Stoll & Wolfe Revives Colonial Distilling Traditions with Wolfe & Wilson Straight Rye Whiskey

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Home » Bourbon Blog » Bourbon and Whiskey News » Stoll & Wolfe Revives Colonial Distilling Traditions with Wolfe & Wilson Straight Rye Whiskey

New Limited Release Draws Inspiration from a Historic Pennsylvania Recipe.

As bourbon and whiskey brands continue rolling out products tied to America’s 250th anniversary, Pennsylvania craft distillery Stoll & Wolfe is taking a different approach. Rather than simply commemorating the milestone through packaging or branding, the distillery has partnered with acclaimed distiller Alan Bishop to recreate a whiskey inspired by documented colonial-era distilling practices.

The result is Wolfe & Wilson Straight Rye Whiskey, a limited-edition release built from a historic recipe dating back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries and designed to offer modern whiskey drinkers a glimpse into America’s earliest whiskey-making traditions.

A Collaboration Rooted in History

Wolfe & Wilson is the product of a collaboration between Stoll & Wolfe head distiller Erik Wolfe and Alan Bishop, the well-known Indiana distiller formerly associated with Spirits of French Lick.

The project traces its origins to a pamphlet authored by Frederick Heinrich Gelwicks, which documented working distilling recipes used by Pennsylvania distillers during America’s formative years. Using one of those recipes as a foundation, Wolfe and Bishop began work in 2023 to adapt the historic process for modern production while preserving its original character.

“Collaborating on translating a nearly 300 century old recipe is a unique opportunity to explore the roots of our local distilling traditions by bringing this whiskey to life and allowing modern consumers to experience a spirit nearly lost to history,” said Erik Wolfe.

For Bishop, the project represented an opportunity to reconnect historic Pennsylvania distilling knowledge with the region where it originated.

“Bringing the knowledge brought to Indiana by early PA Germans back East to PA is one of the highlights of my career,” said Bishop. “That we stuck to the ideals of the colonial distillers while implementing modern technological advantages speaks to just how well versed in the art of distillation our forefathers were.”

A Mashbill Unlike Modern Rye Whiskey

Unlike most contemporary rye whiskeys, Wolfe & Wilson utilizes a grain bill inspired directly by the historical recipe:

  • Rye malt
  • Wheat
  • Rye
  • Oats

The grains were sourced from Pennsylvania family farms, including the Kline Farm, which maintains longstanding ties to Stoll & Wolfe.

The production process also incorporated several uncommon historical techniques, including:

  • Fermentation using wild yeast
  • The use of cheese culture during fermentation
  • Addition of dried fruits during distillation
  • Aging on a colonial-era tobacco farm

These elements were selected to create a whiskey that more closely reflects what American whiskey may have tasted like during the nation’s earliest years.

Product Details: Wolfe & Wilson Straight Rye Whiskey Batch 1

  • Classification: Straight Rye Whiskey
  • Mashbill: Rye malt, wheat, rye, and oats
  • Fermentation: Wild yeast and cheese culture
  • Aging: Minimum two years in new charred American oak
  • Bottling Proof: 100 Proof (50% ABV)
  • Original Barrel Entry Proof: 105 Proof
  • Bottles Produced: 1,000
  • MSRP: $80
  • Bottle Size: 750ml

A Name with Personal Meaning

The name Wolfe & Wilson carries significance beyond the whiskey itself.

“Wolfe” represents Erik Wolfe’s surname, while “Wilson” honors Alan Bishop’s family heritage as his mother’s maiden name. The partnership reflects the personal investment both distillers made in bringing this historical project to life.

Availability

Wolfe & Wilson Straight Rye Whiskey Batch 1 will be released on July 4, 2026, fittingly aligning with Independence Day during America’s Semiquincentennial year.

The release will be available through Stoll & Wolfe’s tasting room in Lititz, Pennsylvania, and online for consumers in the contiguous United States.

With only 1,000 bottles produced, availability is limited.

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