The Rebirth of Rye: Old Potrero Toasted Barrel Whiskey

In the heart of San Francisco, a whiskey revolution is underway. Hotaling & Co., the city’s artisanal spirits producer, is proud to announce the reintroduction of Old Potrero 18th Century Style Whiskey, now known as Old Potrero Toasted Barrel Whiskey. This 6-year-old whiskey is a testament to the pioneering spirit of American craft whiskey distilling.

The city that started it all

Old Potrero Toasted Barrel Whiskey is distilled in small copper pot stills from a mash of 100 percent rye malt and aged in new, toasted, 24-month air-dried, handmade, extra-fine grain American White Oak barrels. This unique process gives the whiskey a rich, complex flavor profile with notes of dark fruitiness, malty spiciness, and a hint of vanilla.

“America’s first great whiskey was rye, and it was originally made in copper pot stills,” says Noah Rothbaum, author of The Art of American Whiskey and the forthcoming Whiskey Bible. “But by the late twentieth century, the spirit was barely hanging on for life. Just as it seemed that it might completely disappear, Anchor Distilling, now Hotaling & Co., came to the rescue and kicked off the rebirth of rye with the launch of Old Potrero Whiskey that is even made in copper pot stills.”

Copper pot stills: the traditional way

“We originally called it 18th Century Style Whiskey because in 18th-century traditional barrel making, the cooper heats the staves over a fire of oak chips, allowing them to be bent and formed into a barrel,” says Master Distiller Bruce Joseph. “During this process, the inside of the barrel becomes lightly toasted. Charred barrels weren’t created until the 19th century. We are reintroducing Old Potrero Toasted Barrel Whiskey at a much older age than the original 18th Century Style Whiskey, and it continues to be the only rye on the market aged entirely in toasted oak barrels.”

Old Potrero Toasted Barrel Whiskey is a true San Francisco original, embodying the city’s spirit of innovation and boldness. With its rich history and commitment to artisanal excellence, Hotaling & Co. is proud to carry on the legacy of American whiskey distilling.

The new Old Potrero Toasted Barrel Whiskey

“Our dedication to artisanal spirits first started 30 years ago, and today, the Hotaling name remains a part of San Francisco drinking culture as we carry on that pioneering legacy with Old Potrero,” says Dan Leese, CEO of Hotaling & Co. “Old Potrero Whiskey, like its birthplace, San Francisco, embodies boldness and innovation. Old Potrero Toasted Barrel Whiskey continues to represent how integral we are to the city’s history and the timeless traditions of American whiskey.”

For more information on Old Potrero, visit OldPotrero.com; for more information on Hotaling & Co. visit HotalingandCo.com.

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