Black Button x Kings County Distillery Empire Rye
Black Button has been a leader in the New York Distilling scene and we’re pleased to come together from both sides of the state for this first-of-its-kind collaboration whiskey. Black Button Distilling is based in Rochester, NY, and is a grain-to-glass distiller that produces a range of spirits and liqueurs. If you're visiting Rochester, put aside some time to visit them.
This collaboration is a blend of two distiller’s interpretations of Empire Rye, a style of rye whiskey specific to New York agriculture and distilleries. This blend includes 4 barrels of pot and column New York rye distillate and presents with a nose of honeycomb, salted caramel, lemon peel, and lavender, a rich palate of toffee, vine fruits, nectarine, dill seed, and a warming finish of barrel spice, dark chocolate, and a lingering sweetness.
Empire Rye is a category specific to New York that requires distillers in the state to use state-grown rye (at least 75%) aged for a minimum of two years with a barrel entry proof at no more than 115.
Tasting Notes
Collaborative Blends
We partner with like minded distillers to create special whiskeys that speak to the talents of our friends in the industry, making spirits unlike any on the market today. We hope to showcase the range of craft distilling to celebrate the industry and all it has to offer.
Empire Rye Mashbill
Empire Rye is a classification of whiskey created by like-minded distillers. In order to be considered an Empire Rye, the mashbill must include at minimum 75% or more New York grown rye, be aged for 2 years or more, and have a barrel entry proof of no more than 115.
80%/94% Rye
Per the Empire Rye standards, both Kings County Distillery & Black Button Distilling use at minimum 75% or more New York grown rye. We use 80% rye (similar to our bourbon mashbill) while Black Button Distilling uses 94% rye. Pre-prohibition, rye was widely available and commonly used in whiskey production in the mid-Atlantic region, until it began to decline in the 1870s. Very few commercial ryes are made in the traditional way, and both of our whiskeys represents a rebirth of America's first whiskey style.
20%/6% Malted Barley
Kings County Distillery uses high-malt mashbill (20%) that borrows more from Scotch whiskey than traditional bourbons who typically add a flavoring grain such as rye or wheat. Black Button Distilling uses a 6% malt mashbill. Both of these mashbills come together to present in our collaboration rye.
use it in your home bar
