Dad’s Hat, out of Bristol, PA, attempts to deliver classic rye spirits in the classic Pennsylvania style. Like many other distilleries that sprung up throughout the commonwealth in the 21st century, they strive toward putting Pennsylvania back on the whiskey map as it once was. Founded by Herman Mihalich and John Cooper, the name pays homage to the hats worn by Mr. Mihalich’s father in a bygone era. As they explain, the hat symbolized a classic, polished optimism. Perhaps, but let’s see if the whiskey captures that same feeling with the Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey review!

Dad’s Hat standard rye offering consists of a mash bill of 80% rye, 15% malted barley, and 5% rye malt – all reportedly locally sourced. My bottle proclaims a minimum 8 month age statement in new oak quarter barrels. Finally, this whiskey clocks in at 90 proof (45% ABV). With the basic measurements out of the way, let’s see how this hat fits.

Bottle and Appearance

In the bottle, Dad’s Hat protrudes a rich cedar coloring. Shifting hue toward gold, the whiskey lightens slightly in the glass. Giving it a swirl produces a light syrup coating with a mix of fast, thin legs and larger slow rolling beads. The bottle itself, tall and rectangular, provides an adequate description of the juice inside. Commendable, as it’s always nice to know what the distiller intends with their whiskey without deep internet research.

Nose

Lifting this rye to the nose starts off with a mixed pungent warming sensation. A spicy rye jumps out immediately with a sense of movement, as though it’s dancing. Within the rye note, hints of vanilla want to pop out but remain somewhat obscured. As this begins to recede, a nutty profile emerges resembling raw almonds. Finally, underneath everything lies a faint pickle, providing a small degree of tartness. The nose comes across as aromatic without being overly aggressive – enjoyable.

Palate

In the mouth, the whiskey provides a mouth warming feeling. The rye again dashes out upfront. Here, like a wave, it rolls in building to an apex wherein the rye pops and then gently ebbs out. As it fades, a sourdough bread rises again revisiting the gentle tartness from the nose. Throughout the palate journey, a pervasive oak wood lingers in the background but gains prominence toward the end. This rye contains a high “chew” factor, and it feels nearly as appropriate to chew as it does drink. The palate imparts a small degree of complexity as it primarily focuses on rye. However, it does an excellent job of showcasing rye in a flattering light really allowing it to shine through.

Finish

As the whiskey makes its exit, a note of dark chocolate appears initially. No different from the nose or palate, the rye continues its victory lap as it overtakes the burst of chocolate. The wood also continues, though here it resembles a pine or juniper more than the oak. As the whiskey draws to a conclusion, it does so with a nod toward tobacco tones. This tobacco forms a long tail, and it draws on for quite some time. The finish may provide the most distinct flavor profiles of the whiskey, and wraps it up nicely.

Drinkability

This whiskey works neat or on the rocks. Neat really allows the rye to project itself strongly forward. Ice or water bring a sweetness to the profile as though simple syrup has been added. Generally, this whiskey does maintain a classic sensibility. Sitting in a mahogany paneled smoking parlor while puffing on a pipe discussing investments in the Pacific rim would amplify its Teddy Rooseveltian nature. Optional – put a taxidermied fox on the fireplace mantle for effect and wear a monocle.

Food Pairing

For this rye, serve up a medium rare steak salad with blue cheese crumbles and roasted, crispy walnuts. The essence of a steak salad matches that of the whiskey itself – namely a subtle, refined carnivore.

Facial Hair Rating

Dad’s Hat Rye receives the Walrus Facial Hair Rating. The Walrus look works for extremes such as leading a cavalry charge into battle or discussing tax policy and industry regulation in global emerging markets with nuance. As such, it’s both tough and sophisticated, and inhabits both worlds while exhibiting balance between the two.

Overall

To conclude the Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey review, it captures and displays rye in an accessible and satisfying manner. The barley in the mash bill does show up, but seemingly only to cradle the rye and slightly round it out. Unhinged rye profiles may at times thrust forward unbridled spicy wood flavors with cavalier boldness that frightens those uninitiated with rye whiskeys. Here, Dad’s Hat honors the nature of the rye by allowing it to flirt with its wilder aspects while remaining civilized. This balance allows the imbiber to explore rye and become deeply acquainted with it. Additionally, it’s strikingly smooth for only an 8 month aging period. Though not an overly complex whiskey, it nevertheless performs at a high level hitting some very complicated and difficult notes. Finally, this rye whiskey could easily serve as a standard to compare other rye whiskies against.

Final Grade: A

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