Hotaling & Co., the leading distiller and importer of artisanal spirits and cocktail essentials, introduced the first American Single Malt Whiskey to its award-winning HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys portfolio: The Departure (750ml; 49% ABV; $74.99 SRP), the first of the range distilled entirely at the original Hotaling & Co. distillery in San Francisco. 

Aptly named, The Departure represents a new direction for the Hotaling & Co. distillery, known primarily for its rye whiskey legacy, and for the HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys brand, which is known for its bourbons. Only 1,350 bottles will be released, beginning this month and available in CA, IL, TX, LA, and CO.

HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys reflect the legacy of A.H. Hirsch. Initially commissioned by Adolph Hirsch, an investment banker, this highly regarded bourbon was developed through Hirsch’s creative partnership with a distillery in 1974. 

A.H. Hirsch set a precedent that has become the guiding principle of how HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys approaches partnerships with the finest distilleries, leading to an award-winning portfolio not bound to a single distillery or mash bill. The release of The Departure marks one of the final spirits crafted at Hotaling & Co.’s original Potrero Hill distillery location.

“The distillers at Hotaling & Co. had been wanting to work with barley malt for quite some time, and began development of the 100 percent barley malt whiskey that became HIRSCH’s The Departure in 2015,” Bruce Joseph, Master Distiller Emeritus for Hotaling & Co.. said in a news release. “This whiskey, an American Single Malt, drew heavily from our long history of distilling another 100% malt whiskey, Old Potrero Rye Whiskey. Our tradition at Hotaling is to use only the finest ingredients and barrels. With that tradition in mind, the grain bill for The Departure is comprised of 100 percent Maris Otter malted barley, after we fell in love with this barley’s rich malty character, which is further accentuated by our house beer yeast strain. 

“The Departure was aged for six-plus years in 24-month air-dried, extra fine grain, 53-gallon American oak barrels.”

The Departure is double distilled in small copper pot stills, aged for six years nine months in both new char #3 and toasted American oak barrels. Crafted from 100 percent malted barley, The Departure is 100 percent Maris Otter grown and malted in the United Kingdom.

“Hirsch The Departure American Single Malt Whiskey marks a milestone for the HIRSCH brand, known primarily for bourbon,” Kevin Aslan, Head Distiller for HIRSCH and Hotaling & Co., said. “This limited release is special for being one of the final spirits crafted at Hotaling & Co.’s original Potrero Hill distillery – a first for HIRSCH. It also reflects our ongoing pursuit of leading distillery partners to showcase the same craftsmanship and curation that A.H. Hirsch pioneered in his time.”

Hirsch The Departure American Single Malt follows the recent landmark ruling that for the first time in over 52 years, the U.S. government added a new type of whiskey to its regulations: American Single Malt Whiskey. The new regulations clearly define the category and protect producers and their products. 

The Departure joins one of the fastest-growing categories of whiskey in the world and follows the strict standards for production, aging, and what can be labeled as American Single Malt Whiskey. 

Read more: Hirsch Releases Two New Single Barrel Bourbons

About HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys

The story of American whiskey is not complete without mention of A.H. HIRSCH Reserve 16-Year-Old, widely considered the best American bourbon ever produced–even inspiring revered whiskey expert Chuck Cowdery to write the book, The Best Bourbon You’ll Never Taste. The True Story of A. H. Hirsch Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Distilled in the Spring of 1974. Today, HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys are inspired by the A.H. Hirsch’s adventurous mission is to source exceptional liquid at the finest distilleries to produce a modern and transparent range of Straight Kentucky Bourbon that is designed to be the best bourbon you will taste. For more information, visit https://hirschwhiskey.com/.