Am I the only one who likes Pikesville?

[humchan2k]

Don't see it mentioned very often here....and for $12/bottle, which is by FAR the cheapest booze I can get here in LA that's not dirty bathwater, I think it's fabolous...anyone agree? I think it's FAR better than Overholt or Jim Beam Rye, as it's really just a younger version of Rittenhouse 100...correct? I had heard that the only diff between that and Rittenhouse BiB is the aging......but what do I know, I'm a newbie.

What say you, Bourbon Nation? I am out of my mind, or is Pikesville pretty decent juice for the $? I really love using it for manhattans or my fave drink of the moment, Rye N Stormy.

Cheers,

B~

[sku]

Absolutely agree. It's one of the best bangs for your buck in American whiskey. Of course, at 80 proof, it's also lower abv than Rittenhouse, but still good stuff, and great for rye cocktails.

http://recenteats.blogspot.com/2009/09/whiskey-wednesday-budget-booze-take.html

[humchan2k]

*e-high five*

A sage of wisdom about booze agrees....so I'm not out of my mind, sa-weet.

[sku]

Sage? Well, thanks for that, but far from it. I'm just another smartass with a blog (though I do, of course, know where to find those BTACs in LA).

[SMOWK]

Agreed! The low proof and light nature of the whiskey makes RittBIB a step above. I've only recently acquired a bottle of Pikesville, and I will buy another.

[CorvallisCracker]

Never had Pikesville, but a semi-local store started carrying it not long ago.

Say you lived in some Mythical Land(1) where prices were set not by market forces but by Wizards(2) who base them on Secret Lore. In this place WT rye is priced at $22.95 and Rittenhouse BiB and Pikesville both at $21.45. Would the Pikesville still be worth buying?

(BTW, I like WT Rye)

1. Oregon

2. The OLCC

[SMOWK]

Say you lived in some Mythical Land(1) where prices were set not by market forces but by Wizards(2) who base them on Secret Lore. In this place WT rye is priced at $22.95 and Rittenhouse BiB and Pikesville both at $21.45. Would the Pikesville still be worth buying?

[humchan2k]

the OLCC are Grand Visars of idiocy....

Yeah, if Pikesville is $21 and Rittenhouse is too, you gotta go with Rittenhouse. Hell, for me, unless I step to buy some High West Rendezvous Rye for $50, you can't beat Rittenhouse. I think Rittenhouse is better than baby Saz, I think it's the best rye you can get for under $50.....

That said, if you go somewhere not evil like OR, Pikesville is good.

[imbibehour]

I am seriously trying to score some for a tasting...

me want!

[White Dog]

Wow, do I love this thread.

RittBIB and WTRye continuously battle for my soul. They are quite distinct from one another, so my preference will vary from day to day, but I agree that these two Ryes are the best under $40. (Baby Saz and WTRRRye pale in comparison.)

Humchan2k, feel lucky that you have access to both Pikesville and RittBIB, as both have left the shelves of Wisconsin months ago, and no one knows when they will return. I do like Pikesville as an 80 proofer, and I also enjoy Ritt80 whenever I can find it, as I did yesterday in a dusty, sleepy liquor store for $11.49. I feel that both are way better than Overholt and JBRye. Not to be a Beam hater, but Fortune Brands makes crappy straight Rye, IMHO. (If you want any type of rye flavor from them, drink OGD114.)

A plea to all producers: The world needs some 8 to 12yr Ryes at around 100proof. Rye drinkers beg you. And for goodness sake, please stop tanking your old Rye!

[PAspirit1]

I just bought a bottle and I like it. I'm not sure how it stacks up against other 80 or around 80 proofers. I think the only two bottles under a 100 proof I've had in a long time are Bulleit and EWSB.

[sku]

A plea to all producers: The world needs some 8 to 12yr Ryes at around 100proof. Rye drinkers beg you.

[White Dog]

Van Winkle is pretty close to that.

[sku]

I love VWFRR, but a portion of that is actually a tanked 19yr. Plus, it's highly allocated. We need some variety in the world of Rye. It's either young stuff like Turkey and Ritt, or the glorious old Medley stuff that puts me in the poor house. And yes, I do love Handy. But compared to Bourbon, Rye lovers are left with very few options. Oh well.

As a rye fan, I definitely hear you. All of the new LDI ryes add some profiles to the mix though, as well as some of the micro and other newer ryes out there.

[spy247]

I love Pikesville its a great Rye. Its a cut above Overholt and Jim Beam Rye. It makes a great Manhattan.

However I do prefer the Rit BIB over Pikesville. Its cost approx $10 more here in Australia and its a jump in quality. That said I always keep a bottle of Pikesville in the cupboard.

