Over the years, I have enjoyed many blended whiskeys (e.g. Seagram’s, Four Roses, etc.), but I had never gotten around to drinking some genuine “Rye Whiskey,” an American tradition. I recently remedied that by purchasing a bottle of Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey.

There was never any question about just how I would drink the rye whiskey. I would drink it like it was drunk in the Old West ““ from a shot glass. Toss it back and slam the glass down on the bar ““ that’s the ticket. The bottle comes with a cork, not a screw top, so I think for my next drink I’ll pull the cork out with my teeth and tell the imaginary barkeep, “Leave the bottle here.”

The stuff makes me feel like Wild Bill Hickok (except, of course, the part where he’s shot to death).

If you are not a brown whiskey fan, you probably will not care for this 100 proof punch in the face, but I love it.

I’ll be careful to try not to shoot the piano player.