Rittenhouse Rye Bottled in Bond

Rittenhouse Rye is a true classic—a Bottled in Bond champion delivering robust spice, profound sweetness, and a pleasingly substantial mouthfeel. It's a bold rye that offers significant character with enough harmony to encourage further enjoyment. Another fantastic Heaven Hill bottled in bond product that maintains my loyalty to the brand and my excitement for their preservation of heritage labels like Rittenhouse and Mellow Corn. Nose: Grain and cinnamon are prominent, followed by warm brown butter and toasted marshmallow. There's a deep, almost bonfire-like richness, with a subtle hint of oak. Palate: Deliciously buttery—creamy, rich, and layered with baking spices and rye bread. The texture is perfect, coating the mouth with warm spice and just the right amount of sweetness. Finish: Extended and intensifying. The spice is present but not overpowering, leaving a smoky, molasses/brown sugar taste on the tongue, reminiscent of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Rittenhouse Rye is a staple for good reason. It's bold, well-rounded, and incredibly adaptable—whether enjoyed neat or in cocktails, it always performs.

The finest whiskey I encountered at a Bourbon and American Whiskey tasting event was this excellent Rittenhouse Straight Rye, bottled in bond. This 100 proof (50% ABV) whiskey, with an age statement of 4 years listed on their website, is part of the Heaven Hill distillery's offerings. On the nose, it was extraordinary. The initial aroma was striking: trout feed, the kind used in trout farms. Followed by rye and red fruit preserve. Allowing it to breathe revealed maraschino cherries and hints of cappuccino. After a sip, it presented notes of coffee and caramel, along with sawdust. Very mellow. Spicy pepper and chili. This is my preferred aroma profile. I adored it. On the palate, it is very good. Red fruit syrup and brown sugar. Cappuccino coffee and strawberry preserve. Aftertaste is also outstanding. Spicy red fruits, cherries, and red chili. Absolutely wonderful. Very well executed. Overall, while not exceptionally complex, this is a highly enjoyable and delicious dram. The nose offers many wonderful layers of aromas. If you have the opportunity to try this, you absolutely should. My rating is 93 out of 100.

The aroma is heavily of rye spice, caramel, and red apple. There are hints of herbs, corn meal, pear, and smoke. Tasting it has a traditional herbal rye taste with rye bread undertones, but it develops more into a carraway and cheap bourbon with a finish of fruit and well-executed rye bread. It tasted cheap and young with nail polish remover notes and a lack of aged barrel flavor. I feel like my expectations were far too high for this one. Everyone seems to praise it as one of the best affordable ryes, but after consuming so much Wild Turkey 101 Rye for the same cost, I felt very let down. Wild Turkey lacks the nail polish remover taste and is certainly much older.

Nose: Exhibiting spicy rye characteristics, with hints of eucalyptus and black pepper. A noticeable, though not overwhelming, dusty corn element is present, alongside baking spices, vanilla bean, and a touch of caramel. Also includes notes of sweet peppers and dried fruit. Palate: A harmonious balance between the spiciness of the rye and the sweetness of the corn in the mash. There's a distinct warmth that, ironically, I don't perceive in higher-proof ryes, bourbons, or single malts, perhaps due to their age? Notes of charred oak, vanilla, black pepper, nutmeg, and a hint of cocoa powder are evident. Finish: A subtle maple note with lingering spice, of medium-short duration.

This is a well-balanced, bottled-in-bond Straight Rye Whiskey from Heaven Hill Distillery in Kentucky, aged for a minimum of 4 years and primarily crafted from a rye mash bill, bottled at 50% ABV. It begins with an aromatic profile featuring rye, undertones of dried fruits, orange zest, cinnamon, vanilla, and caramel. Its bold character introduces notes of rye spice, chocolate oranges, cassia bark, nutmeg, honey, red pepper, and caramel syrup, leading to a long and tangy conclusion with hints of dark chocolate, marmalade, copper, rye, oak, and corn and barley. October 2020 / July 2022.

TWIN LIQOURS PRIVATE BARRELL Barrel No. - 8027638 // Rickhouse - gg // FLOOR - 5 NEAT NOSE - Quite pleasant, well-rounded, and easy to approach. Lots of fruit, specifically red apple. Honey and Caramel. PALATE - Caramel Red Apple, Honey, and a Whisper of Rye Spice. Silky texture. FINISH - Brief BUY AGAIN?? - Definitely. For this cost, this rye is a steal. Additionally, I find private barrels of this in many different shops, which can only mean more delightful discoveries for $30 - $40.