Hochstadter's Slow & Low Rye Whiskey 750ml

Hochstadter's Slow & Low was crafted by Robert Cooper, a third-generation distiller whose grandfather founded Cooper Brewery in the early twentieth century and whose father worked at Pennsylvania's Charles Jacquin et Cie. Cooper, also known for creating St-Germain and Crème Yvette, revived the historic Rock and Rye category with this release, made in Philadelphia, a city often credited as the birthplace of the style.

The whiskey starts with a base of straight rye, which is macerated with air-dried navel oranges from Florida before being infused with raw honey sourced from western Pennsylvania. A small dose of rock candy and Angostura bitters rounds out the recipe, echoing the old-fashioned Rock and Rye tonics once served as a folk remedy for colds and sore throats. The finished product is bottled at 84 proof, each bottle filled by hand.

The nose opens with candied orange peel, honeysuckle, and brown sugar, layered with a touch of medicinal herbal spice. On the palate, initial pepper and rye spice give way to a smooth sweetness built on honey, citrus, and a whisper of rock candy.