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Whiskey Review: Sacred Stave Single Malt Whiskey

We review Sacred Stave Single Malt Whiskey, an American single malt from a popular Arizona brewery that's been aged in ex-Arizona wine barrels.

OVERALL RATING

7
$47.00
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Sacred Stave Single Malt Whiskey

Tasting Notes

About:

90 proof (45% abv); available in Arizona; made from 100% American malted barley; a bottle retails for $47; aged in Arizona wine casks.
Appearance:
It’s a deep amber, and when you swish it around in your glass, it doesn’t really make legs it just kind of sticks to the side of the glass in one solid line.
Nose:
Green apples and ripe pears, followed by a deep, oaky pinot noir. Pipe tobacco, cloves, vanilla and caramel add sweetness. The wine barrels did most of the heavy lifting to add these rich and varied scents.
Palate:
The texture is smooth and spicy, which makes for a tingly and silky mouthfeel. The cinnamon and allspice in the beginning are nice, but I think the wine is a little overwhelming and the nuances are there but hard to find. The whole experience is a little like eating a layered fruitcake, with notes of candied almond, tobacco, leather, vanilla, caramel leading off. While all those flavors are doing their thing, there’s a build up of tannin and cinnamon that build quickly and lead into a bitter woody and vinous flavor. The finish is dry, lingering and tastes like dark cherries and dates. The brewers at SanTan certainly came out of the gate with a product that has big, unique flavors. I really enjoy the satin mouthfeel, it’s reminiscent of single malt Irish whiskies.
Finish:
Comments:
I thought at first that I didn’t like this whiskey, but after letting it open up for a bit, I think I can appreciate the delicacies of it a little better. The wine can be a little overpowering for the other background flavors. The mouthfeel is really nice, and I think it’s a solid example of how you can taste terroir.

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.

Shauna McKnight

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