Recent growth spurt and brown goods momentum
make rye a whiskey to bet on
By Jack RobertielloIf there were an endangered species act for American spirits, rye certainly would have qualified for protection at the turn of this century. Down to only a few brands that were mainly stuck on the periphery of the shelf or out of the line of sight on the back bar, rye had fallen far from its pretty perch as arguably the original American spirit. While bourbon had survived Prohibition and later the vodka craze, rye had slowly but surely faded from relevance.
But since its lowest point, rye has come roaring back, growing by double digits each year for the past few and up
more than 35% in the 52 weeks through October 2014 according to recent figures, building on numerous trends that have
created the perfect climate for the American spirit more closely associated with Maryland and Pennsylvania than Kentucky.
Of those trends, the return of classic cocktails in which rye often plays a prominent role has been most important.
Manhattans and Old Fashioneds aside, the international American whiskey boom has returned focus to authentic
styles of bourbons and ryes alike. And finally, contributing is the contemporary craving for authentic products with real
stories and the concurrent surge of microdistillers, who in many cases are working with rye (or selling rye made elsewhere,
or both). Read more>>
Raymond Kanehailua, Jr. is from Big Island and is the Banquet & Beverage Manager of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. He is a vibrant young man whose maturity is well beyond his years. As a Banquet & Beverage Manager, he oversees the property's responsibilities that involve varying day-to-day events to the many functions that surpass extravagance. He handles his position with charm and a dazzling smile that expounds the warmth of Big Island Hospitality. Raymond credits his beautiful family for supporting him: Mom and Dad whom continually encouraged him to not limit himself in life and his career, and his sisters whom have given him the courage and confidence to pursue his dreams.
