163: Exploring New York Rye Whiskey with Fort Hamilton Distillery

We’re discussing New York Rye Whiskey this week with Alex Clark, Founder of Fort Hamilton Distillery in Brooklyn. We taste through 4 offerings from Fort Hamilton, including Single Barrel Rye, Double Barrel Rye, Double Barrel Bourbon, and a private selection of Rye.  We enjoyed chatting with Alex about his background in the cocktail world and what drove him to start a rye whiskey distillery in New York.  If you are looking for a new rye whiskey, grab a bottle of Fort Hamilton.

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About Fort Hamilton Distillery:

Based in Brooklyn and surrounded by landmarks of the Revolutionary Way, Fort Hamilton Distillery started barreling whiskey in 2016.

On a mission to recapture America’s finest spirits, we celebrate America’s original whiskey style, New York Rye. This style was the most popular libation in America pre-prohibition and serves as the base for the most discerning classic American cocktails.

We honor the authentic tradition of New York Rye by using zero corn in our mash bills and by avoiding colorings, flavorings, or adulterating our whiskeys in any way.

HEARTS OF OAK

In August 1775, Alexander Hamilton’s Hearts of Oak Militia orchestrated a daring raid on lower Manhattan. Under fire from HMS Asia, they seized and repurposed the battery of British cannons, thereafter forming America’s first artillery company. 

THE PROCESS

Our whiskeys are barreled at a low proof for a smoother profile that emphasizes the rye grain over the barrel, promoting a softer, fruit-driven style of rye. It is non-chill filtered & aged in heavily charred new American white oak barrels on the Brooklyn waterfront for years. As is tradition for New York ryes, the barrel house is heated in winter to augment the aging process, thus creating an incredibly nuanced and historic whiskey.

THE WHISKEY

Fort Hamilton Rye Whiskey is distilled purely from rye grain, malted barley, yeast & water in a traditional New York-style with zero corn in the mash bill. It is barreled at a low proof & always non-chill filtered to achieve a beautifully balanced, bold, rich & round rye whiskey expression. 

Distilled from honest ingredients without the addition of flavoring or coloring,  Fort Hamilton is equally at home neat or on the rocks as it is in a deeply authentic Old Fashioned or Manhattan.

DOUBLE BARREL BOURBON STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY BLEND PRICING

• Age: At least 3 years
• Cooperage: 53 gallon Char #3 American White Oak
• Mash bills: 70% NY Corn / 25% NY Rye / 5% NY Malted Barley. 60% Corn / 36% Rye / 4% Malted Barley (IN)
• Barreled at: 120 proof
• Bottled at: 92 proof / 46% ABV
• Non-Chill Filtered
• Our High Rye Bourbon barrels are individually
• tasted & blended in small batches to achieve an amazingly smooth and rich bourbon with gorgeous notes of Vanilla, Caramel & Cocoa.

SINGLE BARREL RYE WHISKEY STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY

• Age: At least 3 1⁄2 years
• Cooperage: 30 gallon Char #3 American White Oak
• Mash bill: 90% New York State Rye Grain & 10% Malted Barley
• Barreled at: 120 proof
• Bottled at: 90 proof / 45% ABV
• Non-Chill Filtered
• Only our most unique barrels are hand selected for our flagship offering.
• With zero corn in the mash, our perfectly balanced, soft, rich & round style appeals to all American whiskey lovers. Fort Hamilton proudly produces traditional New York style whiskeys originating from the revolutionary war era. Distilled from the purest ingredients, with no additional coloring, flavoring or excessive filtration. Join us in The Spirit of Revolution.

DOUBLE BARREL RYE WHISKEY STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY BLEND

• Age: At least 3 years
• Cooperage: 30 & 53 gallon Char #3 American White Oak
• Mash bills: 90% Rye / 10% Malted Barley (NY). 95% Rye / 5% Malted Barley (IN)
• Barreled at: 120 proof
• Bottled at: 92 proof / 46% ABV
• Non-Chill Filtered
• We painstakingly blend our 2 barrel types and sizes together to achieve small batch perfection. This Classic Rye provides the perfect backbone
• for cocktails whilst offering luscious honeyed notes and a long finish for sipping.

PRIVATE BARREL / CASK STRENGTH RYE WHISKEY

• Age: At least 3 1⁄2 years
• Cooperage: 30 gallon Char #3 American White Oak
• Mash bill: 90% New York State Rye Grain
• & 10% Malted Barley
• Barreled at: 120 Proof
• Bottled at: 117 proof / 58.5% ABV
• Non-Chill Filtered
• Purely Uncut, Unfiltered, Distilled, Aged & Bottled in New York, this is the true Spirit of Revolution.

Show Links:

• Fort Hamilton Distillery
• A Maple Syrup With a Hint of Brooklyn Bourbon - The New York Times
• Fort Hamilton Distillery Announces New Rye Revolution Tour – Craft Spirits Magazine 
• Fort Hamilton Army Base Guide
• Empire Rye
• What is Empire Rye? A Guide to New York's New Whiskey Association | The Manual
• Fort Hamilton Whiskey is the Spirit of Revolution | Brooklyn to the Catskills | Recipes, Real Estate & Entrepreneurs