Bottles of rye whiskey distilled at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate are appearing in select New York bars this week. The spirit, made using 18th-century methods, has prompted renewed interest in historical American whiskey traditions among local bartenders and collectors.
At Mace in the East Village, bar manager Emily Torres displayed a bottle behind the bar on Tuesday night. She said regulars have been asking about the whiskey’s history and flavor, which leans toward earthy and peppery. A one-ounce pour was listed at $28.
Washington’s distillery, reconstructed at Mount Vernon, now produces limited annual batches. The whiskey is unaged, bottled straight from the still, and sold in small allocations. Some New York distributors reported increased requests for the spirit after a segment on public radio earlier this month.
The renewed interest comes as bars in Manhattan and Brooklyn expand their American whiskey selections for summer cocktails. Some venues are featuring the Washington bottle as a conversation piece, rather than a mainstay. At The Richardson in Williamsburg, staff expect a small shipment by the end of June.
A Mount Vernon spokesperson said the next New York release could arrive in late July, depending on demand. For now, the whiskey remains a rare sight, mostly poured for the curious or the nostalgic.