Whiskey Review: Pine Barrens American Single Malt

A rounded expression of light char, toasted bread, and cinnamon hits immediately, but is soon disrupted by a perceived bitterness. The bitterness isn’t grassy as you’d expect from concentrated hops, but woody, which indicates to me that the oak presence dominates the hoppiness I was earlier concerned with. There is an unfortunate ‘doctor’s office’ flavor that lingers on the palate for several seconds post-imbibe, which finishes ultimately with a light dusting of cocoa powder. For all the angularity here, each odd nuance plays off one another in an accidentally cohesive way. Final Thoughts: This bird is quite odd. It promises a deviation from the norm and certainly delivers. I can see that die-hard fans of the Blue Point barleywine will seek this out as a unique supplement to their favorite strong ale, but whisky fans may shudder at the frazzled approach and potential over-oaking. Additionally, the lack of beer-like character renders the more complicated and costly process as unnecessary and excessive. Decent whisky, but not worth the price or effort to obtain. Score: 70/100 [SHOP FOR A BOTTLE OF PINE BARRENS AMERICAN SINGLE MALT]