Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky Bottled in Bond

Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky Bottled in Bond is a heritage brand, originally introduced in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by the Continental Distilling Corporation back in 1934, right after Prohibition. It’s named for the city's famed Rittenhouse Square. While it’s no longer distilled in Pennsylvania, now hailing from Kentucky’s Heaven Hill Distillery, it maintains its reputation for that classic, spicy rye character that became a go-to for bartenders, especially during the cocktail renaissance of the early 2000s. The "Bottled in Bond" designation is key, meaning it's the product of one distillation season, from one distiller, aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at 100 proof – a mark of quality and consistency. This rye offers up notes of dried fruit, toffee, and a bit of sweet pepper, leading to a palate with cocoa, citrus, and warm baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, finishing with a lingering maple-like spiciness, making it a solid choice for your home bar, especially in classic cocktails.

Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky, a Bottled-in-Bond classic, brings a confident spice with hints of dried fruit, toffee, and a touch of pepper to your home bar. Its robust 100-proof character ensures it stands tall in cocktails, making it a go-to for a traditional Manhattan or a spirited Old Fashioned. This is one of those craft spirits that consistently delivers, offering a pleasing, lingering maple-like spiciness and clean, rich notes of cocoa and cinnamon that Anders Erickson himself would appreciate in well-constructed cocktail ingredients.

Anticipate dried fruits and toffee on the nose, maybe some sweet peppers. The palate offers a clean, rich taste of cocoa, citrus, and baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, with a touch of vanilla. It finishes with a lingering, maple-like spiciness that leaves a pleasant warmth.