KINGS COUNTY EMPIRE RYE WHISKEY

Kings County's 45% ABV Empire Rye uses 80% New York-grown Danko rye and 20% English barley malt, aged two years in new charred oak barrels in Brooklyn's Navy Yard warehouses where humid conditions accelerate maturation. Part of a collaborative New York distiller project to establish regional rye standards, this 102-proof whiskey shows cinnamon, nutmeg, maple, mint, cut grass, warm bread, and holiday spice from the high rye content and aggressive barrel extraction typical of Brooklyn's temperature-fluctuating aging environment. The Danko rye grain—a winter variety adapted to New York's climate—contributes spicier, grassier notes than Midwest rye while the two-year aging in new oak provides vanilla and caramel sweetness that balances the grain's natural pepper bite.