All of a sudden, it seems, there are hundreds of small distilleries in the U.S. It is a struggle to keep track of them all. For whiskey drinkers, however, it is possible to quickly shrink the number to a manageable size. Just limit your attention to distilleries selling house-made whiskey that is at least four years old.
Last spring, Whisky Advocate Magazine published a story by me headlined "Craft Whiskey Comes of Age." At the time, I estimated that only about 20 craft distillers met the 4-year standard. I'm sure the number is a little higher now.
Dad's Hat Rye, located in the Philadelphia suburb of Bristol, was on that list. Like several others, their 4-year-old was bottled-in-bond and a very small release, available only at the distillery. Since then, stocks have grown enough that owners John Cooper and Herman Mihalich feel they can make the bond an annual release, available throughout Pennsylvania and soon in other states. The 2018 release will be out at the end of this month.
Later this year, Dad's Hat will transition its Dad's Hat Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey to a 4-year-old as well, probably in September depending on stocks.
As the whiskey matures, so does the craft whiskey movement itself. Dad's has hung its hat on rye, the traditional spirit of Pennsylvania, home of such legendary rye distilleries as Michter's, Large, Old Overholt, Schenley, and Broad Ford. They are one to watch.
They are great people making a true Monongahela-style rye whiskey, a real rarity in American whiskey. Can't wait to see where they go from here.
ReplyDelete"limit your attention to distilleries selling house-made whiskey that is at least four years old." Here's one you ought to know: Stillwright's in Fairborn, Ohio. Also Tom's Foolery in Cleveland.
ReplyDeleteForgot Watershed grain-to-bottle bourbon, d'oh! I'm not sure what difference grain-to-bottle makes but there you go. NAS means it's 4 years old.
ReplyDeleteBrian McDaniel said...
ReplyDelete"Forgot Watershed grain-to-bottle bourbon, d'oh! ....
... NAS means it's 4 years old."
Nope, actually not. NAS means 4 years only if it claims "straight" status, which Watershed's bourbon does not.
Their website says "up to 3.5 years".
Many people mistakenly believe that "NAS means 4 years only if it claims 'straight' status." Some TTB examiners even believed it, so about a year ago, TTB issued a guidance that made it clear this is not the case. The rule is that ANY whiskey that is less than 4-years-old MUST have a truthful age statement on the label.
ReplyDeleteSo it applies to bourbon and non-bourbon. Interesting. Stillwright's is straight bourbon with NAS BTW. Tom's Foolery is selling a BIB.
ReplyDeleteI've been studying this matter recently. I think this rule even applies here in the US to imported whiskies, like Scotch and Irish (typically cheap blends). I.e. JW Red declares in small letters its 36-month age, as do some other mixing blends. As does Early Times KY whiskey (not bourbon). Likely Canadian, as well.
ReplyDeleteThis clarification really helps, because if you just read "27 CFR 5.22 - The standards of identity" - it may initially seem that straight = 2 years. Elsewhere it then specifies that below 4 it must be specified.
Thank you, Mr. Cowdery.