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Whiskey Review: Defiant Single Malt

The makers of Defiant Single Malt think they've found a way around the barrel. We review this alternatively aged spirit to see for ourselves.

OVERALL RATING

8
$149.99
  • Carin Moonin is a Portland-based whiskey enthusiast and writer.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Defiant comes from Blue Ridge Distillers in Bostic, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains between Asheville and Charlotte. The water for the whiskey is drawn from an aquifer under their distillery, and they’re just as proud of their three other ingredients: yeast, premium barley cracked on a custom roller mill, and toasted American white oak. The whiskey is aged only 60 days, in a proprietary process to increase the oak’s contact with the whiskey.
Appearance:
Defiant’s color resembles a newly redone, wide-plank cherry floor.
Nose:
The nose is just as fruity, rich, and buttery.
Palate:
A bit sharp on the palate and grassy. There’s quite a disconnect between the nose and how it begins at first taste.
Finish:
It does finish sweeter than it starts, but not as complex as the nose would have you believe.
Comments:
I wish it coated my mouth more, but I tend to get that with single malts; they often taste a little “flat” to me; they’re like a movie other people adore and quote incessantly but that I can’t get into (hi, Princess Bride!). Maybe that makes me defiant?

But for a single malt, I enjoyed it more than expected. I’d give it an 8 for its rich nose, finish, and my delight that it’s not at all peaty.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Carin Moonin

Carin Moonin swapped a 5th-floor walkup in Hoboken, NJ, for a house in SE Portland a decade ago and hasn't looked back. She appreciates Portland's vibrant whiskey scene, finding it complements both the weather and her mood. Carin enjoys exploring the diverse world of brown liquor and its many facets. Her writing has been featured in publications such as Salon.com, DailyDot.com, Willamette Week, Portland Monthly, and others. When she's not indulging in whiskey or writing about it, you can find Carin running, reading, or on the hunt for free samples in grocery stores.

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