Other Whisk(e)ys

Old Scout American Whiskey

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Old Scout American Whiskey

49.5% ABV
$30-$40
Website
Old Scout American Whiskey

What the Producer Might Say

NOTE: This product has been discontinued; the below information is from multiple other sources
Old Scout American Whiskey includes a blend of 9 year old bourbon (distilled by MGP; their “high rye” mashbill with 36% rye) and a Tennessee whiskey made from a bourbon mash, which was aged for 5 years in re-charred, ex-bourbon barrels. Due to the use of non-virgin oak casks, this is not and can’t be labeled as “bourbon”.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Honey, vanilla cream, caramel corn, soft oak, vitamin notes, a hint of butterscotch.
Palate:  Sweet with honey and cinnamon, a pepper bite with a sharp mineral note before a bit of caramel.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with caramel and vitamins.
Comments:  The Tennessee whiskey (almost certainly Dickel) is more prominent on the palate than the nose, but present everywhere. As this isn’t a bourbon due to the used cooperage, it is more muted. Not sure how much of the blend is 5 yr Dickel, but as prominent as it is – one take away for me is that you REALLY need new oak to tamp that vitamin/mineral note down.  Unless you like that sorta thing, in which case this might be right up your alley.

Rating: Average

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10th Street Distiller’s Cut Single Malt American Whisky

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10th Street Distiller’s Cut Single Malt
American Whisky

44% ABV
$65
Website
10th Street Distillers Cut Peated Single Malt
We would like to thank 10th Street Distillery and Feature M for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Distiller’s Cut is a malt lover’s dream. We stick to Old World tradition for our boldest, smokiest whisky using all copper stills, imported Scottish barley, and age it in bourbon barrels. This Scottish American fusion hints of citrus and berry while delivering a woody, earthy, and smoky statement.

TASTING NOTES
Nose: Sour nose with bright citrus, vanilla, and peat; heavy mesquite smoke
Color: Golden
Palate: Sweet high notes of blackberry, brown sugar, honey, and molasses; bran cereal, burning chocolate.
Finish: Smooth and lingering on the sides and back of the tongue

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich and fruity, peat smoke, green oak, broiled meat with sea salt; bit of water brings out more earthiness and mineral notes.
Palate:  Vanilla, caramel, apples, peat, a bit of peanut butter, nutmeg and pepper; bit of water really thickens the mouthfeel nicely.
Finish:  Moderately long with peanut butter, peat and apples.
Comments:  This was a clear step up from the Peated Single Malt in my book. I’ve gotten ‘peanut’ in drams before (Jim Beam’s house style has a peanutty tang to me), but this was different. I think this is probably the best two year old whisky I’ve tried (bottle states “whisky aged at least two years in reused cooperage”). In a blind side by side, this was clearly similar to the Peated Single Malt, but more rich and thick. I do hope that they mature some of this further (and consider bottling at a higher proof). If you’re a whiskey geek and looking to try something unique (and especially if you’re in the San Jose area), I’d definitely look to try this one.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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10th Street Peated Single Malt American Whisky

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

10th Street Peated Single Malt
American Whisky

46% ABV
$65
Website
10th Street Peated Single Malt
We would like to thank 10th Street Distillery and Feature M for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Our Peated Single Malt has been inspired by classic Scottish production methods and fueled by American innovation. We source peated barley from Scotland, use mineral rich water from Sierra snowmelt, and age in bourbon barrels for a whisky that is smoky, fruity, and well rounded.
TASTING NOTES
Nose: Citrus, with a peat smoke essence
Color: Light golden
Palate: Creamy full flavors of vanilla and dark red apple peels, turning into rounded peat flavors. A delicate balance of fruity and smoky notes.
Finish: Full bodied, buttery, with a lingering peaty finish

What Gary Says

Nose:  Peat smoke, hint of green oak, subtle tangerines and apricots.
Palate:  Vanilla, caramel, peat, apple crumble without any cinnamon, slight pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderate in length with peat, apples and pepper.
Comments:  This is a nicely done peated American single malt. Unique and interesting. Again, I’m surprised at it’s youth as the bottle states “whisky stored for one year in reused cooperage” (oddly phrased, but more direct than “at least 1 year”). Another pretty young whisky that surprises me as being worth drinking.

Rating: Stands Out

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10th Street STR Single Malt American Whisky

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

10th Street STR Single Malt
American Whisky

46% ABV
$65
Website
10th Street American Whiskey Single Malt STR
We would like to thank 10th Street Distillery and Feature M for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

STR Single Malt unpeated whisky is an all-American creation, matured in ex-bourbon casks that have been shaved, toasted, and re-charred (STR) to impart some of the flavors of freshly-charred wood, without being overwhelmed by oak notes from direct immersion in virgin American Oak barrels. Striking a balance between the oak influence from new casks prevalent in American whiskies and used barrels common in traditional Scotch techniques, STR Single Malt is one of the only American single malts to use STR barrels. 10th Street uses domestic two-row malted barley, double distills in all-copper pot stills and, finally, bottles without chill-filtering, to preserve complexity.

