Rittenhouse Rye Bottled in Bond

A little background

Rittenhouse Rye Bottled in Bond is distilled by Heaven Hill and according to the website, it commemorates Philadelphia’s famous Rittenhouse Square.  Since it’s bottled-in-bond, we know it’s at least 4 years old, bottled at 100 Proof, and etcetera, etcetera. Retail price of around $25.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn.)

Color

Medium Copper

Nose

Immediate Strawberry licorice, caramel, and white pepper.  More like a high rye bourbon than a rye whiskey with the sweetness and a little light given the proof.  

Palate

Oh, now I see it’s a rye!  Allspice, cardamom, and star anise dominate with just enough toffee sweetness to balance the spice.  

Finish

Spice prickles lingers on the tongue and the sweetness all but disappears.  Nice but simple compared to the nose and palate.  

In closing

This is a bottle that’s always had a place in my liquor cabinet.  There are some days that I’m just itching for a rye whiskey with a little heat that won’t break the bank.  It’s nice that a few labels like Rittenhouse BiB can scratch that itch.