Old Overholt Rye is the workhorse rye on the Camp West back bar, and we keep it close at hand for good reason. One of the oldest continuously maintained whiskey brands in America, Old Overholt is the classic cocktail rye, equally at home in a Manhattan, a Sazerac, or a simple highball. For a West Seattle cabin bar with a deep whiskey program, having a trustworthy, affordable straight rye on the rail is essential, and this is the one.
About the Distillery
Old Overholt traces its roots to 1810 and Abraham Overholt, a Pennsylvania farmer who shifted from farming to distilling in the early 1800s. The brand carried the rye torch for decades, and for a stretch after World War II it was the only nationally distributed straight rye on the market. In 1987 it was sold to the James B. Beam Distilling Company, and production moved to the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, where it is made today.
Style & Mash Bill
Old Overholt is an American straight rye whiskey, aged a minimum of two years and produced using column distillation at Clermont. Beam has not published the exact mash bill for this expression. It is bottled at 80 proof, an easygoing strength that makes it endlessly mixable.
Tasting Notes
Expect classic rye spice alongside charred oak, buttery corn, vanilla, and cherry. The palate carries black pepper, subtle sweet-corn notes, leather, tobacco, honey, toffee, and dried raisins. It is straightforward and dependable, exactly what a cocktail rye should be.
How to Enjoy It at Camp West
A pour of Old Overholt Rye is $9, one of the best values on our list. It is a natural neat or over ice, but it truly shines in classic cocktails. Order it in a Manhattan or a Sazerac and let that peppery rye backbone do the work. Our bartenders are happy to build one to your taste.
FAQ
Is Old Overholt good for cocktails? Yes. Its peppery rye character and modest 80 proof make it a go-to base for Manhattans, Sazeracs, and other classics.
Where is Old Overholt made today? At the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, since production moved there after the 1987 sale to Beam.
Ready to settle in? Book a table, browse our full whiskey list, or explore the complete beverage menu.