The Grain Exchange Rye Whisky

Description

100% Manitoba Rye Whisky
750mL @ 45% ABV

Waiting for whisky to mature in the barrel requires patience. But then when the day arrives, it’s worth it. Coming off a gold medal at the 2025 Canadian Spirit Awards, our 100% Rye Whisky has a new name, but the same smooth, spicy character. We’d like to introduce you to Patent 5’s newest offering: The Grain Exchange – Manitoba Rye Whisky.

What’s in the Bottle?
The grain we chose to use in our rye whisky is an open-pollinated, heirloom grain called Hazlet Rye, that’s known for its characteristic spice profile. We ferment the grain using our favourite whisky yeast, and then slowly pot distill it to best capture the whole array of flavor and aroma present in the grain. But distillation can only capture the flavours present in the grain, and the final quality of that flavour comes not only from the type of grain chosen, but also how it’s grown.

Rye Grown in Manitoba’s unique terroir has to contend with a short growing season and extreme summer heat. It’s often planted in sandy, marginal soil that can’t support other crops, and endures long drought conditions, punctuated by intense summer storms. All of these factors create stressful growing conditions that help develop the spicy flavour compounds that give rye its unique spice. Manitoba-grown rye is the best in the world, and we blend an array of traditional and modern techniques in our whisky making process to best capture that essence.

Once distilled, our rye is barrelled in new oak barrels and laid to rest in our barrel racks. At the point of bottling, each eligible barrel gets checked and we determine which ones will make the best blend, layering soft fruit notes alongside the classic spice, yielding a whisky that offers body, complexity and a smooth finish. The barrels that make up this release had an average age of 4.7 years when emptied. We think this year’s rye release is the best we’ve produced to date and hope you like it too.

Why call it The Grain Exchange?
The Winnipeg Grain Exchange was founded in 1887 and operated in the Exchange district as the center of Manitoba grain and commodity futures trading for almost 100 years. It was a hub for Manitoba farmers to export grain grown in one of the world’s richest farming regions to the broader markets. We thought it was the perfect name to convey both the quality of Manitoba-grown grains, and celebrate the role Winnipeg has played in the distribution of those grains globally. The quality of this whisky was made possible by the attention to detail paid to the grain at every step of the process, from the field to the bottle.

How to Drink it?
The Grain Exchange is a great option no matter how you like your whisky. Neat or on ice, the complexity and interplay of soft fruit notes and pungent spice are very satisfying. Added to craft cocktails, the rye stands up and demands to be the center of attention. As a simple rye & ginger, The Grain Exchange is a crowd pleaser and perfect for family gatherings or weekends at the cottage. We hope it does its part in inspiring great conversations and community gatherings for years to come.