Heaven Hill Distillery
Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky BiB
Straight Rye Whiskey (Bottled-in-Bond) · NAS (minimum 4 years, Bottled-in-Bond)
Bottled-in-Bond at 100 proof and priced for everyday drinking, Rittenhouse Rye is the bartender's secret weapon and the Manhattanist's best friend.
Rating Breakdown
Flavor Profile
Tasting Journey
Nose
Black pepper, dill, caraway, cereal grain, caramel, vanilla, menthol hint, dried fruit
Palate
Bold rye spice, pepper, grain character, caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, 100-proof backbone, robust and spicy
Finish
Length: Medium-LongMedium-long with persistent pepper, rye spice, and oak, clean and warming
Specs
Price / Value
MSRP: $25
Your Rating
Click to rate
Our Score: 86/100
Pairings
Food
- Pastrami on rye (obviously)
- smoked meats
- sharp cheeses
- rye bread with mustard
- BBQ
Cocktails
- Manhattan (its destiny)
- Sazerac
- Rye Old Fashioned
- Vieux Carré
- Whiskey Sour
Our Verdict
Rittenhouse Rye BiB is the undisputed cocktail king of rye whiskey. At $25 and 100 proof, it makes Manhattans and Old Fashioneds that embarrass ryes at triple the price. Every home bar needs one.
Rittenhouse Rye Bottled-in-Bond occupies a hallowed place behind professional bars for a simple reason: at 100 proof and roughly $25, it makes better cocktails than ryes costing three times as much. This is the rye whiskey that bartenders reach for when they need backbone, spice, and character without the premium price tag—and what works behind a mahogany bar works equally well at home.
The Bottled-in-Bond designation guarantees 100 proof and a minimum four years of age from a single distillery and season. Heaven Hill's commitment to this standard at this price point is remarkable—you're getting guaranteed quality specifications that many craft distillers charge $50+ to deliver.
The nose is classically rye: black pepper, dill, caraway, and a cereal grain character that immediately identifies the spirit. There's caramel and vanilla sweetness in the background, along with a hint of menthol and dried fruit that adds dimension. It's an honest, assertive nose—no tricks, no surprises, just rye being rye.
On the palate, Rittenhouse delivers exactly what cocktails demand: bold spice, pepper, and rye grain character supported by caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak. The 100-proof backbone provides structure that doesn't get lost in mixing, while the rye spice cuts through sweet vermouth and bitters with precision. Neat, it's robust and spicy with enough sweetness to remain approachable.
The finish is medium-long with persistent pepper, rye spice, and oak. It's clean and warming—a finish that transitions seamlessly from the last sip to the next bite of food.
At $25, Rittenhouse Rye BiB is one of the best values in all of American whiskey. It's the Manhattan base that will make your friends think you spent $60, the Old Fashioned foundation that keeps things interesting, and the neat pour that proves rye doesn't need to cost a fortune to taste like a million bucks.
