Joeluka Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 I've noticed that Straight Ryes are as loved by most of us here and Bourbon. I've been buying a bottle or two of every Rye I can find and pouring a glass of each of them. I'm going to rank them in my favorite order and then ask everybody to do the same.1. Sazerac 18 (you pick the year)2. Old Rip Van Winkle Old Time Rye 12yr3. Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 yr 4. Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 1985 ( This one's thick as maple syrup)5. Rittenhouse Rye BIB6. Old Potero 18th century whiskey ( Yes I love this one)7. Black Maple Hill 18 yr SB Rye8. Wild Turkey 101 Rye9. Sazerac Jr10. Old Overholt11. Jim Beam RyeThese are how I rate my current open bottles of Rye. I have a VWFRR 13 Lawerencburg that I havnt open yet and I just located and put a hold on a BMH 15yr Rye and A H Hirsh 13yr Rye(both done by JVW), so when I get to them I'll update my list. Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe_Blowe Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 You're having some good look there - that's quite a list of acquisitions!My most recent purchase is the Saz Jr. (from Binny's). It's nice, but like you I think the Rittenhouse BIB is better. I'm not sure yet how much better, but I'll be doing more research on that tonight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrispyCritter Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 I found that the Saz Jr. benefits from a bit of air - there was some harshness in my first pour that wasn't there after the opened bottle had spent a week or so on the shelf.To me, it and the Rittenhouse are both excellent whiskeys in their own right. I have yet to try some of the others on the list, like Old Overholt, Beam, or two of the Van Winkles (I have the VWFRR - mmmmmmmm).I've made the Sazerac cocktail with three different ryes - Rittenhouse BIB, WT, and Saz Jr. Each of them were fine drinks! The whiskeys' character shows up in the cocktails - the Rittenhouse version tended to be a bit sweeter, the WT spice was plainly evident in WT version, and the Saz Jr. was right in the middle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe_Blowe Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 I found that the Saz Jr. benefits from a bit of air - there was some harshness in my first pour that wasn't there after the opened bottle had spent a week or so on the shelf.Thanks for the heads up. My bottle has been open less than a week, so I'll give it a few more days to "develop." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProofPositive Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 I think the Rittenhouse BIB is better. I'm not sure yet how much better, but I'll be doing more research on that tonight!I see Rittenhouse mentioned quite a bit here in the Forum. Can someone educate me on this one? It is not a bottle I have ever seen in a store. So, I would assume it is out of production(?).As for the ranking, my experience with rye is still very limited. The only ones I have are a couple of bottles of the VWFRR and will have some Saz in the bunker soon. I have been enjoying other stuff so much that no time yet to try the rye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barturtle Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 I see Rittenhouse mentioned quite a bit here in the Forum. Can someone educate me on this one? It is not a bottle I have ever seen in a store. So, I would assume it is out of productionNo it's not out of production, but in limited markets. I've only seen the 80proof in Louisville, but have seen the BIB in Chicago and in the St. Louis area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jspero Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 For the people that have tried it, where would you rank Pikesville? It's the only rye I've tried so far (being from MD and living near Pikesville, I had to try it). I have not ventured any further into Rye-land so far, so I'm just curious. I find that it's drinkable, but I much prefer some bourbons in the same price range if I buy from that end of the spectrum.Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nor02lei Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 For the people that have tried it, where would you rank Pikesville? It's the only rye I've tried so far (being from MD and living near Pikesville, I had to try it). I have not ventured any further into Rye-land so far, so I'm just curious. I find that it's drinkable, but I much prefer some bourbons in the same price range if I buy from that end of the spectrum.JayJay,I would rank it very low. There is much better rye out there and I will come back with my top ten list soon.Leif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNbourbon Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Well, I'm going make two lists -- "Current" and "Ever Had":"Current" ryes:Rittenhouse 10yo BIBVan Winkle Old Time/Family Reserve 12/13yo (same rye, different age -- slight edge to the 12yo version)Classic Cask 22yoRittenhouse 6yo BIBBlack Maple Hill 18yo (Bardstown/KBD)Sazerac 6/7yoWild TurkeyPikesvilleOld OverholtSazerac 18"Historical" ryes:Heaven Hill/Rittenhouse? 