Value Dept: Rittenhouse Rye at $22

[Capn Jimbo]

Value Dept: Rittenhouse Rye at $22...


Those of you who have spent more than a millisecond here should know that the foundation of The Rum Project includes the notions that:

1. The few commercial and wannabee rum sites are a pox on humanity, completely mislead the budding rum afficianado and do less than nothing to create real understanding or appreciation of fine, pure and real rum.

2. The Rum Project is dedicated to newbies everywhere on the basis that with a little knowledge anyone can learn to understand rum, its styles and have a real leg up on developing and expressing their own palates.

3. Super-premium price does not insure super-premium quality. Exhibit A: Barbancourt Five Star - an honest to goodness world class cane juice style rum, by consensus a master class product of the highest regard and rating. How much? Currently just $22, with the Three Star a measly $19, and the white even less.

That's value. And as far as that is concerned, how 'bout...


Rittenhouse Rye

I refer to the Rittenhouse 10 yr, BIB (bottled in bond) straight rye whiskey. Mind you, straight rye is hard to find, and the really good ones can exceed $50. This rye which not so long ago sold for $14 gets uniformly rave ratings. Consider F. Paul Pacult...

Pacult: "Gorgeous, unblemished clarity... wood aromas like teak chest, cherry wood and oak (followed by) succulent marshmallow, bakery and lanolin. (Palate of) butter cream, dark caramel and brown sugar (then) the grain aspect... toasty, roasted and damn near fruity and honeyed. Ends honey sweet, bountifully textured, decadent, maple-like and nothing short of nectar-like.

If anyone can explain to me how a straight whiskey costing less than $15 can so downright delicious, I'm open for business... an unbelievable American whiskey gem and bargain"

He is not alone. This Rittenhouse has won more than one competition, and it still sells for $22. It goes without saying it's hard to get and I've been looking locally for several years. Guess what?


I finally got one!

A few months ago I asked about Rittenhouse once again, but this time at an out-of-the-way Indian liquor store. Their surprising answer "Oh.. yes we had that last year, and I have a few bottle coming in. Can we call you?". Can we call you?!? Is the Pope catholic? I gave them my name and cell, but alas no call.

So I followed up. They apologized profusely and once again took my number. This time and to my great surprise, I got a voice messege in a barely understandable Indian accent: "We have your Rittenhouse, please call us...". Which I did, and when this post is done...

I'm getting in the car. Stay tuned...

[da'rum]

Full report mandatory!

[Capn Jimbo]

They shoot horses, don't they?


What you said is not what I heard! After years of looking, after finding a local resource, after getting "the call", I rushed off this morniing, drove cross town, hustled into this terrific independent emporium, approached the counter and said "I'm here to pick up the bottle of Rittenhouse you're holding for me!"
The clerk replied "Oh yes, we have it waiting for you behind the counter.".

He got on his stool, reached up to the top shelf behind him, and brought down a bottle wrapped in a thin sheet of cedar, tied with a rough twine - amazing presentation I thought - and handed me the bottle: Rittenhouse Straight Rye, 23 Years, at - oh no, Mr. Bill! - $70. "No, no, no I protested; I ordered the 10 year, bottled in bond!". Not in stock? No. Getting one? Maybe. When? Maybe in two or three weeks. Maybe? Well, uh, yes. And will you call me? Yessir!

Shit.

My disappointment was obvious. I then quickly scanned their deep selection and looked for something to assuage my hurt: a Lavagulin 12 or 16? Too expensive. A good coffee rum, like Santero? Not available. Baileys? We'd drink it too fast (Bailey's is absolutely dangerous and there's no need to tempt fate).

So home I went, and dug through my collection and came up with the perfect medicine: a Laphroig 10 Year. I drink this only on special occasions, and this one qualified. An Islay that stands quite well alone. Wonderful, powerfull, deep, medicinal, and smoky but delivering a smoothness and balanced with a medium bodied medium/light fruitiness, a combination of ripe orange with a ripe peach nectar, leaving a persistent peppery smoke finish. Classic Laphroig that represents a tradition, genre, quality and artful spirit.

It worked. But never fear - I may have to go mail order on this one...

[da'rum]

Well that sucks! Bad luck on that one.

Good choice on the Laphroaig 10, it's better than the Talisker 10 I had last week! So at least you had some quality plonk for an inner balm.

