Dad's Hat Single Barrel Cask Strength Pennsylvania Straight Rye

Score: 19/23 Remembering a taste from over a year ago, I was surprised by its quality. It was not the pinnacle of spirits, but certainly among the finest ryes. I was eager to purchase a bottle, but they are difficult to find. Now, after some time, I've acquired one. My hope is that it matches the previous sample. Nose: Initially, it presents a somewhat floral aroma with notes of passionfruit, which is unexpected. A rich, mature woodiness emerges, occasionally accompanied by hints of rose water. This is unusual. Eventually, a rye bitterness appears, with a character reminiscent of bitter roots, yet it harmonizes with the other scents. Gradually, a dry, woody spiciness develops, but it remains subtle. While not exceptionally intricate, it is remarkably well-balanced and quite captivating. I'm finding it quite enjoyable. Palate: This is significantly more robust and potent than the aroma suggested. I do detect floral vanilla notes with passionfruit and traces of rose water. Very intriguing. Naturally, there's also a strong woody, tannic flavor with notes of bitter chocolate and beets. The alcohol is barely perceptible. Spices are present, of course, stemming directly from the dry wood. Licorice is also noticeable, perhaps a hint of leather. It has a powerful profile with a luxurious quality. There's some depth, but it's not overwhelming. Finish: Licorice, bitter vanilla, some woody tannins, and spice. - Summary - This possesses a pleasing boldness that imparts a sense of luxury and maturity. I would not have guessed it was only 4 years old; although, I'm unsure of an accurate age guess. It certainly seems older than 6 years. I find this spirit to be at least as good as Wild Turkey Rare Breed bourbon (18/23). It might even be superior. It also stands up well against Belle Meade Cask Strength Reserve (19/23). I can imagine it being slightly better, but not by much. Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Rye (17/23) is smoother and more accessible, making it easier to drink. Nevertheless, I prefer the character of this spirit. Its intense bitterness, however, aligns with what I consider true rye flavor. It feels like this and Whistlepig PiggyBack (16/23) have captured the two distinct "true rye" profiles, while many others lean more towards a "bourye" profile. That said, comparing it to Russell's, I do appreciate the latter. Moving on to Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof (21/23)... It appears I've run out. Upon opening a new bottle, I notice the familiar rich flavors, along with a meaty note that I hope will mellow with time. Excluding the meatiness, the bottle is excellent. I'll allow it some time to see if this is a flawed bottle or one that simply needs aging. Currently, I would definitely say the Dad's Hat is superior. This spirit is highly comparable to (though distinctly different from) my Total Wine selection of Balcones True Blue Cask Strength (19/23). Their quality is very similar. The Balcones is more like a beautifully imperfect creation, while this is a masterful execution of a concept that is somewhat challenging. I'm assigning a 19 to the Dad's Hat. It's just so grand, bold, and rich. It's not flawless, but it's certainly a remarkable find.

Score: 19/23 Nose: Full and sweet with a touch of nuttiness and rye spice, plus some dill. A hint of bitter wood, like creosote. The alcohol isn't noticeable. Palate: Packs a punch with rich dill and full rye. It's very spicy, but the spice doesn't feel harsh, even with the proof. Pleasant apple and strong creosote notes are present, with a bit of licorice. It's like tasting a railroad tie, with a leathery, spicy character. Reminds me of a certain brand, actually. This has a more robust flavor than another well-known rye by a wide margin. It's richer, less sweet, and has prominent, distinctive flavors that really stand out. Finish: The leathery creosote with spices and alcohol fullness lingers. A hint of apple appears occasionally, but that's about it. The finish lasts a long time and is quite enjoyable. - Conclusion - I was unsure what to expect, but this is an outstanding rye! I've spent considerable time comparing different ryes, generally rating them around 16. This one is different: it's an exceptional rye! It surpasses another specific rye and is at least very close to a particular single barrel offering (it might even be superior). If I had to choose now, I'd likely pick this one. And that's significant. The rye character is similar to another brand's offering, but it's more potent and full here (which makes sense as it's pure rye). It holds up well against that other brand. The fullness, richness, maturity, and complexity are fantastic. It's a genuine pleasure to drink. It's definitely a 17 or higher. I'm thinking in the 17 to 20 range, likely not exceeding 21. Considering the comparisons, I'm leaning towards an 18. The one I'm fairly certain is better is another brand, which I rated a 20 or 21. I'm not sure if the other mentioned brand is better, but two other ryes didn't seem as far behind in a side-by-side tasting as anticipated. I think I need to go with at least an 18. I might even go up to a 19, or stick with 18. Considering its standing against other spirits, I'm settling on a 19. Notably, another brand was very close, and I gave that one a 19. This might be my highest-rated rye yet! And it's deserved because this is an excellent dram. It has a similar effect to another high-proof bourbon in how it uses its alcohol content to intensify and enhance flavor rather than just making it harsh and overpowering. They aren't otherwise alike, but I think that other bourbon is slightly better overall. I suspect this is quite young, but if tasted blind, I would have guessed it was a roughly 9-year-old from a specific distillery. I'm curious about its actual age, but if it was less than 6 years old, it's an incredible find in terms of rapid aging. Amazing! I need to find a bottle! Thanks for the sample!

