Distiller Notes
2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold Medal Winner
2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold Medal Winner
Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky is produced in the tradition of the classic rye whiskeys that were once the preeminent American Whiskey style, kept alive through the lean years by Heaven Hill and two other distilleries.
Rittenhouse Rye contains a mash bill of 51% rye, 35% corn, and 14% malted barley. It boasts rich cocoa, citrus, cinnamon, and vanilla flavors, and finishes with a lingering maple-like spiciness.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
At 100 proof, this Pennsylvania-style rye is Bottled in Bond, meaning it meets the strictest U.S. government requirements. Aromas of salt water taffy, mandarin orange, and cooked pineapple are pleasing, if not downright pleasurable. The flavors of spiced cinnamon toast soften the savory cigar leaf, while it finishes with a lingering, unctuous textural mouthfeel of apricot nectar.
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Wine Enthusiast
A versatile must-have for mixing cocktails, look for pleasing vanilla, maple and a hint of dried cherry. The finish is long and drying, with plenty of baking spice notes.
Best Buy
Known for its peppery, spicy bite, Rye serves as the ideal base for cocktails like the Sazerac, Manhattan or Old Fashioned. In order for a spirit to be labeled an American Rye Whiskey, the mash bill must be comprised of at least 51% rye grain. The remainder of the mash is most often a combination of malted barley, wheat or corn. After distillation is complete, the spirit is transferred to unused, charred white oak barrels for a minimum of two years, though many producers choose to age longer.