Dad’s Hat Port-Finished Rye Whiskey Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B-

Dad’s Hat Vermouth Finish is their best known whiskey of this type, but not the only one, because the Philadelphia-area distillery also has a Port-finished version of its whiskey. Taking the same very high rye, no corn recipe (80% rye + 5% malted rye, then 15% malted barley) that is the basis for all their whiskeys, this takes the basic, youngish and small barrel aged version and gives it some additional time in Port wine casks.

The Whiskey
A pour of Dad’s Hat Port Finish has an orange, mid-amber appearance, and giving the glass a swish leaves behind scattered, skinny legs with a thick, solid crown. The nose certainly has a sweet wine quality, reminiscent of Ruby Port to an extent, balanced by Christmas Cask spices and a generous helping of dried mint flakes, with a hint of woodiness sitting just behind the crowd. The flavor follows in that vein, albeit with a twist: it’s Port-sweet, but just briefly, and then up comes a hot cinnamon and peppery spiciness, poured from a cup of green pine. The finish is short, clear, and offers just tiny bit of wood and spice.

Compared to the Vermouth Finish, the finishing cask is much more evident. Of course, the thing about that is if you’re a fan of Dad’s Hat, you like their very bold, very rye-forward style, so that isn’t a thing you want pushed off center stage. As much as I like Port and usually like a Port-finished whiskey, I don’t think this one quite worked out.

The Price
Online retail prices for this item vary considerably, between $40 and $55. Anything over the $50 line might have more to do with price gouging than local liquor taxes, so watch out.