One of the interesting thing about spirits, especially whiskey, is their ephemeral nature as distilleries focus more on special one-off blends and finishing techniques. I’ve recently sampled three new whiskeys that are currently available on local store shelves, but once they’re gone you probably won’t ever see (or taste) them again.
The first is the newest release from Chattanooga Whiskey Co.’s Barrel Finishing Series. For their latest trick, chief product officer Grant McCracken and head distiller Tiana Saul have put together a special blend of five of their high-malt bourbon mash bills and aged them for more than four years before finishing the spirit in pinot noir barrels, specifically from California’s Russian River Valley, where the foggy, cool climate creates lovely and delicate wines.
The resulting spirit was bottled at 95 proof, a level between Chattanooga’s everyday 91 and 111 proof levels. The moderate ABV allows the nuances of the wine barrels to shine through. Pale, runny red in the glass, the whiskey exhibits delightful blueberry and chocolate notes on the nose. Fruity and slightly sweet in the glass, the initial taste showcased both the malt of the mash bill and the dark fruit of the wine barrels, kind of like a delicious muffin.
The finish was relatively long, but didn’t change much over time. Instead, it faded sweetly to a final sweet conclusion. 10/10, would drink again! It’s currently available in select states including Tennessee for $59.99 a bottle.
The World Whiskey Society is known for sourcing unique whiskeys from around the world and finishing them or blending them in ways that create brand-new products. They also create unique packaging that really stands out on the shelf, either in a liquor store or your home bar.
Their latest creations continue WWS’ American West series, with a small batch and a cask-strength version of Wyatt Earp American Single Malt. Both whiskeys come in eye-catching bottles with embossed labels, metal badges affixed to the bottles, and caps shaped after the cylinder of a six-shooter like the Colt .45 that Earp made famous.
Personally, I preferred the Wyatt Earp Small Batch, which may not be the opinion of whiskey lovers who prefer huge-proof products. Both whiskeys are sourced from a distillery from Oklahoma, which makes for a pretty limited number of possible options. Made from 100 percent malted barley, the Small Batch exhibits bourbon-like aromas of chocolate and vanilla behind the buttered-biscuity malt.
It's bottled at 96 proof, and there is a nice balance between grain and barrel that combines to contribute sweet jammy notes with a little dark chocolate. I liken it to a Fig Newton in a glass. Overall, I think this is an outstanding example of an American single malt, and at about $60 a bottle, it’s not too big of a splurge.
The Cask Strength version of Wyatt Earp definitely represents the sheriff’s more aggressive side. The bottle I sampled was one of 245 bottles out of that particular barrel and came in at 119 proof, just a hair below the brand’s stated range of 120 to 135 proof.
Even slightly underproof, this single malt packs a punch. The heat of the alcohol mutes the nose a little bit, concealing those lovely dark-chocolate and citrus notes that I enjoyed in the Small Batch. I guess if I thought hard about it, there was a little hint of cocoa in the nose.
On first attack, the whiskey was a punch to the palate, peppery and slightly minty. It did have a nice tongue-coating mouth feel that contributed to a l-o-o-o-ng finish that eventually cooled the burn and finally revealed the character of the malt.
Proof junkies might love this single malt at $95.50 a bottle, but I think I’ll seek out Earp’s Derringer instead of his six-shooter. Meaning, I preferred the smaller version over the big bang!
