Rittenhouse Rye Whisky

Produced in the tradition of the classic Pennsylvania or “Monongahela” rye whiskies, Rittenhouse is a much acclaimed rye now enjoying a renaissance in the major metro markets of the country. Available in the standard 80° bottling or in a special Bottled In Bond expression, Rittenhouse is a tribute to the classic rye whiskies that were once the preeminent American whiskey style

Rittenhouse Rye Whisky Named "North American Whiskey of the Year"

Brand that has been in distribution for years trumps costlier, boutique bottlings

BARDSTOWN, Ky. - In what can only be termed an upset of Final Four proportions, Heaven Hill Distilleries' Rittenhouse Bottled-In-Bond Rye Whisky was named "North American Whiskey of the Year" at the 2006 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The annual competition is among the most prestigious spirits competitions in the global distilled spirits industry, judged by a panel of industry luminaries.

In capturing the trophy for top North American Whiskey, Rittenhouse first had to be judged a double gold medal winner in its Rye Whiskey class, meaning it was unanimously awarded gold medal by all judges in a blind tasting. It then had to top all other double gold medal winners in the North American Whiskey category, including Bourbons, Canadian Whiskies, and a number of artisinal spirits made by smaller "boutique" micro-distilleries. And the Rittenhouse Bottled-In-Bond, a traditional rye made in a time-honored method, left these much more heavily advertised and merchandised whiskeys in the dust on its way to the title.

"Historically, rye whiskey has been the ultimate expression of classic American whiskey style, and we at Heaven Hill Distilleries were one of only three remaining producers to keep the style alive during the lean years when rye was overshadowed by Bourbon and Scotch and Irish Whiskeys " said Kirstin Jackson, brand manager, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky. "As the desire for a broader selection of styles and flavors grows in the American Whiskey category, it is only natural that rye whiskey should reclaim its former position of prominence, because it is generally regarded as the most flavorful of the United States ' whiskey styles. This award properly affords rye whiskey the recognition it deserves, and for Rittenhouse to have bested such highly-regarded competition is a tribute to the fact that things don't necessarily have to be 'new and improved' to be judged the very best."

Rittenhouse Rye Whisky was originally launched upon the repeal of Prohibition by the Continental Distilling Company of Philadelphia , and was subsequently acquired by Heaven Hill Distilleries, the nation's largest independent family-owned spirits producer and the second largest holder of aging American Whiskey in the world. Heaven Hill continued to produce the brand during the years when rye whiskey went largely ignored, despite its historic role in the Whisky Rebellion of 1791 and the iconography of Mike Hammer and The Thin Man. Now available in limited supply, Rittenhouse Rye was also named "Whiskey of the Year" for 2005 by Wine & Spirits Magazine, and last summer Esquire called it "one of the best American Whiskeys at any price".

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is the first comprehensive, international spirits judging event ever held in the United States , annually. Founded in 2000 by Anthony Dias Blue, the Wine and Spirits Editor of Bon Appetit Magazine and Carol Siebert, the Managing Director of the San Francisco International Wine Competition, the Spirits Competition continues to grow each year in the number of participants as well as in stature and integrity within the industry.

Rittenhouse 23 year old Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey

Heaven Hill Distilleries Releases New Bottling of Rittenhouse Very Rare Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey

New 23-year-old version follows the critically-acclaimed 21-year-old released last Fall

FOR RELEASE: November 12, 2007

BARDSTOWN , KY --Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., the country's largest independent family-owned spirits producer and marketer, is continuing to delight whiskey aficionados nationwide with the release of a second bottling of its highly-regarded Rittenhouse Very Rare Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey. The newest edition has aged for 23 years on the lower floors of Heaven Hill's choice "OO" rickhouse , where the temperature extremes are not as variable, mitigating the potentially deleterious effects of a full 92 Kentucky seasons in a new, charred white oak barrel.

This bottling follows the limited edition release of the 21-year-old Rittenhouse Very Rare Single Barrel last Fall, hailed as "the best straight rye I've sampled in 25 years" by spirits expert F. Paul Pacult in Delta Sky Magazine, and awarded "Rye Whiskey of the Year" by whiskey authority Jim Murray in his Whisky Bible 2007. The limited 32 barrel release of the 21-year-old has been completely depleted, with rye connoisseurs snapping up all the available bottles. Much like the landmark first release, the 23-year-old version is a lush, rich and full-bodied 100° whiskey that is dumped and bottled one barrel at a time, and is not chill filtered, preserving all the natural flavors and "mouthfeel" from the barrel. The new 23-year-old release will be even rarer than its predecessor, as there will only be 25 barrels available, versus the 31 barrels that sold out of the 21-year-old rye. The newest release of the 23-year-old will carry a New Zealand retail price of NZ$399.90.

Heaven Hill's announcement of the second Rittenhouse Very Rare was preceded by the recent release of the first edition of Parker's Heritage Collection, a limited annual series of rare, aged American Whiskeys that pays tribute to 6th Generation Master Distiller Parker Beam. This series will tempt Straight American Whiskey connoisseurs with something that only Heaven Hill could offer--a chance to sample choice barrels that represent every major style of American Whiskey--all drawn from an inventory of over 700,000 barrels, the second largest in the world.

"The release of the second Rittenhouse Very Rare Single Barrel Rye brand, and the recent launch of Parker's Heritage Collection, is a true barometer of our confidence in the American Whiskey category in general, and the potential for the super-premium segment specifically," asserted Heaven Hill Distilleries president Max L. Shapira. "Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam have supplied us with an embarrassment of riches, so to speak, and we plan on sharing the wealth with our eager and energized American Whiskey customers."

Rye whiskey has enjoyed a significant renaissance in the last two years, with consumers rediscovering America 's original native whiskey and its distinctive sharp, spicy and fruity taste. Heaven Hill, as one of three distilleries that kept producing rye annually in the 1970's through the 1980's despite stagnant or declining sales, has gained significant notoriety for its rye whiskeys, especially the Rittenhouse Bottled-In-Bond expression that claimed the "Top North American Whiskey Trophy" at the 2006 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Pikesville Rye

Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey refuses to be forgotten. First produced in Maryland in the 1890s, the brand, along with the rest of the once-booming Maryland Rye industry, was shuttered by prohibition. The brand reemerged after prohibition and became the last standing Maryland Rye, as the rest of the industry's production had ceased. Now produced in Kentucky from extra-aged barrels stored in prime warehouse locations, Heaven Hill keeps this historic Maryland mark alive with this award-winning six year old, 110 proof offering.

FOR RELEASE: November 12, 2007

Double Gold ~ San Francisco

World Spirits Competition

Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation ~ Ultimate Spirits Challenge

Tasting Notes

Color: Pale copper

aroma: Dusty cocoa notes with oaky smoke underneath

taste: Dry and spicy, with honeyed rye and cloves

finish: Soft vanilla and baking spices

FOR RELEASE: November 12, 2007