Some Rye : Rittenhouse 100 proof bottled for The Whisky Exchange
Either you like Rye, or you don’t stand it. I happen to like that stuff, and though it’s not easy getting them here or for the matter in Europe, I do take pleasure in trying new expressions from time to time. When I visited Whisky Live last week I was given a wee sample of this one by a good whisky friend (let’s just say his name is made up of two very different animals). I Was looking forward to trying this , having heard very good things about it from two whisky friends from two continents (Europe, and Africa!) ,they seemed to really like this version. Rittenhouse is a brand now owned by Heaven Hill distilleries, and is made in the tradition of the classic Pennsylvania or “Monongahela” rye whiskeys. This specific one was bottled from a single cask for the Whisky Exchange, and is available Exclusively from their shop / site.
Rittenhouse 100 Proof Rye / Single Cask for TWE , 50% , £32
Nose: Big rye (ok, we were expecting this, right?) . Lots if maple, sour wood, nuts , balsamic vinegar . A few notes of Crème de Menthe with touches of Vanilla, quite a bit of Wet oak and sun dried bananas… (Thank you for pointing this out, Steffen) What a great nose.
Palate: Rich, bitter sweet with burnt sugar,creamy coconut milk,apple and vinegar.Continues with Demerara sugar spices, cinnamon galore and some cloves.
Finish : Long, spice and sugary butter.
A lovely dram, a good example of the genre. And very drinkable,straight, or in a mixer. I prefer it neat.
Score: 85/100
