I recently attended a Panel & Tasting at the Astor Wine Center in NYC for American Single Malt Craft Distillers. The panel was hosted by Heather Greene and was comprised of the following Master Distillers:
- Jared Himstedt of Balcones who provided “Texas Single Malt Single Barrel #4749”
- Paul Hletko of FEW Spirits who provided “Single Malt Whisky”
- Christian Krogstad of House Spirits who provided “Westward Single Cask Rum Finish”
- Ian Thomas of Virginia Distillery Co. who provided “Single Malt Re-toasted Wine Cask”
- Rob Dietrich of Stranahan’s who provided “Sherry Cask Finish”
- Matt Hoffman of Westland who provided “Peat Week 2017”
The panel discussion was about American Single Malts; how they are regulated, listed on menus, viewed by the public, and future changes to the Federal laws. The panel also stressed the fact that age, region, grain, wood, etc. all make the whisky not always the age.
Out of the six I was familiar with Balcones, FEW, and Stranahan’s. I am a big fan of FEW and I keep a bottle of their bourbon on my bar. Stranahan’s has somewhat of a cult following as people wait outdoors for days to buy a bottle of their Snowflake expression. Of the samples I tasted, Balcones and Westland were my favorites, with Balcones being my first choice. The cost of the bottles tasted were not given and some were not available in the store for purchase.
The whiskey boom is still happening and small craft distilleries continue to open in the United States. Like any fast developing market or business, some will be good and some will be shit. Single Malt Whisky is defined as: Whisky produced at a single distillery using malted barley as the only grain mash bill. America Single Malt currently has no clear or set definition. The discussion was interesting but as I sat and listened, my spidy sense tingled on two items.
One, I had trouble understanding the direction panel was going with the rules and regulations they wanted to help create. Some said they are working with the Federal Government to create definitions, but I kept hearing experimental renegade-esq comments. Single Malt Scotch has very specific rules, as does Bourbon from Kentucky. So, does that mean everyone wants law and order but the freedom of the wild west? I found it confusing, but the whisky was good so I kept listening
Two, I noticed that two of distillers were limiting their comments and not answering questions in detail. I thought it might be a personality thing, but recently I learned that one of the distilleries has just sold to major corporation. I do not hold that against the distiller/owner because it costs a small fortune to run a distillery. I cannot fault someone for making a business decision. However, I can choke on the irony of someone on a panel promoting small craft distilleries while in the middle of sale to a corporation.
I enjoyed all the whisky’s I tasted but the price range for some was a bit high. I expected this because there are economics to producing and selling whisky. To be honest, the prices were pushing the limits for NAS whisky, but then I remembered a line from the movie “Bottle Shock”. In a scene, the California wine makers pass the hat to raise the money to send one person to France for competition. They line was, “If he wins, we all win.” In real life, the wine maker won and California wine took off around the world. I can see this being true for American Small Craft Single Malt Distilleries if we all start supporting them.
The prices ranged from $55 to $90 for 750ml bottles from the six distilleries available that night in the Astor Store. Make sure you are on the lookout for American Single Malts.
If you like it, it drink it!
If you like it, drink it!
