Tastes

This is my definition of a "daily drinker". $25 in NC and available everywhere. 100 proof value which is strong enough to stand up to mixing, ice, and water. Flavorful enough to enjoy neat and yet not so complex as to cause you to feel the need to contemplate too many things. I have a definite screw top bias which this unfortunately has. To quash this, I simply pour this juice into an empty OF Whiskey Row bottle w/ stylish cork! N-. A bit of alcohol, vanilla, malty brown sugar, with a slight pine note. P- Alcohol, top of mouth heat, chewy dried fruits, mixed spices, caramel with a rich oily mouth feel. F- Even balanced medium to long finish. Top of mouth heat returns as flavors tail away. A rock brings in some otherwise missing char and smoke along with a bit of a bitter aftertaste. This bottle is a winner.

Update to previous review. Barrel #7465 Barreled on 5/12/09. I have had tastes from 3 different barrels of HM BIB. All underwhelming for 10 yr 100 proof $40 juice. I hosted a blind tasting of 10 yr bourbons so I picked up a bottle of my own from barrel #7465. I had this along with Eagle Rare, Bulleit 10 yr, and Russel's Reserve 10 yr. I knew the selections, but not the order. I felt fairly confident that I could descern 2 of the 4 and was also fairly certain which I would pick as #1. Much to my surprise, I selected Henry Mac 1st going away! I have sampled it several times since July and can really get behind this particular bottle. It is not a life altering pour or particulary excellent, but it is really good for $40. Unfortunately, one good barrel out of four is not good enough odds to recommend. I used to consider Eagle Rare as lacking consistency between bottles. One out of four bottles of ER would be flat or lacking. However, the chasm between the HM bottles is wide. The group participating in the tasting also liked the HM, but the ER was a close 2nd. I am glad I found at least one bottle of this to enjoy. I can at least appreciate what others have found to like about this whiskey. I still can't see how it won awards unless they submitted a honey barrel.

I hesitate to leave this updated rating...I like the idea of keeping this bottle accessible. This is fantastic whiskey. I have had random bottles and store picks and they have all been in the upper echelon of bourbon. I purchased a random bottle in July 2020 and am now halfway through. It rates close to the best bourbon I have ever sampled. It lacks nothing. It is incredible. My only problem is the lack of a barrel number. It would be nice to select another from the same barrel and hold on to it for a special occasion. Mileage varries with even the best of single barrel products. However, I have found ranges from excellent to fantastic with Russel's Single Barrel Reserve. I still can't understand how the lower proof 10 year reserve is so thin and underwhelming in comparison. More unsolved mysteries from the bourbon universe.

I love these bourye blends and "barely ryes." Pikesville is fantastic. Lots of bourbon notes, with the best of rye flavors along for the ride. 110 proof with a 6 year age statement??? It drinks neat, water, and especially with an artisan clear rock on a hot summer evening. The former sale price in NC WAS $45...now regular ABC price is $55. I wish I didn't like this juice so much. I am afraid that I will have to limit my purchases to online for the $45 price. It still competes with HW Rendezvous at a way lower price, even with the NC increase. If you can get a bottle sub $50, you will be rewarded. So much better than Rittenhouse.

As my rye legs get more miles on them, I seem to enjoy and appreciate the variation more and more. My dislikes remain but my likes have expanded. OF Rye is a great "barely-rye". 100 proof, available and priced like a daily drinker. This moves up to 3 stars...if not for my screw top bias, it would be 3.25...sry.

As my rye legs get more miles on them, I seem to enjoy and appreciate the variation more and more. My dislikes remain but my likes have expanded. I felt the need to give a new rating to this consistently good, affordable, and available rye bottle. The Single Barrel Select store picks I have tried have been even better and only marginally more costly. This now moves up to above 3 stars...3.25 given its availability and price.

After a couple extra years exploring the rye world, I can no longer say I am not a real rye fan. However, I at least know the types of rye that appeal to me best. The heavy dill ryes, and the eucalyptus ryes are not for me and I will continue to rate them lower. I have discovered that I really like Bourye blends as well as barely ryes. That being said, I had high hopes for Rittenhouse Rye. Unfortunately they did not pan out as expected. Given my love for Pikesville, I thought Rittenhouse would show up as a younger and more affordable sibling. Not quite. N - acetone, petrichor, chemical aroma like a floor wax almost, earthy tones a bit like fresh turned soil. P- Light vanilla, back of mouth spice, a bit of toasted bread...not a lot. F - Long cinnamon spice finish with floral and waxy aftertaste that was not the most pleasant. I was set to give a disappointing 2.5 star rating, but given it is a BIB offering in a world of NAS 90 proofers...for $26...I decided to overlook the hidden screw top( if you are going to be a screw top, don't cover it up like a cork top, be what you are) and still give it 2.75 stars.(BTW, Four Roses Single Barrel wooden cork tops fit Rittenhouse perfectly). However, with the remaining pour in my glass, I dropped in a fat rock of artisan clear ice and made some notes. The next taste was a very pleasant surprise. The rock had opened up some hidden sweetness and caramel notes that were missing in the neat pour. It actually had a bit of body, dimension, and balance that were absent before. I am fairly impressed with this as a $26 mixer for cocktails, and base for bucks, or rickeys. It is disappointing that it doesn't make the grade for me neat, but I can confidently give it 3 stars for it's age, proof, value, and ability as a rocks pour.