For our next finalist, we definitely had to get the scoop behind the quirky name. Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey pays homage to co-founder Herman Mihalich’s dad and his love of, well, hats. He writes, “The hat always seemed to fit his mood—or the occasion—perfectly. In those days, it was something more. A symbol of optimism. That we cared about quality, polish and finish. A subtle, personal signature. From an era when taking the time to do it the right way mattered.”
So Mihalich and his co-founder, John Cooper, started Dad’s Hat Rye to keep the tradition going. They craft the Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey by hand, in small batches, using only natural, local ingredients and the most careful methods. And it’s made in Pennsylvania which is known as the birthplace of genuine rye whiskey. Mihalich writes that they make the Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey in honor of his dad and “of that wonderful, optimistic time in America’s history when we made a lot of things and took care to make them well. My heart tells me that many of us are searching for that spirit again.” If you want to see Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey crowned as RackHouse Whiskey Club’s Craft Distillery of the Year, vote now! To learn more about Dad’s Hat and its unique history as well as the way it gives back to the local community, click here.
Our first step to determine the Craft Distillery of the Year Award winner was to open up the competition to the public to nominate your favorite craft distillery. From there, an expert panel of judges narrowed the list down to 10 finalists based on these four categories: compelling story, impact on community, marketing presence and branding and packaging. Now we’re turning the competition over to you to determine the distillery you believe deserves to be named the 2021 RackHouse Whiskey Club Craft Distillery of the Year. Get your votes in now, voting closes on Nov. 30! VOTE NOW!
