Old Potrero Bottled in Bond 16 Year Malted Rye Whiskey

A special bottling laid down to age in 2006 as a 100 year commemoration of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fire that destroyed much of the city. As a popular rhyme from 1906 just post-earthquake San Francisco observes, "If as they say, God spanked the town for being over frisky, why did he burn the churches down and save Hotaling's whiskey?

"Hotaling's Whiskey" was distilled on a copper pot still from a mash of 100% malted rye and aged in once-used, charred American oak barrels for 16 years before bottling without chill filtration at 100 proof.  The nose beckons with rich scents of butterscotch, honey, poached pear, marshmallow, and a slight herbal rye note.  On the palate, butterscotch and honey intermingle with golden raisin, vanilla, sweet tea, tobacco, and leather.  The finish is long and gorgeous featuring flavors of flaky pastry, red fruit, and baking spices.

Distilling since 1993, Old Potrero from longtime San Francisco craft spirits maker Hotaling and Co. is one of the few craft American producers that can offer such a mature whiskey.  Only 432 bottles were produced.