Born and Bred in San Francisco
100% rye whiskey
since 1993
A Taste As Bold As The City It Was Founded
The Original Craft Whiskey
Old Potrero Rye Whiskey is a bold homage to the original artisanal whiskies of America, a testament to the power of the pioneering spirit and the celebrated return of pot-distilled whiskey in the United States.
Our Story
A Craft Beer Pioneer Sets His Sights On Spirits
Old Potrero Whiskey is credited as the first American Craft Whiskey to hit the market after prohibition. Old Potrero's vision of a Rye whiskey revival was fueled by the realization that Rye was the grain of choice for America’s first distillers and that no pot-distilled whiskeys were being made legally in America in the early 1990s. Finding inspiration in the Rye whiskeys of America’s past and Scotland's great single malt whiskeys, the small distilling team began researching and experimenting. The first whiskey went into the barrel in 1994, and the distillery soon began producing three pot-distilled Rye whiskeys from a mash of 100% malted Rye.
"If, as they say, God spanked the town / for being over frisky. / Why did He burn the churches down / and save Hotaling's whiskey?"
A 100% malted rye mashbill combined with Hotaling & Co.’s style of whiskey making combines to create a whiskey that plays outside of the traditional rye whiskey box.
Just as it seemed that it might completely disappear, Anchor Distilling, now Hotaling & Co., came to the rescue and kicked off the rebirth of rye with the launch of Old Potrero Whiskey that is even made in copper pot stills.
The Process
Distilling Old Potrero
Old Potrero Sazerac
