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American

Breuckelen Brownstone Six Year Malt

$75.00

OVERALL
RATING

8

Whiskey Review: Breuckelen Brownstone Six Year Malt

Tasting Notes:

About:
100 proof, 50% ABV. Aged six years in charred new oak barrels with a production of 1000 bottles. ~ $75 per 750ml bottle.
Appearance:
A dark copper or bronze. Deep red similar to maple syrup. In the glass, found long, sparse legs.
Nose:
First impression was fruity but sharp. Definitely took a good 10 minutes nosing this one here and there. Upon further inspection, found a mix of Granny Smith apple mixed with cantaloupe and a touch of amarena cherry. I know that may sound strange, but it’s there.
Palate:
The flavors of this one matched up with the nose. Green apple and honey with the addition of Earl Grey tea. I had a sip of water to reset the palate and the sweeter elements changed to a toasted green tea. It was unexpected, but enticing and in the background was an essence of salinity.
Finish:
Comments:
This was a fun one from nose to finish. I appreciated the complexity throughout the experience. It definitely took a few visits to nail down what was going on in the glass. The fact that it’s 100 proof was also a plus, allowing bolder flavors to show themselves. That said, this malted whiskey is well balanced and it is the first batch released. Yes, I’ll call this a win and am curious as to what the next batches will have in store.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Breuckelen Distilling. 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 towards the bottom of this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.

Breuckelen Distilling, located in the Brooklyn area of New York City, is something of a pioneer when it comes to craft spirits from that state. Having been around for a decade now, they’ve firmly established themselves as a solid local whiskey distiller, covering the bases with some bourbon, rye and wheat style offerings, among others. They’ve now strayed into the malt whiskey category as well, recently unveiling an expression they describe as a “riff on a Scottish classic.”

“I love the nuance created by using local ingredients and local methods and how those environmental factors influence the way a whiskey tastes,” said Breuckelen master distiller Brad Estabrooke to The Whiskey Wash in an email when asked by us about this release. “Around the world malts are made, generally, following the same recipe. With such diverse environments to draw from, malts offer the widest variety of flavor profiles. I have so many great memories of tasting through a table full of single malts with friends, discovering the differences.  I always wanted to be a part of that.”

It’s true, there is currently an ever-growing number of American malt whiskey producers these days. I think it’s exciting. More innovation and experimentation. As more producers emerge in America, certain regions may emerge as premier sources for certain varietals of barley. I’m sure there will be a multitude of opinions. Many of us are proud of our local fares and there’s nothing wrong with that.

In regards to their style, Breuckelen Distilling prides themselves on the use of traditional methodology along with a mix of experimentation. Having been around since 2010, I’m sure there’s been a fair amount of trial and error. For production, the company uses a Coffey style still for the intention of a cleaner and softer spirit. This malt whiskey is their oldest offering as a six-year versus other whiskeys ranging from two to four years old.

Brownstone Malt Whiskey
Brownstone Brownstone Six Year Malt (image via Kenji Mizumori/The Whiskey Wash)

Tasting Notes: Breuckelen Brownstone Six Year Malt

Vital Stats: 100 proof, 50% ABV. Aged six years in charred new oak barrels with a production of 1000 bottles. ~ $75 per 750ml bottle.

Appearance: A dark copper or bronze. Deep red similar to maple syrup. In the glass, found long, sparse legs.

Nose: First impression was fruity but sharp. Definitely took a good 10 minutes nosing this one here and there. Upon further inspection, found a mix of Granny Smith apple mixed with cantaloupe and a touch of amarena cherry. I know that may sound strange, but it’s there.

Palate: The flavors of this one matched up with the nose. Green apple and honey with the addition of Earl Grey tea. I had a sip of water to reset the palate and the sweeter elements changed to a toasted green tea. It was unexpected, but enticing and in the background was an essence of salinity.

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