We've had plenty of store picks from Heaven Hill Distillery in Kentucky over the years — but one single barrel selection we were most excited about was a cask of the most beloved bottled-in-bond rye in America: Rittenhouse.

The last time we were able to pick a barrel was in 2024, and that juice has been long gone. Earlier this year in January, we were excited to get another opportunity. A big part of the draw with store picks is the proof of the barrel. At cask strength, samples vary in heat and flavor. We get excited about Rittenhouse because it's bottled-in-bond — even the store picks. The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 requires the whiskey to be a product of a single distilling season, aged in a federally bonded warehouse for a minimum of four years, and bottled at exactly 100 proof.

Here's where we had our fun. From floor four of Rickhouse L, our Mission Barrel #8350035 was originally put into barrel in March of 2019, selected in January of 2026, and bottled this spring. Dare we say it — we're talking Rittenhouse aged just about seven years.

Bottled at 100 proof just like the standard Rittenhouse, but this one has its own character. We didn't have a huge selection of barrels to choose from — but then again, there's no such thing as a bad bottle of Rittenhouse. The standard expression is pretty much the perfect rye for cocktails, even if it's not the world's most exciting sipper.

Our job was to find the perfect version of Rittenhouse for sipping — something that offers a deviation from their regular formula. This cask was the obvious pick. There's more vanilla and less rye spice here. It's creamy front to back with a lift of baking spices following shortly after. The peppery and herbaceous character of rye takes a back seat, with vanilla and brown sugar playing front and center while the oak shines through on the finish. This is a fantastically balanced rye — and at $29.99, it's a no-brainer.