Enjoy

[Uisge]

Sorry to hear about your great dismay (and all the hoops you leapt through).

Good choice on the medicine to salve your wound though. I'd do the same if it was me. Well, maybe a Lagavulin would get first consideration before the Laphroaig, but it would be a coin toss between the 2.

[Capn Jimbo]

About Laphroig and Lavagulin...


Guys, thanks for the input. A question: I have both the Laphroig 10 and Quarter Cask as these are barely within our means. Can you compare the 10 to the Lavagulin 12 and/or 16?

Around here the 16 goes for around $100 which exceeds our budget enough that it would have to be truly exceptional. Are the Lavagulins that much better than the Laphroig 10? Love to hear your comparative reviews...

[da'rum]

Lagavulin is owned by DIAGEO.

http://www.diageo.com/en-row/OurBrands/ ... fault.aspx

That's about as much input as I can add. It may be fantastic, I've never tried it. I won't be trying it either as I couldn't in good conscience knowingly support the death of spirits.

[Uisge]

About Laphroig and Lavagulin...


Guys, thanks for the input. A question: I have both the Laphroig 10 and Quarter Cask as these are barely within our means. Can you compare the 10 to the Lavagulin 12 and/or 16?

Around here the 16 goes for around $100 which exceeds our budget enough that it would have to be truly exceptional. Are the Lavagulins that much better than the Laphroig 10? Love to hear your comparative reviews...

Cap'n, my opinion, which is worth the manner in which it is given, that is freely, is that while the Laphroaig 10 is a very good single malt Scotch *and I wouldn't turn on down if offered to me*, the Lagavulin is just better by a very small degree as there is a little "more" in terms of flavor and what's going on as you drink it.

I have poured a very small amount of each into separate CelticMalts nosing glasses, and the Laphroaig has a nice sweet peat and some citrus nose to it (this is from a bottle that I have had for maybe 2 years, with not very many drams poured out of it). The taste, for me, matches the nose with a little soot thrown in, and it doesn't fade quickly, it seems to be tasted more towards the front of the tongue, with a waxiness appearing after the taste has almost gone away.

The Lagavulin I've had for the better part of a decade, and that bottle is close to being 1/3 full. I noticed in the Lagavulin that in addition to the peat a hint of Canadian bacon and dried fruit/raisins, a little bit drier, some white pepper noted in the tasting and it seems to spread from the tip of the tongue to almost halfway in.

Not earth-shattering differences, but they are there, and for me the finish of the Lagavulin goes a little longer.

Now, to throw in someone else's opinion, The Malt Maniacs recently released their awards for 2012, found here, and I note that while there is an award in the "Premium" category (as per their site, "Premium whiskies are bottles in the range from €51 to €150") for a 1996 Laphroaig finished in a Sherry Hogshead at 56.1% (not an original bottling by the distillery), that in the Daily Drams section (again, per the site, "Daily Drams are bottles with a typical price no higher than €50") there is the 16 YO original bottling of Lagavulin (right after Aberlour A'bunadh Batch #39 as over-all winner in the category and the 16 YO Bushmills as the pick for a good sherried whiskey, one which I agree with having enjoyed that one before).

How to deal with this problem of Lagavulin being rather pricey in your neck of the woods? My advise is to do what I do; Drink it sparingly, make a bottle last over the better part of 3 or more years, and enjoy the 'phroaig more often.

I've never tried either the cask strength Laphroaig or the 12 YO Lagavulin, so I can't comment on those. Same for the Aberlour.


*******
Capn's Log: Thanks for this informative and helpful post. I believe I will stick with the Laphroig for the time being. The Lagavulin and the Blact Tot issue will have to wait until I win the lottery...

[NCyankee]

You passed up - Rittenhouse 23 year rye - for $70????? Have you priced that? Put a "1" in front of it and that is what it usually sells for.

If you don't want it go buy it for me and Ill pay your shipping costs plus $20 for your trouble. Ill take more than one if they have them. plus $20 per.

For the record I have a couple bottles of Ritt 100 - I don't see anywhere on the bottle that says 10 years, I doubt that is correct as the only age statement I have seen associated with it is "at least 4 years" which I think is the minimum for KSBW. Most inexpensive ryes are 6 yrs old. I have several ryes and it is my least favorite for sipping, though it is bold and holds up well in cocktails. I preferred Wild Turkey 101 proof rye for mixing but WT has begun selling 81 proof rye for the same price, and the 101 has become rare and more pricey.