[sailor22]

I love VWFRR, but a portion of that is actually a tanked 19yr. Plus, it's highly allocated. We need some variety in the world of Rye. It's either young stuff like Turkey and Ritt, or the glorious old Medley stuff that puts me in the poor house. And yes, I do love Handy. But compared to Bourbon, Rye lovers are left with very few options. Oh well.

Lots of great Rye around.

I'm a big fan of Pikesville also, but hardly ever drink it as a sipper. It makes such good Manhattans and there are better sippers. Lots of good Rye available but Pikesville seems the best value as the Ritt I have bought havent been very good. Some samples sent by friends have been much better.

Because of it's short supply It might be a crime of some sort to use Van Winkle Rye in a Manhattan (although it makes a great one:rolleyes: ).

JMHO but I think the High West Ryes are all really good with the Rendezvous making some knock out Manhattans and the 16 and 21 making delightful sippers. Also look for a new version from them that is a vatting of a two yr and 16yr that is different and really good, and probably at a good price point. I think their Rye new make is going to be bottled soon as a clear Rye also and it's tasty and a good mixer.

Baby Saz is really good juice, the Saz 18 is a classic world class whiskey and I loves me some Handy on the right night.

The Vintage 21 and 23 are from the same stocks as BMH and I believe the Rtitt 21 and older ryes - plenty of good drinking in those bottles if your taste runs to Rye with more wood.

Overholt Rye makes a decent Manhattan as does Beam and Turkey - the Turkey is complex enough to be a sipper as is Russles Reserve Rye. Beam's Ri is a tasty pour if you can get past the bottle and marketing.

I'm hearing Fleichman's Rye is a huge bargain although I haven't tasted any yet. Seems like I heard it came from the same source as Pikesville but I don't know for sure.

I'm sure I forgot a few but it seems to me there is some good Rye to choose from.

[nivto]

Steve - what was the name of that Rye that I tried at your place the other night. I'm pretty sure you said it was (or close to) a 100% Rye mash bill. I really enjoyed that pour but I can't for the life of me remember what it was.

[sailor22]

Pretty sure you are talking about the Old Portrero Hotelings. And I forgot to mention the three Old Ports. Since all the Old Ports are 100% Rye mash they have really helped me understand exactly what tastes in a whiskey are contributed by the Rye.

[dgonano]

Well I still have some Pikesville Maryland Straight Rye...really good stuff. As for the current version, it is just HH rye (distilled at B-F?). The 3 yr old is Pikesville, the 4 to 6 yr is Rittenhouse. Makes a good Sazerac and Manhattan.

[SMOWK]

Well I still have some Pikesville Maryland Straight Rye...really good stuff. As for the current version, it is just HH rye (distilled at B-F?). The 3 yr old is Pikesville, the 4 to 6 yr is Rittenhouse. Makes a good Sazerac and Manhattan.

[ethangsmith]

I would think Rittenhouse and Pikesville have different mashbills. If you go back in history a few short decades, Rittenhouse was made by Continental Distilling in Philadelphia as a higher-end Pennsylvania-style rye. Pikesville was made by Standard Distillers (I think?) outside Baltimore and was a higher-end Maryland-style rye. While both are now made by Heaven Hill, Maryland-style and Pennsylvania-style ryes often varied from one another in mashbill and flavor.

Yesterday I went down to Baltimore to a liquor store and while I was there (Maybe a half-hour), at least 4 bottles of Pikesville flew off the shelf. I was amazed at the pace at which it seems to be sold down there. The bottle I had of Pikesville wasn't too impressive, but I think I'd have to go back and try it again because at the time I was really into the milder, sweeter wheated bourbons. I LOVE Rittenhouse BIB. Next time I'm down in Baltimore I may pick up another bottle of Pikesville. I just wish it was 4-6yo and 86 proof!

[dgonano]

Pikesville was 4yr Rye in the early to mid 2000's. Some SB members may still have a bottle as I handed out a few at"04 KBF". A few year's ago it was changed to a 3yr and was more widely distributed. I doubt if the mashbill is different from Rittenhouse.

[doubleblank]

I still have my bottle Dave and it's unopened. I'm not a big fan of rye, but will open it to see how it compares to Ritt.

Was it really in '04? Boy, time flies.

Randy

[dgonano]

Randy, I think it was the same year you brought the Van Blankle. But it could have been '05. Anyway it would have a different taste profile than the "Ritt".

It is a good mixer.

[JeffRenner]

I'm hearing Fleichman's Rye is a huge bargain although I haven't tasted any yet. Seems like I heard it came from the same source as Pikesville but I don't know for sure.

I loved Fleishmann's rye and used to get a handle of it every time I went up to visit family in Wisconsin (the only place I ever saw it), but then about five years ago or so, it went from four to three years old and wasn't as good, and then shortly after, it disappeared. I don't think it's produced anymore.

It was light and full of rye, and I liked it on the rocks as a light before-dinner drink. (Aperitif seems like too fancy a word for it.)