The whiskey wash logo
The World's Most-Visited
Whiskey Website
The World's Most-Visited
Whiskey Website

Trending Stories

Search
American

Whiskey Review: Sierra Nevada x St. George Spirits Ruthless Malt Whiskey

We review Ruthless Malt Whiskey, a St. George Spirits release that is the result of a longtime collaboration with Sierra Nevada Brewing.

OVERALL RATING

7
$75.00
  • Scott Bernard Nelson is a writer, actor, and whiskey reviewer.
Like Conversation
Sierra Nevada x St. George Spirits Ruthless Malt Whiskey (image via Debbie Nelson)

Tasting Notes

About:

St. George distilled seven barrels of Sierra Nevada’s finished Ruthless Rye IPA, and added in a barrel of its own 1997 St. George Single Malt; 90 proof/45% alcohol by volume; limited release, MSRP of $75 for a 750 ml bottle.
Appearance:
Reddish-brown amber, with decent legs on the side of the glass.
Nose:
Noses more like a cider than a whiskey. Dark chocolate, orange blossom, honeysuckle, and potpourri.
Palate:
Has just the slightest hint of rye spice but none of the earthy, grassy undertones. Think marmalade, ginger snaps, and Tang orange powdered drink mix. If there’s such a thing as a Hawaiian Punch of whiskies, this might be it. (That sounds condescending, but it isn’t meant to be. This is a unique whiskey, like nothing I’ve tasted before. Whether that sounds intriguing or off-putting to you is a matter of personal preference.)
Finish:
Comments:
Someone who likes strong wood and oak flavors in their whiskey may not be a fan of this one. It’s crisp, clean, and shows off St. George’s roots as a self-described “eau de vie distillery” – releasing liquors that lean toward light and fruit-forward rather than oaky.rnrnWith only 1,000 bottles released in December, though, you may have trouble finding any, regardless. Sometimes wide distribution isn’t the point. The point can be, as it appears to be here, experimentation and collaboration just for the fun of trying something new. Ruthless Malt Whiskey, if nothing else, is a reminder that whiskies don’t have to exist only in the narrow range the most popular labels and styles represent.

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.

Scott Bernard Nelson

Scott Bernard Nelson is a writer, actor, and whiskey reviewer based in Portland, Oregon. While currently working in higher education, he previously dedicated 22 years to journalism, covering impactful events such as 9/11 in Manhattan, crossing into Iraq with U.S. Marines, and contributing to The Boston Globe's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of abuse in the Catholic Church, which inspired the film "Spotlight." Since 2019, Scott has shared his insights as a whiskey reviewer for The Whiskey Wash.  

All Posts

Latest On The Whiskey Wash

The whiskey wash logo