🥃 The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 2: Rittenhouse Rye

The Rye That Drinks Like a Bourbon (and Costs Like a Steal)

Sometimes the best finds happen when you’re not looking for them. During a family reunion week near Cashiers, North Carolina, I was at dinner with Daryl’s family. The restaurant’s bourbon selection wasn’t exactly stellar, but one bottle caught my eye: Rittenhouse Rye Bottled-in-Bond. I ordered it neat, figuring it was the best option on the list.

It turned out to be more than “just the best option.” That pour was so unexpectedly good that once I got back home, I picked up a bottle for my own shelf. Fast forward a few weeks, and I’ve worked my way through more than half of it—not because I was trying, but because it’s such an easy, enjoyable sipper.

Better yet? You can usually find it for $25 to $30. At that price, it’s punching well above its weight class. It’s versatile enough to enjoy neat or on a cube, and it would make a fantastic Old Fashioned. With its high-corn mashbill (51% rye, 37% corn, 12% malted barley), it drinks like a bourbon-rye hybrid—bringing sweetness and spice together in a way that works for just about any mood.

Tasting Notes

Color:
More honey-gold than deep amber—nothing remarkable here, but still inviting.

Nose:
The corn content leads with sweetness, but the rye’s influence shows up quickly. Think peaches and cream—creamy, fruity, and a little decadent. I’ve heard people describe it as “a breakfast bowl of oatmeal,” and I get that. It’s the kind of nose that makes you want to linger before the first sip.

Palate:
Oak up front, then a wave of stone fruit—peach or apricot—followed by cinnamon, vanilla, and caramel. Somewhere in the middle there’s a subtle nuttiness. It’s not wildly complex, but it offers enough layers to keep things interesting.

Finish:
Less creamy than the nose suggests, but still silky and smooth. The finish lingers with baking spice, vanilla, and just a touch of mint.

Final Verdict

My first experience with Rittenhouse in North Carolina was no fluke—this is one of the better bargain ryes on the market. Whenever I spot it behind a bar, I know I’ve got a dependable, non-standard option for the night. It’s a solid sipper and a great cocktail base. For $30 or less, it’s an easy “yes.”

Score: 77.7

About Douglas Blaine

Capnpen is a writer who was a newspaper and magazine journalist in a previous life. A college journalism major, he now works as an English teacher, but gets his writing fix by blogging about a variety of topics, including politics, religion, movies and television. When he's not working or blogging, Capnpen spends time with his family, plays a little golf (badly) and loves to learn about virtually anything.

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