“For our first unpeated product, we wanted to create a distinctive single malt whisky that strikes a balance between the influence of the freshly charred American oak, and classic malt notes. Using specially prepared STR barrels allowed us to bring in the caramel, almost candy-like notes from the wood and pair them with the malt coming from our copper pot double-distilling process. The result is a delicate, yet flavorful whisky that is truly unique” says Virag Saksena, CEO, 10th Street Distillery.

TASTING NOTES
Nose: Lightly spicy with overtones of sweet caramel and butterscotch
Color: Light golden
Palate: Complex cherry-like sweetness with notes of vanilla bean, nutmeg, and clove
Finish: Smooth and round, filled with decadent flavors of candied fruits

What Gary Says

Nose:  Malty, toasted oak with vanilla and caramel, butterscotch, honeysuckle, freshly baked yeasty bread, a hint of apricots and green apples.
Palate:  Sweet with a round mouthfeel, cherry with honey and vanilla, gentle pepper and baking spices, hint of green apples.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, slightly drying with spices, dried fruit and a bit of pepper.
Comments:  This is a very unique single malt. American ‘single malt’ isn’t defined like it is in Scotland and other countries, but if trying this blind – it has some resemblance to a single malt scotch while not reminding me of any in particular. The pot still and non-chill filtering lend to a nice mouthfeel even at a pretty young age (the bottle states “whisky aged at least one year in reused cooperage”, so not sure precisely how old, but likely between 1 and 2 years old). There aren’t many whiskies under 2 years old that I thought were worth drinking. This is one of the rare exceptions. If tasting this blind, I wouldn’t have guessed it to be that young.  While the bread notes are something I associate with young whisky, it isn’t predominately cereal in nature.  Don’t get me wrong – it isn’t amazingly complex, but if I was asked to guess the age – I would have put it in the 5 to 8 year range.  Very well done whisky!

Rating: Stands Out

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Starward Two-Fold Double Grain Australian Whisky

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Starward Two-Fold
Double Grain Australian Whisky

40% ABV
$33
Website
Starward Two-Fold Double Grain Australian Whisky

What the Distillery Says

When it comes to whisky-making, we’re unapologetically Melburnian. Our aim? To make whisky that’s unpretentious and easy to enjoy, however you like. Enter, Two-Fold.

It started with a question. How would our ideal whisky taste? It’d be easy-drinking, versatile and, most importantly, delicious. We chose two quintessential Aussie grains. First, for depth, malted barley. This new make spirit is the exact same as our Nova. Inspired by the craft beer scene, we ferment our barley with brewers’ yeast for extra fruity characters.

We balance this with a spirit made from aromatic and dry wheat. Then it’s time for each whisky to mature separately in the barrel.

We carefully select barrels from vineyards making great Aussie reds like shiraz, cabernet and pinot noir. These give our new make spirit tasty fruit, caramel and spice notes.

To keep as much of a fresh red wine flavour profile as possible, we source barrels from just a day’s drive away. We either lightly char or quickly blast barrels with steam. Many are still wet with wine when we fill them.

Flavour obsessed as ever, we fill each barrel at a lower alcohol proof than is traditional. This means our whisky draws more lip-smacking red wine fruit characters and tannins.

Then, it’s time for Melbourne’s climate to shine. Or, rather, rain and shine in a wildly unpredictable way. Famed for its ‘four seasons in a day’, Melbourne’s fluctuating climate means Two-Fold extracts more flavour from the barrel in a much shorter time than is traditional. After just three years, both barley and wheat whiskies are ready to be expertly combined.

The next part (the drinking part) is all up to you.

Nose: Bright red berries coated in buttery vanilla spice.
Palate: Imagine a smooth, rich caramel dessert balanced by tropical fruit.
Finish: Delicate and long. A delicious, dry finish from a faded sweetness.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Young, grainy vanilla, tapioca pudding, fruity with barley sugar, hint of milk chocolate, subtle red-wine notes.
Palate:  Fruity with apples, berries, plums, honey, bit of pepper and mixed nuts, a tad thin.
Finish:  Short and slightly drying with honey and berries.
Comments:  For a two year old spirit, this packs a decent amount of flavor – but for experienced whisk(e)y drinkers the age comes across with the grainy sweetness, thin mouthfeel, and shorter finish. This was the first Australian whisky I purchased, and I don’t think it will be the last. This is very easy to drink, and I think they’re successful in what they set out to make in that regard. I think it has potential with age to appeal to more seasoned whisk(e)y drinkers. But also priced as an entry-level spirit which I appreciate (hell, there are folks selling 2 yr old spirits domestically for double, so my hats off to them in that regard!)

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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