Rittenhouse Rye Bottled in Bond

Nice rye character. This whiskey is a touch hot, and if you sample first it's very reminiscent of bourbon, but sampling after bourbon you notice how much rye is there. For the price it's not bad, but there are certainly better bottles.

I really hate to be a contrarian here. I know Rittenhouse is considered a staple rye whiskey for mixing, but I think a mixer is basically as much as it can aspire to. The nose is fine, if a bit weak. The opening on the palate is pleasant and starts off with a surprisingly gentle sweetness, but that dissolves into a finish of sharp ash and cigarettes that I don't enjoy. The finish is markedly long, but considering how much I hate the finish, that is decidedly a negative for me.

Per “Cocktails with Suderman,” the single most important bottle in your bar. Excellent mixer.

Reeeeally good full flavor. Hints of vanilla, and a nice lingering spice!

Spicy and smooth. A perfect mixer at this price, but has a funk when sipped straight.

The ultimate cocktail value rye