21yo1930s Monticello (courtesy John Lipman at Sampler last)Rittenhouse 10yo BIBVan Winkle Old Time/Family Reserve 12/13yo (same rye, different age -- slight edge to the 12yo version)1930s Pikesville (courtesy Dave Ganano at Sampler last)Classic Cask 22yoRittenhouse 6yo BIBBlack Maple Hill 18yo (Bardstown/KBD)Sazerac 6/7yoWild TurkeyOld Overholt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nor02lei Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Well, I'm going make two lists -- "Current" and "Ever Had":[*]Rittenhouse 6yo BIB[*]Heaven Hill/Rittenhouse? 21yoTim,Must ask you a couple of questions concerning your list. I have never heard of a 6 year old BIB Rittenhouse nor have I heard of any previous 21 Y old. The only ones I have heard of is the no age 80 and 100 proofs, 10 Y 100 proof and that it will come a 21 Y single barrel this fall. I would be interested to here more about this 2 for me unknown Rittenhouse.Leif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedmans Brorsa Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Leif,For all I know, there is a Rittenhouse BIB for the US market. My guess is that Tim refers to that one. I had no idea that it carried an age statement, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barturtle Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Let's see if I can remember all I've had:VWFRR- the earlier the better with the sweet spot being the C-bottlingSazerac 18- this seems to follow the above rule as well best of '01 IIRCORVWOTRHirsch 13- though this is the same rye as the VWFRR, the batch I had gets bumped a notch or two compared to the best of the VWFRR-these top four could all get switched around depending on batch/yearSaz JrMitchers 10yo-this is the Commonwealth bottlingOld Potrero-barrel proof Malt Rye 3yoLot 40-I know it's CanadianWT RyeOld OverholtRittenhouse 80Jim Beam Some products I haven't had enough of to rank:Ritt BIBBMH 15 SBClassic Cask-seems like it was 17yo but I know it wasn't the 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nor02lei Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Leif,For all I know, there is a Rittenhouse BIB for the US market. My guess is that Tim refers to that one. I had no idea that it carried an age statement, though.Lennart, TimThe Rittenhouse BIB in USA isn’t that the same as the one available in Europe? I have not tried it but if it is 6 Y instead of 4 that would explain a little why it seem as popular on this forum. I have tried the 80 proof no age statement and I am not impressed. Since I didn’t found it very drinkable at it’s on I tried to combine it in replacement of “snapsâ€whith food. The fruity a little oily taste did work out well. Christmas 2004 I had it to the whole Christmas table (smorgasbord) one day and it worked very well. Can’t say the same about the 10 Y with killed everything on the table and shouldn’t even have been in the same room. And one more thing. Isn’t 100 proof the only practical meaning by the bottled in bond statement today? Correct me if I am wrong.Leif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nor02lei Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 I've noticed that Straight Ryes are as loved by most of us here and Bourbon. I've been buying a bottle or two of every Rye I can find and pouring a glass of each of them. I'm going to rank them in my favorite order and then ask everybody to do the same.I had trouble to sort out the last rye so it has to be a top 11 list. I did rank it in 3 groups with no order in the group but first group is my favourites’ and so on.ORVW old time rye early gold neck no letter series.Old St Nick winter rye 101 proofSazerac 2002Younger versions of ORVWFRR including 1985 vintage (15Y) and Lottas Home (13-14Y)Older versions of ORVWFRR including the today 19 Y oldORVW old time rye later black neck C series.Rittenhouse 10 Y 100 proofWT ryeOld Potrero straight rye 4Y 120.2 proofOld Overholt 86 proof distilled at Old Granddad distillerySazerac 2005And in the other end. My list liked rye: Old Potrero single malt whiskey 2 Y old (not straight)Leif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rughi Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Lennart, TimThe Rittenhouse BIB in USA isn’t that the same as the one available in Europe? I have not tried it but if it is 6 Y instead of 4 that would explain a little why it seem as popular on this forum...LeifI haven't seen an age statement on the Rittenhouse BIB Rye Whisky, but being a Bond, any given bottle would be a particular age. I can easily believe that the lighter and less complex of my 2 bottlings (the no distillery stated bottle) is 6 years, and the other is definitely darker and more mature if not literally older than 6.I think, due to the natural comparison, we have transposed the 6 year statement of