Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey

Hudson Whiskey uses whole grain Rye, small artisan barrels, and a driving sub-woofer to create an enigma … one of the best hand-made Rye Whiskeys you will taste this year.

Hudson Whiskey came into being by accident. Back in 2001, Ralph Erenzo purchased an old grist mill and the surrounding property because of some nearby rocky cliffs. His plan was to create a climber’s ranch…a place where vacationers could come to practice rock-climbing. This didn’t sit well with the neighbors, but he had already bought the land, so he was stuck…or so he thought.

He looked around and saw that his plot of land was situated amid farms producing grain, had a mill for processing it, access to plentiful water from a limestone aquifer, and the right zoning already in place. Fate made him pivot, and he pivoted to Whiskey, becoming the first new distillery in New York State since Prohibition. 15 years and a bunch of awards later, Ralph and his partners are pretty happy with the results, and you will be too.

Today, Hudson Whiskey makes Baby Bourbon, Manhattan Rye, a Four Grain Bourbon, a unique “New York Corn” Whiskey, and an American Single Malt.

When you take your first sip of Hudson Manhattan Rye you come upon an enigma. You instantly recognize it as a Rye Whiskey—the rich peppery flavor you expect is right there—but something is different at the same time. Hudson Manhattan Rye mellows out in the glass after it is poured to reveal a clean, almost grassy aroma and flavor and a richer mouth-feel that most Rye Whiskeys.

Why? Well, maybe it is because they use 100% whole grain Rye as opposed to processed grain like many distillers. Perhaps it’s because the grain is locally sourced from one small farm less than ten miles from the distillery. Or it could be the small, artisanal barrels that bring the concept of “small-batch Whiskey” to a new level. Maybe it is because they actually use sub-woofers to agitate those barrels during aging which generates more interaction with the wood. You tell us. What we do know is that Hudson Manhattan Rye mixes into a damn great Manhattan Cocktail and stands up well straight with a drop of water too.