DelVal, Local Whiskey Maker Partner To Bring Back Rare Variety

Dad’s Hat, a Bucks County-based craft whiskey producer, is working with Delaware Valley University to bring back Rosen rye, a variety that was widely grown in the United States 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, according to information from DelVal.

“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.”

Rosen rye started to disappear from Pennsylvania’s fields partly because of Prohibition, according to information from DelVal.

Herman C. Mihalich, the founder of Dad’s Hat, approached Urbanchuk about growing Rosen rye on campus after Urbanchuk toured his distillery. In 2015, Urbanchuk obtained less than a handful of seeds from a USDA seed repository for the project. The seeds have since grown to produce enough rye for Dad's Hat to make a small test batch of whiskey.

“The biggest tasks the students have are preparing the ground for growing and planting and harvesting,” said Urbanchuk. “The whole effort has to do not just with planting the seed, but how to identify diseases and pests that might impact the crop. It’s a good practical example that is a little unusual for them to get to see.”

Mihalich visited campus to see the harvest of the first batch of Rosen rye to be grown outside on the University’s campus. What he doesn’t use for his first test batch of Rosen rye whiskey will be dried out so that the seeds can be preserved for the next planting, the university said.

“We’re looking to build relationships with the commercial sector,” said Urbanchuk. “This project ties in agriculture and agribusiness, and it’s a great practical example of a value-added product.”

Image via DelVal