Review #138 - Rittenhouse Rye
The bartender's friend - of all of the whiskies we've discussed with bartenders over the years, none have been recommended more often than this: Rittenhouse Rye. It's an affordable, supposedly solid rye that's bottled in bond, so it comes in at a strength of 50% ABV (100 proof), meaning it can stand up to other ingredients in a cocktail. Mrs. Reviewer actually spent some time bartending at a craft cocktail bar, and this was their go-to rye for most whisky-based drinks.
Rittenhouse is made at the Heaven Hill distillery in Kentucky, but it takes its name from Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There's no age statement on the bottle, but because of the 'bottled-in-bond designation,' we know that this has been aged for at least four years; that's backed up on the distillery's website, where they state it plainly.
Rittenhouse Rye
USA - Rye
Price Paid: USD 25 (2022)
Current Locally Available Price: USD 25 (2023)
Age Statement: 4 Years
Strength: 50% ABV
Details: Bottled in bond
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 18 months; bottles at 50%, 100%, and 30% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: A little mild, but there's solid sweetness: caramel, molasses at times, soft cherry, and brown sugar. A little bit of spice, too, like cardamom, pepper, and some anise. There is oak influence but it's soft, and there's an herbal side to this, although not as strong as other young ryes. Later, nutmeg and a hint of tangy barbecue, and we end with a hint of ethanol.
Palate: Reflects the nose pretty well: the mouthfeel has a medium thickness, and there's mild cherry and some dry caramel bringing sweetness, along with sweeter baking spices. The sharper spice comes from white pepper, dry oak, and a slightly chemical eucalyptus; the oak is a little stronger now, with bits of fresh lumber. With more time, a spicy grain note comes forward.
Finish: Medium length; balanced again, with warming oak. It's rounded and buttery, with a bit of sweet syrup and some warm spices like black pepper. Not too much rye flavor on the finish - sort of a barely-legal rye vibe, with a hint of corn grain.
Final Note: Solid pour. Nothing special - it's a little simple, generally average, but pleasant enough. We can see why it's a favorite for whisky-forward cocktails: that bottling strength does bring a kick and a warmth, and there's a nice spice flavor, but none of it is overwhelming. Value is good, well above average - this must be one of the best ryes you can buy around the $20 to $30 mark.
Our Average Rating: 5.2 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 7.14
