Review by: Raygun

American Single Cask is another new-ish independent bottler focused on American whiskies. Single casks, cask strength, uncolored, and not chill-filtered. This’ll be my first American dead distillery; Blinking Owl closed down around 2024. Thanks to dustbunna for the sample. Initially sampled blind, with additions after the reveal in italics. Rested about 15 minutes.

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Distilleries: Blinking Owl 

Bottler: American Single Cask

Region/style: American single malt whiskey 

ABV: 66.3%. Misprint on the label, which says 63.3%. Cask strength.  

Age: 5 years. Distilled on June 1, 2018 and bottled on May 3, 2024. 

Cask type: New oak, toasted but not charred. Cask #0002, 186 bottles.

Color: 1.7 burnt umber. Natural color and non-chill-filtered.

Price: $110

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Nose: Smells like…rye? I was expecting a sherry bomb from the color, but that’s not what I’m getting on the nose. There’s oak, caramel, and mint. Some cherry. Definitely thinking American at this point. Picking up cola now.

Palate: Yes, seems like rye or a high rye bourbon. Oak, caramel, some cola. Spicier here, and there’s the mint. Some serious oak. I’m thinking has to be around 8 years or older. Surely virgin oak. Drinks pretty easily though; I doubt it’s cask strength. OK, it’s very cask strength. Still doesn’t drink like it’s 66%. Now lots of cherry coke.  

Finish: Rich oak, cola, vanilla. Not as spicy here. Herbal notes still present, but it’s mostly a big oak hug. Not so rye-like here. I still think it’s American, but now single malt feels like a distinct possibility. More Vanilla Coke than cherry coke here.

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Guess: I feel very certain it’s American. Seemed like rye at first, but less so as it progressed. Now thinking it’s more likely American single malt. A category I have little familiarity with, so I won’t even try to guess the distillery. Not cask strength; more like 50%. Virgin oak, probably 7-8 years as I haven’t seen many ASMW older than that.   

Post-reveal thoughts: Mostly not too surprised, except for the ABV. Shocked that it’s 66%; it drinks well under. I’m not sure I’ve had anything from a toasted, uncharred cask. Produces some interesting notes.   

Conclusion: I’m a fan, though I’m guessing I won’t be coming across many more Blinking Owl releases. I don’t always like the heavy use of new oak in American single malt, but it works nicely here. Maybe the lack of char helps? I’m not sure what makes the difference. Impressed by the drinkability at full strength. One of the better ASMWs I’ve tried.

Score: 84

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
• 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
• 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)