Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Del Bac. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review.
Sitting at my desk in the Pacific Northwest, sipping on a Scottish style single malt out of Arizona that was smoked over mesquite and finished in Extra Añejo Tequila barrels is about as melting pot USA as you can get. Of the American single malts that attempt to go smokey, I would say Del Bac is going about it in a uniquely correct way.
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Del Bac is a young distillery based out of Tucson. Originally the owners ran a custom furniture business. Their foray into the distilling world was born from a love of Scotch and a desire to find a way to Americanize the flavors while maintaining the integrity of the Scottish traditions behind distilling.
I was intrigued by the combination of flavors and creativity behind the Del Bac Distiller’s Cut for 2020. Not only were they utilizing their mesquite smoking process (instead of the traditional peat smoking that Scotch undergoes), but they were using different barrels for the final aging than would typically be utilized overseas.
The incorporation and combination of mesquite smoking and aging in tequila barrels truly imbues this spirit with flavors that are regionally distinct to the USA but an interesting nod to our neighbors to the south. Also, I applaud the use of higher quality tequila barrels so that the pairing of sipping tequila with a smoky single malt allows a rich tapestry of flavors to marry and come forth as you drink.
Tasting Notes: Del Bac Distiller’s Cut Fall 2020
Vital Stats: Bottled at cask strength, the ABV comes in at 57.25%. Only 798 bottles are in the 2020 batch. The whiskey is finished in extra añejo tequila barrels as well as bourbon barrels. Priced at $80, it is already sold out at the distillery.
Appearance: It has an amber hue with a bit of orange to it.
Nose: Brown sugar and smoke are the first notes to hit the nose. The smoke, while similar to a peated scotch, has a slight dryness to it versus the moss and bark notes associated with the Islay fare. While it carries some of the punchiness of Laphroig, it is not as overwhelming as some peated scotches can be. After you wade through the smoky elements there is a fruit base that takes hold that centers on the richer dried fruits such as raisin and prune.
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Palate: The first sips hit with a bit of a medicinal note, again reminiscent of a heavily peated Scotch. There is also a strong leather flavor accompanied by the earthy notes of the high desert sands. There is a sharp prickle of heat that warms but never overtakes the flavors. After a few sips the pungent qualities give way to the buttery and fruit notes that really help this whiskey shine on its own without needing to be compared to its predecessors.
A splash of water tamps down the smoke and lets a bit of caramel shine though along with a more present flavor of pear and soft apple.
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