Distillery/Brand: Heaven Hill Distilleries
Bottling: Rittenhouse Straight Rye 100 Proof
Region: Kentucky, USA
ABV: 50%
Colour: Gold
Nose: 21
Taste: 22
Finish: 21
Balance: 22
Review
I’ve always had a hard time telling one bourbon apart from another. I mean they are essentially the same flavor profiles so it can be a bit tough. But this Rittenhouse Rye is possibly one of the strangest and most unique.
I just don’t know why.
Nose: Unusually fragrant with a pulpy tropical fruit quality. Over ripe jack fruit and soft dates. All on a bed of underlying molasses. Very strange. Not sure if I like it.
Palate: The strangeness continues. Burnt sugar on pudding layered with spicy banana slices. There is that over ripe jack fruit again but this time with a touch of aniseed. Not sure if a bourbon should be tasting like this. I’m still a little confused.
Finish: Oaky dry with a date and rice pudding mix.
Now this is not terrible but it certainly does take you by surprise. Do I want my bourbons tasting like this? I don’t know. I really don’t.
Rating: 86
The Malt Activist 
Seeing as how this is NOT a bourbon but a straight rye whiskey, I would agree, you probably don’t want your bourbons tasting like this. I personally want my rye’s to taste just like this. Your palate seems pretty spot on though.
Thanks Sara! You’re quite right actually. I’ve not had a lot of experience with rye whiskies hence my lack of reference. Thanks for pointing it out. Will report back once I have some more rye whiskies inside me 😉