American

Whiskey Review: Bear Fight American Single Malt Whiskey

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Whiskey Review: Bear Fight American Single Malt Whiskey

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Item: Whiskey Review: Bear Fight American Single Malt Whiskey
Rating: 7
Author: Charles Steele

Bear Fight American Single Malt from Next Century Spirits out of Raleigh, North Carolina, bet big on American single malt whiskey. This whiskey is 100% malted barley aged in first-fill bourbon barrels before being finished in sherry and smoked peat casks.

by Charles Steele
May 11, 2025

Charles Steele is an attorney and whiskey enthusiast with a penchant for the peculiar.

Tasting Notes:

About:

If you’ve been around the American whiskey scene at all recently, you know that American Single Malt just became the newest legally protected whiskey in the world. As a specific spirit there are rules and definitions around it’s creation, which legitimizes a distillery, a whiskey, and a brand. Bear Fight American Single Malt from Next Century Spirits out of Raleigh, North Carolina, bet big on this type of whiskey. They have been a recent adopter of the single malt style. This whiskey is 100% malted barley aged in first-fill bourbon barrels before being finished in sherry and smoked peat casks. Taking obvious inspiration from the scotch style of single malt. This whiskey is at least 3 years old.

Appearance:

Straw (Flaxen)

Nose:

This surprised me with an almost Speyside style nose. Lightly peated, green apple skins, fresh grass, flake salt, white grape and praline.

Palate:

A decent amount of the nose translate into the palate, but not nearly as robust or full. Starting off with peat moss and salt, we grow into an appreciable floral rye note, honey comb, black currant, and dates.

Finish:

Soft across the tongue and chest, sweet dark chocolate, light hold, overripe orange before touch of acetone and just a whisp of smoke.

Comments:

If nothing else this is a bottle that will get people talking, the logo and design stand out against a crowded room. The whiskey itself was better than expected to be perfectly honest. I am skeptical of flashy labels and outlandish names. Bear Fight has a lot of fun notes, it is approachable, the notes are easy to find. A big mark in favor of this whiskey is it’s just easy to enjoy.

I’m certainly not treading new ground here, but compared to other 3-year whiskeys, this is certainly worth talking about. I expect this entry-level whiskey will continue to increase the age statement. It needs a bit more depth of flavor to occupy consistent space on a whiskey shelf, at least in my opinion. It’s certainly enjoyable and would easily dissolve into a nice cocktail. It’s a conversation starter on a shelf. I really want to see where this one goes.

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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