If you didn’t catch it on the New Scotch Spirits facebook page, check out the latest episode of “Hmmm… That’s Smoky!” below.
After waiting nearly a month, Patrick finally cracks open the Auld Lang Syne Whiskey samples to check the effects of the aging process. Check him out!
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!
Winter tidings to our fellow New Scots, Albanites, New Yorkers, Americans, and lovers of craft distilled spirits! Today, Patrick and I proudly launch the New Scotch Spirits website; we look forward to keeping you apprised of our efforts in the months ahead.
We’re already three years into our journey to introduce the world to the taste of the hometown we treasure; it’s been an honor to bring together old friends and neighbors in handcrafting spirits that capture the essence of the Town of New Scotland.
We’ve encountered our fair share of challenges, but have thus far overcome all the obstacles in our path. Here’s a quick look at where our company currently stands:
In April 2017, “New Scotch, LLC” was assembled as a limited liability company in the State of New York.
In November 2018, we finally obtained our “Basic Permit” and “Distilled Spirits Plant” license from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
In January 2019, we obtained our New York State Liquor Authority (NYSLA) license and Sales Tax Certificate of Authority.
On the 1st of February, we received our Registration as a Distributor of Alcohol. And just this morning we submitted our second annual tax filing.
As you can see, in the eyes of the law we’re unassailable!
Yet that hasn’t stopped a massively well-funded European trade organization from suing to block some of our trademark applications. Rather than bore you with the details here, head over to our Media page to check out some of the articles covering that legal dispute.
In launching this website, Patrick and I are able to provide context to a project the genesis of which dates back all the way to the late 1990s, when we would post up at the top of my family’s hill in New Scotland and gaze at the Albany skyline, twinkling on the horizon. The “Our Story” section of the site discusses New Scotland’s history, the history of my longtime collaborative friendship with Patrick, and the mission we seek to fulfill in distilling whiskeys, a bourbon, a vodka, and a rum sourced from grains grown on the fields of New Scotland (Indian Ladder Farms and Lime Kiln Farm).
The “Our Team” page provides a brief snapshot of the many people who have come together to make New Scotch Spirits a reality, and who’ve each breathed life into some critical aspect of this noble effort.
The “Spirits” page surveys our several brands and the label designs which help add flavor to the flavor of our flavor! Shout out to the Albany Distilling Company and Stoutridge Distillery for being our hometown compatriots in the distillation piece.
Spend some time poking around the site; there’s lots more to keep you engrossed.
Ultimately, though, the most important section of our site is the Mailing List signup form at the bottom of each page! Though we pledge not to spam you with scores of updates (we’re too busy with our primary jobs to author too much junk mail), we really do need your support. Your interest is the most valuable asset to this company as we work to build it from scratch, so please register for our mailing list and follow us on our social media sites: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram. We also have a corporate Snapchat account if you’re looking for scantily-clad pictures of the barrels in which we’re aging our spirits.
Our flagship spirit—a single malt whiskey known as Auld Lang Syne Whiskey—has been aging for nearly two years; it’ll be four years old when we release it in 2021, along with a vodka and a companion corn whiskey. That’s when our dreams truly come alive. We hope you’ll be there, right along with us!
Thank you so much for your support, everybody. Check out our KickStarter page to reserve your piece of what will someday join the rich canon of New Scottish history.