Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link in this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
When Alistair Brogan arrived in America from Scotland, he brought his family, his passion for whisky-making, and a 1,000-gallon copper pot still. Settling in Boulder, Colorado, this former Scot set about crafting what came naturally to him, of course, that being single malt whiskey (‘e’ added upon crossing the Atlantic).
This was no mere whim of a journey – Brogan interned at Arran Distillery at home to build up his distilling skills, but also put thought into the end product’s packaging and marketing. In an interview with Authority Magazine and published on Medium, Brogan spoke about the time and research he put into planning the company and the decision to move to American: “I was so impressed with the brewery and distillery scene [in Colorado]… Of course, whiskey is an age-old part of Scotland’s national identity. What I was seeing in America, however, felt new and exciting, less intimidating, and more adventurous.”
You could say that the rest is history, but this is where the story gets interesting. See, by following the requirements for making Scotch but by doing so in America, Brogan claims (emphasis on) to have created the American Single Malt category: “Since the day we filled our first freshly charred, virgin American Oak barrel with malt whiskey to the day that we filled our first bottle, the American Single Malt Whiskey category was born.”
It was a prescient move, as this category has exploded in popularity and interest, especially in Colorado and the West Coast.
The Boulder Spirits The 10 Essentials American Single Malt is an unpeated, limited-edition whiskey for 2023. Only 1,800 bottles were filled. It is a blend of five barrels, or finishing casks. The casks are one each of an ex-Armagnac, ex-Tawny Port, and ex-PX Sherry.
Armagnac is a type of French brandy often grouped or confused with Cognac. There are three major differences in the production process: the physical regions are distinct, the grape varieties allowed are different, and Armagnac undergoes continuous distillation whereas Cognac is double-distilled. Commercially, Armagnac tends to be produced by small farmers and consumed locally, whereas Cognac has achieved international luxury status (infer as you will what that means in terms of QPR). In whiskey, Armagnac casks impart delicate grape and dried stone fruit notes.
Tawny Port is from Portugal and is an oxidized, sweet, and fortified wine. It can impart rich notes of toasted nuts, caramel, and orange notes.
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PX Sherry is a lush dessert wine that often has the color, consistency, and flavor of molasses (and about the sugar content!). PX refers to the white grape variety, Pedro Ximénez, which is allowed to dry into raisins before being fermented, fortified, and aged in Sherry’s solera system, a fractional blending system of neutral cask aging. PX Sherry adds a raisiny sweetness with notes of dark dried fruits, chocolate, and molasses.
Blended with the three finishing casks were two barrels of Boulder Spirits’ flagship American Single Malt. I think this is an excellent way to allow the base spirit to shine through, especially when more than one type of finishing cask is included in the blend. The final blend was aged for an additional eight weeks to marry the flavors, a nice little getting-to-know-you stretch of time.
I’ve tasted a few spirits that seem overeager in their zeal for finishing barrels that translates to an overwhelming mélange in the glass. The process suggests that the finished whiskey will have subtle and well-incorporated flavors without losing the distinctiveness of the American Single Malt. After all the work of making an ASM, it would be a shame to lose its character.
How successful was the blend? Let’s find out!
Tasting Notes: Boulder Spirits The 10 Essentials American Single Malt
Vital Stats: Aged for an undisclosed amount of time in new American oak, further aged in a mix of finishing casks, and married as a blend for eight weeks; 49.5% ABV; mash bill: 100% malted barley; SRP $64.99/ 750ml bottle.
Appearance: This is a moderate golden brown in color.
Nose: This American Single Malt is decidedly fruity without being overwhelming or sweet. There are notes of red table grapes, honeydew melon, and pineapple skins. On the savory side, I picked up notes of fresh corn and sliced bread. There is a hint of vanilla pods. I’m surprised this isn’t more impacted by the finishing casks, but if subtly was the goal, mission accomplished.
Palate: On the palate, things get a touch more interesting. There’s hints of smoldering campfire, charcoal, and French sea salt. I appreciate that they state outright in their press release that this is unpeated, as the smokiness fooled me. The tannins are grippy and the finish is fruity, showing notes of red raspberries, cantaloupe, and walnut skins.
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