Final fall, North Carolina’s Southern Distilling Firm jumped into the more and more crowded world of American single malt in a reasonably large manner. With a portfolio dominated by house-distilled bourbons, single malt was one thing of a stunning addition for one of many state’s largest distillers and contract producers. And they seem like going all in on the class, providing bulk single malt manufacturing to contract purchasers (since 2024, in an obvious first for the business).
Most American single malt as we speak is made on pot stills like the old fashioned producers throughout the pond. However Southern Distilling makes their single malt basically like they make their bourbon, on an 18-inch diameter steady column nonetheless towering 40 ft inside their Statesville distillery. This inaugural launch was aged for a wholesome six years in toasted American white oak barrels and bottled at cask energy. It was launched in restricted portions (and half-sized bottles), however we bought our palms on a pattern. Let’s test it out.
Southern Star American Single Malt Whiskey Assessment
Even after six years, the casks have imbued this single malt with minimal coloration, solely a golden, copper-tinged hue. Nonetheless, that toasted oak is well-represented on the nostril with undertones of heat sawdust and nougatine that complement greater tone notes of butterscotch sweet, dry straw, meadow flowers, and spearmint. Conventional pot-distilled single malt typically showcases the grain in the beginning, however the malt is considerably secondary right here, blooming with bready hints of soggy cereal solely after it opens a bit within the glass. It’s additionally surprisingly gentle on the nostril for a single malt, by no means thoughts a cask energy expression.
The palate exhibits extra greater proof vitality with an preliminary wave of peppery oak and barely bitter baking chocolate that comes throughout a contact sharp. A silky midpalate of caramelized sugar, clove syrup, and apple chips smooths these edges whereas sustaining a simmering, black pepper heat. The end is good and honeyed with notes of recent oak and milk chocolate and subtler undertones of orange zest and amaretto.
It doesn’t fairly match the heft and texture of conventional pot-distilled American single malts, nevertheless it’s nearer than I might have anticipated. The cask energy possible provides some breadth of taste and weight to the mouthfeel. It’s a high quality single malt, though possibly not as dynamic at a extra approachable proof. With contract manufacturing in full swing, we’ll possible discover this single malt behind different craft labels (if we haven’t already). I’ll be curious to see what the NDPs would possibly do with it.
114.8 proof.
B+ / $50 (375ml)
Southern Star American Single Malt Whiskey
USD50
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