The Cooper Spirits Company has announced the release of its third bottling of Hochstadter’s Vatted Straight Rye Whiskey.
Taken from the Scottish term for the process of blending several single malts in a vat to create a new flavor, this version incorporates five straight ryes from North America aged anywhere from 4 years to 18 years.
Initially released in 2015, Hochstadter’s Vatted Rye is the first rye to use the “vatted” designation. Straight rye whiskeys are combined in a vat and married, the liquid is then proofed down to 50% ABV/100 proof. This year’s version incorporates ryes from Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and California, all of which have been aged in American oak barrels with a No.4 Char (aka the “alligator char”) and selected from the Cooper Spirits’ whiskey library, which was curated by the late Robert Cooper.
“Vatted Rye is still a significantly misunderstood category,” said Chad Solomon, Cooper Spirits’ Director of Trade Advocacy and Innovation. “Vatting adds a complexity to the liquid and gives it a unique flavor profile that would be hard to achieve otherwise. What’s truly incredible about this product is Rob Cooper’s vision and foresight. Knowing the rye category was going to explode, he strategically curated the barrels in the company’s library to ensure long-term success. His overall goal was to create a product that over-delivered in every aspect, and we achieved that with Vatted.”
Hochstadter’s Vatted Rye is best enjoyed straight or in cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Manhattan and the Julep. Limited to just 1,500 cases, the expression is available for $59.99.