Prior to the pandemic, a local store had a significant sale on several spirits. The initial sips of a particular straight rye were harsh. My prior rye experiences were with specific brands, and this one is exceptionally rye-forward, reminiscent of a deli sandwich with prominent rye and dill, overlaid with vanilla sweetness and cinnamon. Consequently, this spirit is polarizing. I grew to appreciate it over time and intended to explore more from that distillery, but have not yet. I discovered another distillery and was particularly impressed by their tequila-finished rye. This led me to purchase more of that variety, along with a single barrel cask strength and an aged expression. While the distillery is geographically close, I haven't visited. However, I've seen their cask strength product advertised as available only at the distillery or a specific market location. On a recent visit to an art museum, I took the opportunity to visit that market and acquire this product, which is quite special. As noted, it is polarizing. It bears a strong resemblance to another high-proof spirit, and similar to that, I prefer adding an ice cube to high-proof selections above a certain threshold, after an initial tasting neat. This is my general practice for spirits exceeding 120 proof. The current offering intensifies the rye spice and dill found in the standard version, with caramel and vanilla creaminess providing a base, and a cinnamon kick at the finish. The texture is exceptional, very creamy, creating a sensation akin to a melted alcoholic confection when combined with the flavors. This is not for the timid; some will find it objectionable, which is understandable, as it's not universally appealing. It's like anchovy pizza for whiskey enthusiasts, but if you appreciate intense rye profiles, it's a delight. If you find yourself in that specific market, it's worth the cost if this description appeals to you.

This producer uses a farm-to-bottle method, creating their spirit with regional ingredients and rye grain cultivated in Pennsylvania. I had not encountered this before someone I know gave me a bottle of their single barrel, selected by Total Wine, which had been aged for at least 3 years and bottled at 61.9% ABV. The aroma starts with a rye-flavored cola, then freshly made pumpernickel bread spread with honey butter, followed by notes of peach cobbler, sour apple candy, and tangerine orange. This transitions to toasted caraway seeds, pine needles, and forest floor scents, accompanied by a strong ethanol presence. The palate offers a rich, creamy texture, beginning with a rye-flavored cola, then fresh pumpernickel bread topped with honey butter. This is followed by a potent, drying spice that gradually subsides, revealing dark chocolate and fruits like caramelized brown sugar-coated peach, apple pie with vanilla ice cream, and candied orange peel. It then shifts to toasted caraway seeds, spearmint, leather, and polished oak, with a significant ethanol burn. The finish is extended, featuring orange-flavored dark chocolate, moderate ash-like rye spices, leather, and polished oak that persists for several minutes. This is a full-bodied, creamy rye that is packed with flavor. Its primary drawback is the intense mid-palate spice that disrupts the experience for me. If you appreciate spicy, high-proof ryes, this would be exceptional, and I am genuinely impressed by its quality for a relatively young whiskey. I compared it side-by-side with a Russell's Reserve Single Barrel, and they were quite similar, though the Russell's was superior for me due to its lower spice level. The Russell's also benefited from an additional 5 years of aging, making it intriguing to see how Dad's Hat compares when older stock becomes available. At $60, this offers outstanding value for money and is worth seeking out.

Aroma - baked apple, earthy mint, pine, cashew butter, cocoa, clove, allspice, leather, dill, cinnamon, anise, caramel, spiced vanilla, yeast, herbal tea, with a moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste - mint, anise, leather, pine, clove, allspice, caramel, toasted barley, dry vanilla, dill, tar, spiced apple, wood polish, cinnamon, black tea, dark chocolate, with a significant alcohol bite. The finish is medium-long, featuring leather, mint, spiced apple, and strong baking spice notes. I'm a big fan of the standard Dad's Hat, so when I spotted this single barrel, cask strength bottling for about $60, I had to buy it. Interestingly, a year after my purchase, the store still has plenty of stock, suggesting it's not selling rapidly. The nose presents the typical Monongahela aromas but with greater intensity than I've previously experienced, including spiced apple, nutty cashew butter, minty rye notes, and roasted barley. The palate echoes much of the same, but with a pronounced, tannic leather and a varnish-like quality reminiscent of wood polish. Overall, this is a delightful rye at a favorable price, especially considering it's under four years old. It's rich, spicy, and bold – everything I seek in a rye. Get a bottle if you see one.

From Uncorked pick, named "Gallenstein Selection #1" Barrel No. 8 Distilled - 09-09-2016 Bottled - 09-23-2021 Age - 5 years, 13 days Alcohol Content - 65.9% abv; 131.8 proof Opened 2 years prior Nose: Pungent, sour dill pickle, black pepper, bold rye spice, evergreen notes, charred marshmallow, subtle oak, and intense ethanol. Palate: Immediately hit with black pepper and rye spice, pickles, toffee, raw ginger, rye bread, and pine needles. The finish is lengthy, featuring strong black pepper, wood oils, lemon zest, pine, authentic maple syrup, and potent ethanol. My reason for taking two years to review this is usually that a spirit is either too subtle for my preference (like aged Scotch) or I find it difficult to appreciate even a single glass. This clearly falls into the latter category. To be clear, it's not undrinkable. However, if you can fathom it, it's spicier than most spirits I've encountered from MGP or Alberta Premium that have a lower rye content (this one is 80% rye/15% malted barley/5% malted rye). For those seeking intensely spicy ryes, numerous excellent cask-strength options from MGP exist that are older and more satisfying for the price. I would be keen to try a version closer to 8 years old to see if those aggressive pepper and pickle notes mellow out.