It has been two thousand, nine hundred and forty-one days since I last reviewed Rittenhouse Rye. Just over eight years. At the time, it was being contract-distilled by Brown-Forman as Heaven Hill waited for their distillate to come of age after the distillery fire in the late 1990’s. About 9 months later, I reviewed the Brown-Forman and the Heaven Hill versions side-by-side.
Here are my thoughts from that head-to-head 2015 review:
Thoughts: Meh. This is hot, as is to be expected from a 100 proof whiskey, but the flavor and nose seem sort of muted.
And that’s pretty much my relationship with Rittenhouse. I pick it up occasionally but never seek it out. If I want a rye, I’m looking for one that has more rye in the mash bill. I don’t pick up many of the Kentucky-Style 51% “Barely Legal” ryes these days. If I see a Sazerac Rye, I might just pick it up because it has a pretty bottle but otherwise I have my rye go-tos. Old Forester Rye at about 70% rye is one I really enjoy. New Riff Rye at 95% rye grain in the mash bill is delicious. And heck, an MGP rye always hits the spot.
So let’s take a look at this forgotten rye and see if I’ve been missing anything over the last 7+ years.
Rittenhouse Rye Bottled-in-Bond: Revisited
Purchase Info: $23.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Viking Liquor Barrel, Prior Lake, MN.
Price per Drink (50 mL): $1.60
Details: 50% ABV. Distilled at D. S.P. KY-1. Bottled at D. S. P. KY-31.
Nose: Mint, caramel, cedar, and a hint of dill.
Mouth: Has a nice zip to it. Notes of mint, cedar, ginger, and caramel.
Finish: Medium length and warmth. Notes of cedar, cinnamon, and mint.
Thoughts: Big fan. This has a reputation as a cocktail rye (partially perpetuated by yours truly). But honestly, I like it neat as well. Being a Kentucky-style "Barely Legal" rye, this does taste more like a bourbon than a rye with a higher percentage of rye grain in the mash bill would. But for some people—my wife included—that is a benefit. It's quite tasty.
Well, I know that in the intervening 7 years, my palate has changed drastically. I’ve become a much bigger fan of high-proof/high-burn whiskeys. So this doesn’t feel nearly as warm as it did to me in 2015. But even back then I said I liked it in cocktails. And I still do. But I’ve had a couple pours of this neat since I cracked it open and I like it that way as well. Plus to top it off, it is still under $25.
Good enough to enjoy neat, but inexpensive enough to use in a cocktail. I’ve upgraded this one to a like.
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