Samples of Auld Lang Syne Whiskey, NSS’s flagship spirit, sporting the fashionable honey-brown hue you’d expect from a 2-year-old single malt whiskey…
I received a selection of samples from our first batch of single malt whiskey today—many thanks to the Albany Distilling Company for its fine craftsmanship! It really is exciting to see how the spirit is aging as the barrels are subjected to the shifting weather in New York State, from summer to winter and back. It’s these weather fluctuations which drive the barrels to expand and contract, pushing and pulling at the wood’s sugars and charred surface. This is what gives whiskey, or any barrel-aged spirit, its color.
It’s now been almost two years in the barrel; we anticipate aging it for close to four years by the time we take it to market in 2021. I last saw this whiskey just after it was born. Like all spirits, it was completely clear. I tasted it in its barreled proof, which was 125. I say 125 because at this point, there has been evaporation in the barrel, known as the “angel’s share”. This means the proof now may even be higher. We know this is happening because of the color it’s taken on. The current hue is what you can expect from a whiskey, ranging from chestnut to lightly-tanned leather. I fully expect it to gain a bit more color as it continues to age.
I tasted this single malt whiskey before it was barreled, and the taste was… promising! That’s when I called my partner and declared that we were onto something. It was a rewarding tasting experience and boasted everything I could have asked for. (Props to Tyler LaCorata, the master distiller who brought life to our recipe.)
A great single malt gives a very different tasting experience than, say, a rye or wheat or bourbon whiskey, which are often “one note”. With those, the first taste is often the same as the finish. That’s not what I wanted in a single malt—and it sure as hell wasn’t what I tasted! This single malt has a story to tell with each sip. It has a clearly defined start, middle, and end. Some say it takes you on a journey each time it touches your lips. Albeit, without the aging, the journey was played to the tune of brass instruments blasting in my ear compared to the desired balance of an orchestra. At that point, time would only tell how the whiskey would develop.
Fast forward almost 2 years and so much has changed in this whiskey… and, for that matter, this world! These barrels have gone through some really hot summers and some really extreme winters. These environmental changes have contributed to developing this single malt into what will be a great spirit. I was fortunate enough to taste samples from each of our barrels and I declare that I am now a believer in going after single barrel spirits. Jesse and I are debating whether to blend our barrels to have a consistent product for this first release of Auld Lang Syne Whiskey, but I admit that I see how special it is to have a whiskey that will never be like any other from another barrel.
Now, onto the taste:
This whiskey still has aspects of being a bit young, with a little of the brass band I mentioned earlier, but it’s certainly on its way to being an orchestra. The harshness of the fresh spirit has all but disappeared, and there are some really nice wood characters and the slightest hint of smoke from the char of the barrel. The middle of the taste brings some subtle notes of vanilla, apple, pear, and even a bit of tobacco. The finish isn’t completely developed, but it has the caramel and some chocolate flavors in there. Over time I expect the finish to develop even more.
I really am excited to see how this develops in the coming 24 months. Not only because it’s an elaborate experiment with the weather and how the barrels react, but because I know that Jesse and I are creating a great product to honor our hometown of New Scotland, New York. I know the people of Albany County and the surrounding regions will definitely enjoy this single malt whiskey, and the homage it pays to the region that raised us.
Can liquor have a local taste? I’m proud to solemnly affirm: YES!