Dad's Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey

For rye lovers. The nose shows sweet cherry, Mexican vanilla, orange spice. The first taste hits with a little wood, a sharp edge, perhaps some faint cherry, followed by green peppercorns. No corn sweetness nor butter here. Finish is dry and strong, with lingering semi-bitter dark chocolate, grassiness, dry leaves, and the rye alcohol burn.

Dads Hat Pennsylvania Rye whiskey is an attempt to recreate the Rye whiskey style that was distilled in Pennsylvania before Washington (the President that is) put down the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. This Pennsylvania or Monongahela style Rye is America's first indigenous distilled spirit. A great article about the history of Americas Rye whiskey can be found at https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-pennsylvania-rye-whiskey-lost-its-way But on to the tasting. This whiskey is bottled at 45% ABV. Dads Hat is made from a mash bill of 80% Rye/5% malted Rye/15% malted barley. NO CORN!! This lack of corn is apparent in the palate of this dram: there is little to no sweetness. It is a medium/dark amber in the glass. It produces a thick oily coating on the glass, only grudgingly giving up some long legs. There is no age statement beyond "minimum 6 months". It is reported that Dads Hat uses 15 gallon casks for aging, resulting in significantly faster aging. It is evident in the tasting of this dram; it comes off as more like a 3-4 yr old. The nose of this whiskey is RYE! Like Rye bread with dark honey. There is orange marmalade, the bitter kind with Seville oranges. Hints of cherry cough syrup. Also a very slight alcohol burn with some oak char. The palate is very different: woody, spicy, leather, malted cereal. There is little to no sweetness. None of the typical bourbon flavors of vanilla and caramel. It has an oily mouthfeel. Water enhances the malty/cereal tones. The finish is a little hot at first with a dry oak spice flavor lingering. This is a truly different whiskey. It has little to nothing in common with most of the ryes you find on the shelf of your local liquor store. It runs $45-50 online. I don't know if I would keep this bottle as a staple, but it is definitely worth trying as a testament to the history of American spirits. Solid 4.0/5. Cheers!