argue with. But more importantly, it’s the combination of those two stories — the intertwining of a craft cocktail movement along with a bourbon sales boom and subsequent renaissance of American distilling — that’s served a rye whiskey landscape richer in options than ever before.

For regular drinkers looking to find a bargain or invest in a special bottle, this status quo is both a blessing and a curse. More options equals both more opportunities but also more confusion. Which is why, every year, VinePair takes care of the heavy lifting to present these, the 30 best rye whiskeys to buy and drink right now.