J.H. Cutter Whisky
J.H. Cutter Whisky is a 750mL blend of American whiskies bottled at 48% ABV (96 proof) by Hotaling & Co. of San Francisco: 73% sourced Kentucky bourbon blended with 17% Old Potrero 18th Century Style Rye Whiskey and 10% Old Potrero Port Finish Rye Whiskey, both distilled by Hotaling itself. The blend revives one of the most celebrated whiskeys in A.P. Hotaling's 19th-century stock, keeping the period "whisky" spelling and an amber bottle modelled on the original. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 48% (96 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Blend: 73% Kentucky bourbon, 17% Old Potrero 18th Century Style rye, 10% Old Potrero Port Finish rye
- Age: No age statement
- Producer: Hotaling & Co. (formerly Anchor Distilling), San Francisco, California
- Origin: California (Kentucky bourbon component)
A Gold Rush Name, Revived by Hotaling & Co.
Anson P. Hotaling arrived in San Francisco during the California Gold Rush and built a wholesale liquor business whose Jackson Street warehouse famously survived the 1906 earthquake and fire. Hotaling & Co.'s heritage timeline records that he became the exclusive West Coast agent for J.H. Cutter Whisky in 1866, and the brand became one of the premium names in his stock. Revived in 2018 by the company that also distills Old Potrero, today's J.H. Cutter folds Hotaling's own San Francisco ryes into Kentucky bourbon. Explore the brand on the J.H. Cutter vendor page, or browse our American whiskey collection.
Tasting Notes
Per the brand: sweet and spiced on the nose, with pear opening into brown sugar and caramel; a smooth, creamy bourbon mouthfeel over a distinct rye backbone, balancing spice and sweetness with soft stone fruit mid-palate.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a splash of water to open the rye spice, or in a Manhattan where the port-finished rye adds depth. More California whiskey is in our whisky collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is J.H. Cutter a bourbon or a rye?
Neither — it is a blend of American whiskies: mostly Kentucky bourbon, with two Old Potrero rye components (one port-finished) making up the balance.
What proof is J.H. Cutter Whisky?
96 proof (48% ABV) in the 750mL bottling.
Who makes J.H. Cutter Whisky?
Hotaling & Co. of San Francisco — formerly Anchor Distilling — the distiller of Old Potrero rye, reviving a brand its founder A.P. Hotaling represented on the West Coast from 1866.
A 19th-century San Francisco name in a modern glass — order J.H. Cutter Whisky online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.