American

Whiskey Del Bac Frontera Review

What happens when Arizona mesquite smoke meets Spanish sherry casks? This rare 1,400-bottle release reveals a unique American whiskey unlike any other.

OVERALL RATING

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Tasting Notes

About:

Whiskey Del Bac is an American Single Malt distillery specializing in Mesquite wood. The distillery in located in Arizona in the American Southwest. A family business started in 2011, it has grown from two offerings to now include specialty yearly releases like this bottle the Normandie. Taking inspiration from their home in the American Southwest, this brand offers a unique exploration into American Single Malt with a Southwest twist.

The story behind this limited release bottling of Frontera is that Whiskey del Bac got their hands on some 500 liter Pedro Ximenez Sherry Botas (Butts) and decided to finish their Classic (non-smoked) malt whiskey in it. That process took 13 additional months to complete.

From Whiskey Del Bac, “Frontera is an annual limited release. This year, we took our unsmoked American single malt and blended it with some of our mesquited-not-peated whiskey for the gentlest kiss of smoke. Originally aged in new American White Oak, we then finish the blend in Pedro Ximénez Sherry botas. There are only 1,400 bottles nationwide. Each has an ABV of 48.5% and is 97 proof. This American Single Malt is named after the medieval city, Jerez de la Frontera, which sits on what was once the edge of Spain and is known as the world capital of sherry wine.”
Appearance:
Mahogany with some medium slow legs.
Nose:
On the nose we experience a lovely sherry wine influence with juicy fruits and some winter spices blending into a rather infectious nose. With more exposure we find a warm cinnamon, Bengal spice tea, honey, and just a touch of Annise.
Palate:
We start with a bite of sherry wine before warming up and showing off a little maple syrup creaminess. Some dark sugars in oak. Almost like the very end of a Chai with bitter cinnamon. Robust profile of oak and tingling spices.
Finish:
Watery mouthfeel with a medium finish. The hold consists of nice red grapes. As it fades and the lingering alcohol begins to warm up you find tobacco leaf tingling the tongue.
Comments:
This is a nice sipper with plenty of earthy flavors with exposure into the mesquite wood for many to enjoy. I wanted just a bit more and wish it opened up to really dig into the mesquite-not peat smoke. I think that is such a unique profile and want to explore it more. I can see this whiskey adding a few more years and really exploding as a wood and complex sugar bomb. Right now it’s a great sipper and something worthy of exploring!

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.

Charles Steele

Charles Steele, a Portland-based attorney, is a native of the Pacific Northwest. His legal background provides him with an analytical approach to understanding whiskey and other aged spirits. Primarily a legal writer, freelancing for The Whiskey Wash offers Charles a unique opportunity to showcase his versatility as a writer. Although his preference lies with whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails, he has a profound appreciation for all unique and unconventional liquors, from Malört to Ojen - if it's peculiar, he's intrigued.

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