A few months ago, a friend from upstate New York helped me get my first bottle of Fort Hamilton Distillery's single barrel rye. I was impressed enough by what I tasted that when I saw a different, double barrel rye while visiting a Kentucky liquor store I figured it was worth adding to the collection.
Brooklyn-based Fort Hamilton Distillery focuses on producing an authentic New York Rye with a zero-corn mash bill and low barrel entry proofs, and ages its whiskey in heated warehouses so that the whiskey continues to move in and out of the oak even in the cold New York winter.
I opened the Double Barrel rye for the first time this week with the intention of comparing the two whiskies side by side. As it happens, the double barrel is a blend than incorporates both the Distillery's own juice and MGP's very familiar 95% rye mash bill, so it was going to be very interesting to see how the two compared.
Fort Hamilton Single Barrel Rye and Fort Hamilton Double Barrel Rye Tasting Notes
Fort Hamilton Single Barrel Rye: Mash bill of 90% rye, 10% malted barley. Distilled and barreled in New York at 120 proof and aged for 3 years in 53 gallon #3 char white oak barrels in a heated warehouse. Bottled at 90 proof. Non-chill filtered. Single barrel offering.
- Color: Dark Amber
- Nose: Vanilla, spearmint, baking spice.
- Palate: Toffee, cinnamon, black pepper.
- Finish: Pepper, spearmint and oak with lingering dark cocoa notes.
I really like this rye whiskey. It has a complex, spicy flavor with a well balanced combination of spicy and sweet notes. I think the extra year does it a lot of good, as it is quite a bit more mature than its "Double Barrel" brother.
Fort Hamilton Double Barrel Rye: Blend of the New York Distilled 90% rye 10% barley mash bill and Indiana-based MGP's 95% rye, 5% malted barley mash bill. Aged two years in a mix of 53 gallon and 30 gallon #3 charred white oak barrels. Barrel entry proof of 120, bottled at 92 proof.
- Color: Medium Amber
- Nose: Wintergreen, fresh cut grass, rye bread.
- Palate: Rye bread, molasses, black pepper.
- Finish: Black pepper, coffee, grass.
The Fort Hamilton Double Barrel Rye has a good rye backbone and would make a solid choice for use in cocktails, but it definitely tastes young when compared to the 3-year-old Single Barrel. This came through the most in the bready and grassy notes, which I really didn't get in the single barrel.
Which Fort Hamilton Rye Should You Choose?
Everybody's palate is different, but if I have to choose I'd take the Fort Hamilton Single Barrel rye every time over the Double Barrel. It has a more complex flavor profile that is very pleasant neat and on the rocks. With that said, both were pleasant to drink in their own way, and I know I'll continue to enjoy both bottles. I'm also looking forward to visiting the distillery for a tour sometime soon!
Cheers!
-Trevor
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