Dogfish Head Distilling releases full-proof experimental whiskey

Dogfish Head Distilling Co. has added its first, full-proof experimental whiskey to its catalog of scratch-made spirits.

Alternate Takes: Volume 1, Whiskey Finished in Rum Casks is brewed, distilled and aged at the Milton brewery, using barrels that previously aged Dogfish Head Distilling Co.’s Barrel Honey Rum. Packaged in 750ml bottles (45 percent ABV), this whiskey is best enjoyed neat, over ice or in classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned. Alternate Takes: Volume 1 is a medium-bodied malt whiskey, tawny amber in color with slight smoke, and has a green apple and sweet candied nut finish.

In the analog age of music, artists recorded take after take, experimenting with alternate sounds until a great record emerged. Playing on the artistically creative concept of an alternate take, Dogfish experimented with its own new take on whiskey by exploring alternate barrel finishings, in this case, by using barrels which previously aged Dogfish rum.

Sam Calagione, founder and CEO of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery & Dogfish Head Distilling Co., said, “Our Alternate Takes whiskey series is an ode of sorts to the science of R&D distilling, and we’re super excited to share this creatively fresh take on Whiskey Finished in Rum Casks with our Delmarva friends.”

The whiskey starts as a complex ale using specialty malts, including applewood smoked, coffee kiln and crystal. It’s then fermented with flavorful Doggie Aleyeast, Dogfish Head’s proprietary yeast,  right alongside beers like 60 Minute IPA and SeaQuench Ale. This whiskey accesses the very best ingredients, equipment and expertise at Dogfish Head, including the removal of grain solids from the liquid prior to fermentation. This process, along with the batch-distillation, creates a base whiskey that’s more delicate and nuanced than a typical American style whiskey.

Alternate Takes: Volume 1 is then aged onsite in new, charred American oak barrels, then finished in rum casks which previously aged Dogfish Head Distilling Co.’s Barrel Honey Rum, a rum made with sugar cane molasses, honey and aged in American oak. The result is a malt whiskey with layers of complexity and exceptional smoothness. It will be available while supplies last.

For more information, go to www.dogfish.com.