The Return of Caraway Rye: Celebrating 10 Years at Tenth Ward Distilling Company
Written by Monica Pearce, Boss Lady
Some spirits become bestsellers.
Others become legends.
Caraway Rye has always belonged to the second group.
As Tenth Ward Distilling Company celebrates ten years as a Maryland craft distillery, there was one spirit we knew had to come back—just one more time. Not because it was our biggest seller. In fact, it has always been one of our most uniquely tasting spirits.
But for those who loved it, nothing else came close.
This limited anniversary release is our way of honoring where we started and everyone who helped us get here. Every distiller, bartender, cellar hand, sales representative, event team member, and customer has played a role in the story of this remarkable rye spirit. Caraway Rye has always represented the adventurous side of Tenth Ward, and bringing it back for our 10th Anniversary feels like the perfect way to celebrate that journey.
The Spirit That Started It All
Long before there were shelves full of Tenth Ward bottles, Caraway Rye was quietly making history.
It was the very first spirit distilled when we opened our doors in 2016. The very first batch yielded only twelve bottles, but it represented something much bigger: our willingness to experiment, challenge expectations, and create spirits that couldn’t be found anywhere else.
Built from just five ingredients—malted rye, malted barley, dried caraway seed, yeast, and water—it transforms into something remarkably familiar yet impossible to describe until you’ve tasted it.
For many, one sip instantly evokes memories of homemade bread fresh from the oven. For others, it’s unlike anything they’ve ever experienced.
That’s exactly what we hoped for.
Two Anniversary Releases. One Shared Story.
To celebrate ten years, we’re bringing Caraway Rye back in two distinct expressions.
White Caraway Rye
Available to everyone, this release stays true to the original spirit.
Unaged and crystal clear, White Caraway Rye showcases everything that made this spirit so memorable from the beginning. Bright spice, toasted malt, soft caraway, rich chocolate notes, and that unmistakable fresh pumpernickel character remain front and center.
It’s the spirit many of you remember—and for those discovering it for the first time, a chance to taste one of the foundations of Tenth Ward Distilling Company.
Barrel-Finished Caraway Rye — Bottle Club Exclusive
For our Bottle Club members, we wanted to finally explore an idea that had been waiting patiently for years. Coming back again as a returning club member release!
Not long after Caraway Rye was first introduced, renowned whiskey blender Nancy Fraley suggested we try giving it a very gentle finish in used bourbon barrels—not to transform it into an aged whiskey, but to add just a touch of color, soften the spirit, and introduce subtle layers of vanilla, caramel, and seasoned oak while allowing the distinctive pumpernickel character to remain the star.
Our Barrel-Finished Caraway Rye spends a brief time resting in used bourbon barrels, picking up a beautiful amber hue and just enough barrel character to complement the spirit without overwhelming it. The result is a richer expression with notes of vanilla, light caramel, and seasoned oak layered over the signature bakery-fresh spice and malty richness that make Caraway Rye so distinctive.
Production Method (For the Nerds)
For those who enjoy the technical side of distilling, Caraway Rye begins with a mash of malted rye, malted barley, and caraway seed before fermentation. Once fermentation is complete, the wash is distilled on a continuous distillation run, producing a spirit that captures the rich malt character of the grain alongside the unmistakable warm spice of the caraway.
Although it shares many similarities with rye whiskey production, Caraway Rye cannot legally be labeled as a whiskey because the inclusion of caraway seed places it outside the legal definition of whiskey. Our White Caraway Rye is bottled immediately after distillation, preserving its bold grain-forward character. Our Bottle Club edition then receives a light finishing period in used bourbon barrels from our new colleagues at Fordham Lee Distillery.
A One-Time Anniversary Release
This isn’t the return of a permanent product.
It’s a celebration.
A thank-you.
A toast to ten years of taking chances, making unconventional spirits, and building a community that has supported us every step of the way.
Our 10th Anniversary Caraway Rye is a true limited release. White Caraway Rye will be available to the public through Tenth Ward Distilling Company’s tasting room in Frederick, Maryland, while Barrel-Finished Caraway Rye is reserved exclusively for our Bottle Club members.
Whether you’ve been with us since those first twelve bottles or you’re discovering Caraway Rye for the very first time, we’re honored to share this one final release with you.
Once these bottles are gone, they’ll become another chapter in the story of Tenth Ward.
Here’s to the first ten years—and to everything still ahead.
All the cheers and love!
Monica and the Tenth Ward Team
How to Mix It
Caraway Rye Sour
2 oz Barreled Caraway Rye
.75 oz lemon juice
.5 oz simple syrup
1 egg white or aquafaba (optional)
Bitters to garnish
Dry shake egg white or aquafaba. Pour all remaining ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Top with a few dashes of bitters.
Caraway Rye Manhattan
2 oz Barreled Caraway Rye
.5 oz red vermouth
3 dashes bitters
Cherry garnish
Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish.
Caraway Rye High Ball
1.5 oz Barreled Caraway
.5 oz lime juice
.25 oz simple syrup
Ginger beer
Lime wheel garnish
Pour Barreled Caraway, lime juice and simple syrup into a high ball. Fill the glass with ice, top off with ginger beer. Garnish.
How do I get my hands on it???
Wondering how you can get your hands on a bottle of this unique barrel-aged release?
Current Bottle Club Members: You are officially good to go! Your bottle is secured and waiting for you.
Not a Member Yet? What are you waiting for? Joining our Tenth Ward Bottle Club is the best way to get exclusive access to limited, small-batch Maryland spirits before they sell out.
Don’t miss out on our upcoming craft distillery releases. Find all the club perks, sign-up details, and pickup info on our website at tenthwarddistilling.com.
