Thanks to the retro cocktail craze, America’s native rye whiskey is experiencing a comeback. And one of the newest and most dramatic entries in this spirited race is Knob Creek Rye Whiskey ($40.99). If the Knob Creek name seems familiar, it is because Knob Creek was one of the original four small-batch bourbons introduced by Jim Beam in the 1990s, and since then it has become one of Beam’s most popular brands. Now the new Knob Creek Rye Whiskey maintains this tradition. After all, it has to be pretty spectacular to win a Double Gold Medal at its premiere showing during the 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. At 100 proof, it is a rich, full-bodied rye, with a spicy, herbal aroma and flavors of vanilla and heavy oak, making it ideal for a rocks glass with a few cubes of ice, or in a perfect Manhattan. (www.knobcreek.com)