In 2015, six leading distilleries from the state of New York joined forces to form a consortium with the goal of establishing a distinctive whiskey style for the Empire State.
This whiskey was to be as unmistakable, precisely crafted, and meet as high a standard as any other famous whiskey style in the world. And thus, Empire Rye was born - a tribute to the heritage of rye whiskey production in New York State before Prohibition and a testament to the ingenuity and diligence of today's distillers.
The bottling of Empire Rye by individual distilleries follows the same exacting specifications while still allowing much room for individual creativity. It is hoped that over time, more New York distilleries will decide to produce a rye whiskey according to these standards and make the Empire Rye category known worldwide.
