Dad's Hat Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey 4 Year
Dad's Hat Pennsylvania Straight Rye Whiskey 4 Year is a Pre-Prohibition-style Monongahela rye from Bristol, Pennsylvania — 95 proof (47.5% ABV), 750mL, aged over four years in 53-gallon Missouri oak. Mountain Laurel Spirits pot-distills a sweet mash of 80% Pennsylvania rye, 15% malted barley and 5% malted rye — no corn. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 47.5% (95 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Mash: 80% rye, 15% malted barley, 5% malted rye; no corn
- Aging: Over 4 years in 53-gallon Missouri oak barrels
- Origin: Distilled and bottled by Mountain Laurel Spirits, Bristol, Pennsylvania
- Production: Sweet mash, week-long fermentation, pot-distilled; farm-to-bottle in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Rye, the Way It Used to Be
Before Prohibition, Pennsylvania's Monongahela rye was America's benchmark whiskey — and then the state's rye tradition went quiet for decades. Dad's Hat, founded by Herman Mihalich and John Cooper and distilling in Bristol since 2011, brought it back: this Straight Rye was billed as the first straight rye made in Pennsylvania in over 25 years. The recipe was developed over two years with Michigan State University's Artisan Distilling Program, modeled on the traditional style. Explore more rye whiskey, or visit the Dad's Hat vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Full rye grain, oak and green apple, with rye grass and burnt sugar. Palate: Smooth and lush — rye spice front to back, malt sweetness and ripe orchard fruit over a dry cinnamon center, with mint and chocolate underneath. Finish: Long and lingering.
How to Enjoy
Neat or on the rocks to taste the rye grain itself; in a Manhattan, Sazerac or Old Fashioned it brings the pepper-and-cinnamon spine those classics were built on.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from Dad's Hat Classic Rye? The Classic is the younger flagship at 90 proof, aged in smaller barrels; this Straight Rye is aged over four years in full-size 53-gallon barrels and bottled at 95 proof.
Is the "4 Year" in the title accurate? Yes — the current Straight Rye ages over four years. It launched at three years in 2016, which is why older reviews say three.
What grain is in Dad's Hat Straight Rye? 80% Pennsylvania rye, 15% malted barley and 5% malted rye, with no corn — a traditional Pennsylvania recipe, sweet-mashed and pot-distilled.
Real Pennsylvania rye, four years in the making — order Dad's Hat Straight Rye online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.