Rittenhouse Rye Bottled in Bond

Smooth, simple, and slightly sweet

Nose is prickly rye spice. Palate is initially rye with warm butter. Finish brings back the hearty rye.

- Nose: Banana, dried peaches, touch of cinnamon, rye grain. Oatmeal mixed with maple syrup. Not incredibly spicy. Somewhat earthy. It’s sweet but on the darker, syrupy side of sweet. Citrus present underneath. Not overly sweetened, though. Menthol. Minor floral notes too, but it’s much more towards the dried fruit, sweet, and earthy spectrum of rye. - Taste: cereal, black licorice, mint, cinnamon, baking spices, maple syrup. Decent mouth coating and not overly thin. Dries on the palate to a short, sweet oak finish with some lingering rye spice burn - Notes: overall, VERY sip worthy rye. Robust but not rough like many ryes can be. Extremely good value for a bottled in bond rye at $30. It’s more like a high rye bourbon than a 100% straight rye, so if you’re a bourbon drinker interested in rye, this is a good place to start. There is some ethanol and other young spirit notes present compared to its older brother, Pikesville Rye, which I still prefer neat, but spend some time with this dram and it reveals some lovey complexity. This is the ultimate cocktail rye, and a staple for manhattans, boulevardiers, and otherwise. Even as a neat pour, though, it holds up very well for anyone who loves whiskeys with notes heavy on the rye spectrum.

Fine for mixing, especially if you want the extra kick from it being slightly over proof. Not good for sipping.