Saz Jr. onto the Rittenhouse BIB in this forum.RogerBy the way, Rittenhouse is the only "Whisky" I've noticed in an HH product. Mostly, that Scotch spelling seems to be a Brown Forman thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boone Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Lennart, TimThe Rittenhouse BIB in USA isn’t that the same as the one available in Europe? Leif Hi Leif, Not Tim, but from the source :grin: The Rittenhouse 10 year is export only---not sold in the U.S--- Tim "had" (?) that bottling. Any left Tim? :grin: I have attached a picture from my collection so other's could see what it looks like :grin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nor02lei Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Hi Leif,Not Tim, but from the source :grin: The Rittenhouse 10 year is export only---not sold in the U.S---Tim "had" (?) that bottling. Any left Tim? :grin: I have attached a picture from my collection so other's could see what it looks like :grin:Bettye,I am very familiar with the bottle on the picture. The bottle that puzzles me is the Rittenhouse (BIB) no age on the bottle 100 proof. We got, or at least just to have a bottle like that in Europe. I wonder if the Europe and the USA bottles are the same and if they are 6 years. Here is a picture of the no age 100 proof BIB bottle from whiskystore.de that at least was available in Europe. As for me it locks the same as the 10 Y except no age statement.http://www.straightbourbon.com/ubbthreads/attachment.php?attachmentid=2301&stc=1&d=1138997178 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boone Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Bettye,I am very familiar with the bottle on the picture. The bottle that puzzles me is the Rittenhouse (BIB) no age on the bottle 100 proof. We got, or at least just to have a bottle like that in Europe. I wonder if the Europe and the USA bottles are the same and if they are 6 years. Here is a picture of the no age 100 proof BIB bottle from whiskystore.de that at least was available in Europe. As for me it locks the same as the 10 Y except no age statement.http://www.straightbourbon.com/ubbthreads/attachment.php?attachmentid=2301&stc=1&d=1138997178Lief,There's three bottlings of the Rittenhouse Rye...I posted a link of the 10 year :grin:... The BIB is six years old---although it does not state this---The 80 proof is 4 years old...If you have the BIB without age statement...it's six years old :grin: ---same as the U.S.:grin: bottling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNbourbon Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Sorry, didn't mean to cause confusion -- but, as Bettye Jo had told me, I knew the domestic BIB is a 6yo.Nope, Bettye Jo, none of the 10yo BIB left. Sure did enjoy it though! Thanks.The HH/Rittenhouse 21yo mentioned hasn't been bottled commercially -- yet. I sampled it from Parker Beam's hand during the Festival last fall. Wow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedmans Brorsa Posted February 4, 2006 Share Posted February 4, 2006 I would really love to try the US BIB-version but if my memory serves me right, I have never seen it on offer here in Europe. As one of the few who has sampled both, how do you compare them, Tim? Apparently you rank both very high.When I first tried the 10yo BIB I thought it was good but not that good. But the more I´ve become acquainted with it the more it has risen in status. Now I regard it not only as one of my favourite ryes but also among the best American whiskies.Dammit! I always have to look up the word "acquainted" before I write it down. A devilish difficult spelling on that one :grin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bamber Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 VWFRR 1985 or the 13yoSazerac Rye 18yo (2001)Old Potrero (90 proof version)WT RyeJim Beam RyeOld OverholtPikesvilleLooking forward to the Saz jnr, when it comes over here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedmans Brorsa Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 Looking forward to the Saz jnr, when it comes over hereMe, too. I´m checking Internet sites almost everyday. :searching: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bamber Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 So am I Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camduncan Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 I think if I'm going to rank my favourite Rye, it'd go something like this... If it was based on availability in Australia: 1. Jim Beam Rye 2. Jim Beam Rye 3. Jim Beam Rye 4. Jim Beam Rye 5. Jim Beam Rye As you can see, very little Rye choice here (I really wish HH or BT or someone would start shipping some decent Rye to us ) If it were based on Ryes I've picked up when overseas or imported: 1. Old Rip Van Winkle 13yo Rye 2. 2004 Sazerac Rye 3. Rittenhouse Rye 4. Jim Beam Rye 5. Wild Turkey rye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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