Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey Vermouth Finish
Dad's Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey Vermouth Finish is a 47% ABV (94-proof) Pennsylvania rye finished for three months in barrels that previously held Quady Winery's Vya Sweet Vermouth — a double-finish rye that landed on Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Spirits of 2015. The classic Dad's Hat base (80% rye, pot-distilled, aged at least six months in new charred oak quarter casks) picks up orange, cinnamon, and vanilla from the vermouth wood. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV/Proof: 47% ABV / 94 proof
- Size: 750mL
- Aging: Min. 6 months new charred oak quarter casks + 3 months used Quady Vya Sweet Vermouth barrels
- Origin: Mountain Laurel Spirits, Bristol, Pennsylvania, USA
- Production: 80% rye / 15% malted barley / 5% malted rye — no corn; pot-distilled
A Vermouth Finish Worth the Hype
Finishing whiskey in vermouth barrels sounds like a gimmick until you taste what the wood does: Vya is an American sweet vermouth loaded with botanicals, and its barrels hand the rye a deep reddish-brown hue and a nose of orange, cinnamon, pepper, and vanilla that keeps evolving as it opens. Wine Enthusiast named it to the Top 100 Spirits of 2015 and scored it 94 points, praising "layers of raisin, figs, dates and caramel, finishing attractively spiced." The brand's own tasting: up-front spice to mid-palate dryness, with a delicate sweet-vermouth finish on the back of the tongue — "round, complex flavor delivered in layers." Browse rye whiskey or the complete Dad's Hat range.
Tasting Notes
Deep reddish-brown; rich nose of orange, cinnamon, pepper, and vanilla; up-front rye spice giving way to mid-palate dryness and a delicate sweet-vermouth finish — round and layered.
How to Enjoy
Neat to catch the vermouth-barrel evolution in the glass. It also builds a Manhattan with unusual depth — cut back the sweet vermouth slightly and let the barrel finish do the talking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What barrels are used for the finish?
Used barrels that previously held Quady Winery's Vya Sweet Vermouth, an American sweet vermouth.
What awards has it won?
It was named to Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Spirits of 2015, with a 94-point review quoted on the brand's page.
What is the mash bill?
80% rye, 15% malted barley, 5% malted rye — no corn.
Where is it made?
By Mountain Laurel Spirits in Bristol, Pennsylvania.
A rye with a vermouth soul — buy Dad's Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey Vermouth Finish online at Del Mesa Liquor for pickup or delivery in San Diego, CA.