About the Whisky:
Named after the father of Bourbon Rev. Elijah Craig this limited release Small Batch, twelve-year-old Bourbon is bottled at Barrel Proof and without chill filtering, preserving the natural flavors produced during the aging process. At full Barrel Proof, you can enjoy the Bourbon much the same way our Master Distiller does when he samples straight from the barrel or, if you choose, add water to reduce the proof to your liking.

Age: 11 years, 2 months

Proof: 130.6

Release Date: May 2024

Tasting Notes:


Awards/Reviews:

94 Points - Whisky Advocate

"Bubble gum, vanilla taffy, creamed corn, honeyed Cream of Wheat, and leather on the nose. The palate offers red berries, cinnamon, chocolate babka, and pepper spice. Overall, the texture is smooth and it holds its proof well as the flavors hum. On the finish, orange, aged oak, chicory, and a rush of hot cocoa, all reveal quality in depth and integration. This is a superb whiskey, big, flavorful, and complex."

Grade: A- (Drinkhacker)

"Lots of intensity on the nose here: espresso, oiled leather, bbq burnt ends, and smoldering wood on the campfire. These Barrel Proof releases can often be powerhouses, but B524’s aromatics push things to some savory heights for the series. Oddly enough, the palate has a big shift in store: On the tongue the whiskey is sweeter with ripe banana and brown sugar paving the way for notes of caramel sauce over sweet cream custard. The fruit theme continues with elements of maraschino cherry followed by walnuts. Before you know it, we’ve got a whole banana split working here. While spicy and quite warm on the finish, the explosion of fruit helps to temper the whiskey’s innate heat and offers a seasonally friendly flavor profile that works well both as a solo sipper or in an Old Fashioned or even a punchy whiskey sour."

"Nose: Peppery oak | Cigar box | Raisin | Baking spices | Robust

Palate: Heavily charred oak | Baking spices | Tobacco | Graham cracker | Caramel

Finish: Baking spices | Caramel chews | Aged oak | Long

Batch B524 is traditionally inspired and bold, starting with a robust aroma of peppery oak, cigar box, raisin, and baking spices. Heavily charred oak, tobacco, graham cracker, and caramel emerge on the palate, which tones the intensity down a notch though it remains as potent as expected for the proof. Baking spices, caramel, and aged oak define the bourbon’s long, otherwise straightforward finish." - Breaking Bourbon

"Batch B524 offers a unique and intriguing flavor profile compared to other releases. The nose is fruity with notes of tangerine, caramel, coconut, cherry, nutmeg, and oak. The palate is drying and mouth-coating, featuring cherry, walnuts, tea, cinnamon, barrel char, and oak. The finish is long and drying, with lingering hints of cinnamon, leather, cherry, bitter chocolate, bitter walnuts, oak, and a touch of coconut. Allowing the bourbon some time to open up significantly enhances its flavors, making it a memorable and enjoyable pour for those who appreciate a distinctive, drying character." - Whiskey Consensus

Notes from the Maker:
Rittenhouse is produced in the tradition of the classic rye whiskeys that were once the preeminent American whiskey style, kept alive through the lean years by Heaven Hill and two other distilleries.

An excellent rye whiskey at a competitive price, Rittenhouse Bottled-In-Bond won the coveted “The World’s Best North American Whiskey” in Whisky Magazine’s World Whiskey Awards. The venerable American Whiskey was also named “Top North American Whiskey” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Awards/Reviews:

Double Gold - SF World Spirits Competition 2023, 2022, 2021

Gold - SIP Awards 2023

93 Points - Intl Wine & Spirits Competition 2023

"Pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate, coffee, honeycomb, spice and oak characteristics on the nose and palate with a great mouthfeel and sweetness ending in a spicy finish."

93 Points, Great Value - Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2023

"This bottled-in-bond rye displays complex aromas of clover honey, fresh maple, and carraway. Seductive on the palate, it coats the mid and upper palates with bready notes that give way to orchard fruit and baking spices that linger on for a long finish."

Platinum - Ascot Awards 2022

“Well balanced with a buttery mouthfeel and flavors of toffee, black pepper, and a nice dose of fruit.”

Double Gold - SIP Awards 2021

95 Points, Best Buy - Wine Enthusiast

"A versatile must-have for mixing cocktails, look for pleasing vanilla, maple and a hint of dried cherry. The finish is long and drying, with plenty of baking spice notes."