DOYLESTOWN, PA — As craft whiskey producers look for ways to improve their products, many are looking to the past, bringing back varieties of grain that have been largely lost from the country’s fields. Dad’s Hat, a Bristol, Pennsylvania-based craft whiskey producer is working with Delaware Valley University to bring back Rosen rye, a variety that was widely grown in the U.S. about 100 years ago. The University harvested a batch of Rosen rye on July 16 that Dad’s Hat will use to create a small, test batch of whiskey this summer.

“I don’t think anyone else is growing this type of rye in Pennsylvania,” said John Urbanchuk, the University’s chair of agribusiness. “The purpose of this project is to revive a heritage variety of rye.”

For most whisky lovers, a dram is a year-round beverage. But the influence of weather can change the way you enjoy your whisky. While you might prefer it neat during cooler months, the heat of summer sends some of us straight to the icebox. Don’t be shy: drinking it on the rocks is a time-honored, and delicious, way to enjoy whisky.

When temperatures rise, nothing refreshes like a tumbler of quaffable whisky over some cubes. In addition to cooling the liquid, ice also alleviates some of the harsher notes on lower-end products, meaning you don’t have to drink your most expensive stuff. Whether tanning poolside, working on your golf game, or relaxing after a day of yard work, here are six excellent whiskies worthy of your rocks glass.

In case you missed it while you were busy enjoying a steady round of March Madness cocktails — earlier this spring, online spirits magazine PUNCH declared their love for rye whiskey in a thorough roundup of the nation’s best ryes under $50.

Dad’s Hat made the list with our classic Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey (not to mention a bonus nod for our slightly pricier Straight Rye). As always, we’re proud to be featured among some of the greatest whiskey brands money can buy.

Check out the full list and see what the expert PUNCH contributors had to say about the widening appeal of rye whiskey in today’s craft spirits landscape here.

BRISTOL, PA — Dad’s Hat Rye Founders Herman C. Mihalich and John S. Cooper have been nominated as semifinalists for The James Beard Foundation Awards in the category of “Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional”.

The James Beard Foundation Awards are presented annually by the James Beard Foundation in recognition of excellence in cuisine, culinary writing, and culinary education in the United States. Established in 1990, The Beard Awards are often regarded in the culinary industry as “The Oscars of Food.”

The Foundation’s mission is to celebrate, nurture, and honor chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone. The entire list of semifinalists for the 2017 Restaurant and Chef Awards can be found here. The list of finalists will be announced in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 15 and revealed in real time simultaneously on Facebook Live and Twitter.