Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey
Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey is a 750mL Bottled-in-Bond straight rye bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV) by Heaven Hill. Bonded status means one distiller, one distilling season, at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse — and the mash bill is the classic Pennsylvania-style 51% rye, 35% corn and 14% malted barley, distilled at Heaven Hill's Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. First poured in Philadelphia in 1934, it has become the default rye of the American cocktail bar: full-flavoured, honestly priced, and proofed to stand up in a stirred drink. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 50% (100 proof, Bottled-in-Bond)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: At least 4 years (Bottled-in-Bond minimum)
- Mash bill: 51% rye, 35% corn, 14% malted barley
- Distillery: Heaven Hill, Bernheim Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
- Style: Pennsylvania (Monongahela) rye tradition, Kentucky-made
The Bartender's Rye, Since Before It Was Fashionable
Rittenhouse began in 1934, months after Repeal, when Philadelphia's Continental Distilling named a rye for the city's Rittenhouse Square. After wartime stoppages it returned in 1948 as a four-year-old Bottled-in-Bond, and Heaven Hill acquired the brand in 1993 and kept the formula — and the bond — intact. That continuity is why it anchors more Manhattans and Sazeracs than any rye at its price: the 51% rye mash sits at the legal minimum, so corn sweetness carries the spice, and the full 100 proof keeps it present through vermouth, citrus and ice. Compare the rest of the shelf in our rye whiskey collection and find the producer's other labels on the Rittenhouse vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Heaven Hill describes a mahogany rye with dried fruit, toffee and sweet pepper on the nose; a clean, rich palate of cocoa, citrus, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla; and a lingering finish of maple-like spice.
How to Enjoy
Built for the classics — Manhattan, Sazerac, Boulevardier — and entirely respectable neat. It was named North American Whiskey of the Year at the 2006 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, so the neat glass has credentials too. Stock the bar from our spirits collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rittenhouse Rye Bottled-in-Bond?
Yes. It meets every bonded requirement — a single distiller and distilling season, at least four years in a bonded warehouse, bottled at exactly 100 proof — which is stated on Heaven Hill's own product page.
What is the mash bill of Rittenhouse Rye?
51% rye, 35% corn and 14% malted barley — the traditional Pennsylvania-style recipe, with rye at the legal minimum for a rounder, sweeter spice than high-rye bottlings.
Is there a 1L Rittenhouse?
Yes, Heaven Hill also bottles Rittenhouse in 1L as a separate SKU. This listing is the 750mL bottle.
The rye the cocktail revival was built on — order Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