Here are the ryes I have, in order of my favorite for sipping with a rough rating (I only mix with Ritt and WT)

sazerac 6 yr 9/10
Russells reserve 6 yr 8.5
Bulleit 8.5
Wild Turkey 8
Redemption 7
Ritt 100 7

Old Overcoat 5

I also have a couple Thomas Handy, which are just the sazerac 6 yr at barrel proof of 129. Kind of hard to compare to the others, but it is quite excellent.

Oh yeah - and an impossible to find bottle of sazerac 18 yr I lucked into while driving through Buttfork WV. Got it for $72, was selling on ebay for $175 before they stopped liquor sales. Not opened.

[NCyankee]

Good choice on the Laphroaig 10, it's better than the Talisker 10 I had last week! So at least you had some quality plonk for an inner balm.

Enjoy

You can't really compare talisker 10 to laphroig 10, they are completely different styles of Scotch. That is like comparing Smith & Cross to barbancourt 8 yr.

The laphroaig 10 is an unsubtle palate wrecking peat and smoke monster Islay. This is a good thing if you like that profile of Scotch (I do), but many do not like it at all. I have yet to hear any Scotch lover who does not like Talisker.

The Talisker is a much better balanced Scotch with far greater complexity - fruit, smoke, peat, pepper. Talisker is far and away my favorite non-Islay Scotch, my favorite Islays being Lagavulin 16 yr and Laphroaig quarter cask (which I highly recommend as a more affordable alternative to lagavulin.) The Talisker 18 yr is absolutely amazing.

[da'rum]

I didn't really compare them in a official review. My statement of 'it's better' was merely denoting my preference of which I think is a better tasting Whisky.

A good description of the Scotches none the less.

As for Talisker, it is one that could taste like it was made by angels in Babylon but since I found out it's owned be DIAGEO I won't buy it any more. Depending on your point of view that may seem silly or cutting my nose off to spite my face but I see Diageo as a rot in the spirits world and buying something owned by them is supporting them and I refuse to do that. There are plenty of alternatives. I'll support the smaller guys.


*******
Capn's Log: That's a tough position to take, but we respect you for it. In our case and regarding rum it was our firm position that truly world class rums could be had for roughly $20 to $30. Even after some years, that remains largely true, and should give hope to the ordinary buyer in tough economic times. Single malts are of course, another story and raises the financial bar...

[bearmark]

Here are the ryes I have, in order of my favorite for sipping with a rough rating (I only mix with Ritt and WT)

sazerac 6 yr 9/10
Russells reserve 6 yr 8.5
Bulleit 8.5
Wild Turkey 8
Redemption 7
Ritt 100 7

Old Overcoat 5

I also have a couple Thomas Handy, which are just the sazerac 6 yr at barrel proof of 129. Kind of hard to compare to the others, but it is quite excellent.

Oh yeah - and an impossible to find bottle of sazerac 18 yr I lucked into while driving through Buttfork WV. Got it for $72, was selling on ebay for $175 before they stopped liquor sales. Not opened.

I would highly recommend High West Rendezvous Rye ($40)... it's the best rye sipper I've had yet. I've also heard that their Double Rye ($30) is good as well, but I've not tried it yet. My second choice has been Willet Single Barrel Straight Rye at 3-5 years of age, but it's missing the great aged flavor in Rendezvous (Double Rye should have it too at a smaller ratio). Like you, I also have a bottle of Thomas H. Handy Rye waiting in the wings, along with a bottle of Whistlepig Straight Rye (10 year, 100% rye at about $70). I'm still waiting for an available (and affordable) bottle of Sazerac 18.

[NCyankee]

I have heard Rendezvous is excellent, I am intrigued by the idea of a blend with 16 yr old rye in it but haven't found it at a price I like yet at a time I am ready to order. I am about to place an order from Hitime for some closeout tequila I want and their price is $60, whereas Merwin's has it on sale for $35.

[Capn Jimbo]

Pappy Van Winkle Bourbons:


All carry high ratings; in fact the 20 Year received what was the highest rating ever given by the Beverage Tasting Institute. They are released annually in small quantities and in general, are extremely difficult to get. Our review is (here).

Have any of you tried the Pappy's?