Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey Is Making a Comeback

During the 1800s, Pennsylvania was at the epicenter of the rye whiskey industry. Prohibition caused most of the distilleries to close, and the state’s legacy was forgotten.

A pungent and sour scent reached every corner of Dad’s Hat whiskey distillery as rye and malt bubbled away in a fermenter.

Herman Mihalich poured amber-hued liquid from a tall silver tank into a ladle. He took a sip, smacked his lips gently and exhaled: “Delicious.”

After leaving the fragrance ingredients and chemical industries, Mihalich embarked on a mission to bring rye whiskey back to Pennsylvania.