Kings County Distillery Barrel Strength Empire Rye Whiskey 750mL

As our barrel-strength offerings have gained acclaim, we’ve had the opportunity to further refine just what it is that has made those releases among our most coveted. While a high proof point is undeniably one element of the equation, we also believe that the oil-rich, heavy-bodied quality of our pot distillate and highly attentive blending are essential to maintaining complexity, drinkability, and nuance as the age, proof, and oak profile of a whiskey increases. 

90 Proof (ABV 60%)

Kings County Distillery is New York City’s premier craft distillery and among the most acclaimed small distilleries in the United States. Focused exclusively on whiskeys, Kings County has made a name for its Bourbon, Peated Bourbon, Empire Rye and other creative whiskeys. We only distill whiskey for our label and we never sell whiskey made from any other source.

Kings County’s whiskeys have won numerous awards from the American Distilling Institute, the American Craft Spirits Association, and the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and have been praised by the New York Times, the New Yorker, Whiskey Advocate and many other sources. Kings County’s whiskeys are always mashed, fermented, distilled, and aged onsite in Brooklyn.

First located in a 325 square-foot room in East Williamsburg, Kings County began as the smallest commercial distillery in the country, with five 24-liter stainless steel stills making whiskey seven days a week, 16 hours a day. In 2012, the distillery moved into the Paymaster Building in the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard, just steps from legendary site of the Brooklyn Whiskey Wars of the 1860s and the former distillery district of the waterfront.

Kings County blends distilling practices from a variety of cultures into creative whiskeys that remain traditional while defying convention, using Scottish copper pot stills, open fermentation, and local grains to make American whiskeys that expand the category. One of the preeminent craft distilleries in the United States, the American Distilling Institute named Kings County Distillery of the Year in 2016.

Explore Our Whiskey

Recent Awards
American Distilling Institute - Distillery of the Year 2016
San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold, Barrel Strength Bourbon 2021
San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold, Best of Category, Bottled-in-Bond 2020
San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold, Straight Rye 2020
American Craft Spirits Association - Gold, Innovation Award, Peated Rye
American Craft Spirits Association - Gold, Bottled-in-Bond 2020
San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold, Straight Rye 2019
San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold, Straight Bourbon 2019
American Craft Spirits Association - Gold, Bottled-in-Bond 2019
American Craft Spirits Association - Gold, Peated Bourbon 2019
American Distilling Institute - Gold, Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, 2019
ASCOT: Best Craft Rye, 2021.
Great American Intl Spirits Competition - Platinum, Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon 2019
San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold, Best of Category, Bottled-in-Bond 2018
International Whiskey Competition - Gold, Best Bourbon Bottled-in-Bond 2017

(among over a hundred other bronze, silver, gold & best-of-category medals)

On the nose, this rye is expressive and in your face, with big notes of green apple, mint, cinnamon, dusty rye grain and black pepper. On the palate, it follows up with intense baking spices, moderate sweetness, expressive “char” character and deeply caramelized notes of custard and caramel. Suffice to say, this one is very much in my personal rye whiskey wheelhouse, with moderate heat, balanced sweetness, a hint of smoky char and a big focus on toasted holiday spice notes

*SHIPPING NOTICE- If possible, please use a business address for shipping. All shipments require an adult signature which is much more reliable at a place of business.

All orders usually ship within 24-48 hours unless noted otherwise 

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