A Pennsylvania rye distillery, Dad's Hat has been in the game for years at this point, slowly and determinedly trudging forward with the intent to make authentic Pennsylvania-style rye whiskey that can't be ignored. This craft producer is distilling and bottling its own whiskey. This is the distillery's flagship expression, bottled at 45% ABV. Let's dive in.
Punchy and vibrant, it has tons of fruit, spice and a kick of pepper and oak. Impressive on the nose to say the least, with apples, leather, honey, orange peel, zesty pepper and clove. Pleasant.
Sweeter on the palate than the nose would suggest at first, it's like a sweet apple bake with apples, molasses, clove and a touch of tobacco. On the back palate, there's more maple, molasses, sweet and vanilla bean. Pleasant and complex.
Short finish, with a touch of ethanol kick. A hint of youth shows through, but honestly, it's quite adept at drinking like an old, accomplished whiskey, all on its own. Orange peel, apple bake, sweet cream and rich maple packed with pepper and candied ginger.
This spicy, fruity pour is a beast in the disguise of an innocent old hat. What a great entrance for a distillery that's showing for the first time on Raiders, and it's a distillery I can't wait to try more of.
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