Whiskey Distillery Expanding With Mill Street Tasting Room

A new tasting room from Dad’s Hat Rye will be opening on Mill Street in Bristol Borough.

After being in the works for several years, the new whiskey tasting room at 131 Mill Street will be opening on Thursday, May 12 at 4 p.m.

The Dad’s Hat Rye tasting room will take the place of Spice & Co., which closed in early 2020 after years in the space. Dad’s Hat Rye co-founders Herman Mihalich and John Cooper have been working on the spot for some time.

The new space, which sits not far from eateries, bars, a brewery, and distillery, will have Dad’s Hat Rye award-winning whiskey for purchase and flights of whiskey, including whiskeys from other Pennsylvania distillers. There will also be classic and creative cocktails, craft beers, wine, ciders, and spirits.

“Our goal is to create the absolute highest quality cocktails available anywhere in the Delaware Valley using high-quality ingredients and featuring our own whiskey expressions,” said Mihalich.

The founders highlighted the location of the new tasting room, which will sit just under a mile away from the distillery at the Grundy Commons complex.

“There are more and more reasons to come to Bristol than ever, with the Bristol Riverside Theater, events at the Waterfront Park, and a bunch of great restaurants to sample – all in walking distance of each other,” added Mihalich. “We are extremely proud to be part of the renaissance in the borough.”

The Mill Street tasting room will be led by Len Boris. He recently came to Dad’s Hat Rye and brings with him 14 years of hospitality experience.

“This is an exciting time to be joining the team at Dad’s Hat. Our tasting room will be a welcoming place for whiskey lovers and newcomers to experience fun, enticing cocktails,” Mihalich added.

Dad’s Hat Rye, which is owned and operated by Mountain Laurel Spirits, started a little more than a decade ago at the Grundy Commons complex. They have grown as their whiskey has become more and more popular.

The founders aim to restore Pennsylvania as a renown place for whiskey. The Keystone State was once a popular exporter of whiskey.

The distillery won the prestigious Craft Whisky of the Year Award from Whisky Advocate Magazine, was recently named as the International Craft Producer of the Year by Whisky Magazine, and partners Mihalich and Cooper were finalists for a James Beard Award in 2017.