Whiskey Review: Tuthilltown Manhattan Rye

I love rye whiskey. I can appreciate a good scotch, and I love a well-made bourbon. But rye, in my mind, stands right in between the two as a perfect nighttime sipper. Rye lacks the sweetness of bourbon and the harshness of scotch; yet it has a spicy character. Not to mention, it is an essential spirit for making a proper Manhattan--one of my favorite cocktails. The spiciness of the rye beautifully offsets the sweetness of the vermouth.

In our house, the go-to rye for cocktails is typically Rittenhouse. At just over $20 a bottle, it can't be beat. However, when I haven't been able to get my hands on a bottle of Rittenhouse, Sazerac serves as a spicier backup (which works perfect in a Sazerac!).

However, when I want to sip on a rye for the evening, I usually turn to my two favorites: Van Winkle or Templeton.

I've wanted to try Tuthilltown Manhattan Rye for quite some time, and the folks there were kind enough to provide me with a sample to review.

Appearance: Light copper, burnt orange

Nose: Fabulous and unique nose. Floral, but with a bit of characteristic rye spice. More caramel, brown sugar, and maple syrup than expected. Vanilla. Almost leathery.

Taste: Initially light flavor, but thick and oily. Strong and spicy on the mid-palate with an almost scotch-like smokiness.

Finish: Spicy, long finish. Very smooth. Tastes a bit young (not in a bad way), but not harsh.

Other: Beautiful packaging. The small, apothecary-style bottles are attractive and vintage, and the labels speak "prohibition-era." A bit pricey at $50 for a 375ml bottle, but definitely worth a splurge for special occasions. Can't wait to try it out in a Manhattan next time I get a fresh bottle of Carpano Antica! Definitely unlike any rye I've tasted. Difficult to compare to anything else. An excellent product.

Score: 8.5/10