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Inquirer’s Craig LaBan Lists PA Spirits Among His Holiday Choices

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Craig LaBan lists Dad’s Hat’s Straight Rye and Manatawny’s Bottled in Bond in his list of the best whiskeys to buy this holiday season.

LaBan notes that age is helping both distilleries out, noting Dad’s Hat has recently bumped its Straight Rye from three to four years of age. He also notes that in Manatawny’s case, “[t]ime in a barrel is paying off for this rising distillery from Pottstown. “

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Dad’s Hat Bottled in Bond a Finalist for Whiskey of the Year

Dad’s Hat Bottled in Bond

Leading spirits writer Fred Minnick will be picking his whiskey of the year via YouTube Live on December, 20th. In the run up to the big day, he has announced all of his contenders and Bristol, PA’s Dad’s Hat Bottled in Bond is among the chosen.

About Dad’s Hat Bonded Rye, Minnick says:

Whenever I have posted positive things about Dad’s Hat, it’s often met with a groundswell of “this is crap” comments. And hey, we’re all entitled to our own opinions (for God’s sake, I blab for a living), but I often think people misunderstand this rye and its style. You can genuinely taste rye bread, and that appeals to me. I also love seeing Pennsylvania return to the whiskey game.

Whiskey of the Year Contenders

Be sure to tune in on December 20th, when Minnick announces his favorite via a broadcast blind tasting.

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Distilleries Facing 400% Tax Increase

Barrels at Dad’s Hat

Craft distilleries are facing an uncertain future as they may be facing a 400% tax increase come January 1st. In 2017, a temporary tax cut was enacted that dropped the excise tax on liquor made from small distillers from $13.50 per proof gallon to $2.70 per proof gallon. In addition to the shear amount of the tax, the tax was due when the alcohol left the distiller, so it needed to be paid way before the sales became to come in. With the tax relief many distilleries reinvested in their business, adding employees, equipment and locations.

The tax relief is set to expire at the end of 2019. The Distilled Spirits Council is among the organizations lobbying to make the cuts permanent.

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