England's patron saint goes to America. Does good work there.

OK, OK. Enough with the Indian "whisky", politics and opinion.
Let's move on to another type of opinion - my opinions of St. George Single Malt Whiskey.

Even before trying this American single malt, I already had a good taste in my mouth about this product, and that good taste was the taste of the fantastic Hangar One Vodka. Both spirits are produced by St. George Spirits, based in Alameda, California.

I'll have to talk about Hangar One for a minute so you understand why my expectations were so high.

Hangar One "Straight Vodka" starts out life pretty much as a brandy - pot-distilled from viognier wine. Then they blend it with a column still produced wheat vodka. With a soft grapey-delicious nose, this is quite unlike any vodka you've likely tried. The addition of the viognier really does diminish the alcoholic edge one associates with neutral grain spirits. (And yes, I nose and taste vodka just like single malt - and try them at room temperature). I'm not sure if those subtle grape notes will hold up in a cocktail, but it made a fantastic wet martini.

St. George also makes Hangar One in several fruit-infused flavor variations - none of which I have had the pleasure of trying.

On to the single malt...

In the words of St. George:

Okay, let’s start at the beginning. Whiskey starts as beer. I know that it sounds a little weird, but it’s true. So, bearing this in mind, it’s not that big a leap of logic to say that if you distill a more interesting and complex beer, you’ll end up with a more interesting and complex whiskey.
 
Our whiskey starts as a smoky brown ale. Heavily roasted barley provides a mixture of dried cocoa and hazelnut in the aroma, while a measure of the barley has been smoked over alder and beech for added complexity.
 
The fermented beer that comes from this magical mixture of barley is then given our careful attention in small batch distillation. Over the course of a day, fifty gallons of sweet, malty whiskey flow from our two copper pot stills.
 
This beautifully smooth whiskey is then placed in oak casks. We use a variety of cooperage types to age our whiskey. Used Bourbon casks make up the majority of our program. They allow the spirit to breathe without imparting any overwhelming oak characteristics. French oak casks are used to give a layer of soft vanilla and to enhance mouth feel, and port casks to accentuate the cocoa on the palate.
 

My Tasting Notes

Note: My bottle of St.George was culled from "lot 6".

The nose is interesting...and very "not Scotch". It's quite fruity... if given to me blind, I might be inclined to guess that it was a brandy. Similarly, the taste is more akin to a quality brandy than to your average single malt...initially, I didn't detect much malt character on the palate at all. The body is very light and mouth-feel was very delicate. The finish is fruit and ends with the zing of a young spirit, turning slightly bitter at the very end. Later on, all that remains is a pleasant, lightly fruity (apples, mostly)/floral (roses?) remnant.

Left to aerate for a bit brings out some distinct cocoa on the nose and the malt starts to make an appearance on the palate. Adding water did little to change these flavors for me. St.George shows MUCH more complexity than one would expect from such a young spirit.

This is a whiskey that is quite light, very pleasant and very tasty. St. George would be equally welcome as an aperitif or digestif - or dare I say it, accompanying a light summer meal.

I can't wait to offer this to people who "don't like whisk(e)y".

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St. George Single Malt Whiskey
SRP: $52
ABV: 43%

Comments

[Martin]

Where did you track down a bottle of this? Do we know what sort of distribution it will get? It sounds very interesting.

[Doug]

Just a picky note, you brew beer, not distill it. The distilling comes later when you make whisk(e)y. But I'm sure St. George knows that.

[Doug]

OK, re-reading it, I see how the English works there. So I take back my comment. Sorry.

[Erik]

Wow, I guess taste really is indisputable in the end. My girlfriend and I think it tastes just like paint. I'll never buy the stuff again. Anyone want my bottle?