Bear Fight American Single Malt

BEAR FIGHT AMERICAN SINGLE MALT (Produced and aged in North Carolina in First Fill Bourbon Barrels for at least 3 years, with a finishing period in Peated Scotch & Sherry Casks) *APPEARANCE: Straw color with thick, clinging droplets forming on the sides of the Glencairn glass. *NOSE: This doesn't present as a typical American Single Malt. Imagine a moderately peated Single Malt with a light touch of peat. It has a base of peat layered with tart apple, malted grain, fresh butter, hay, wood spice, a light honey sweetness, and a surprising punch of stinging heat. The empty glass carried the scent of a beekeeper's supply room, a blend of beeswax and smoke. *NEAT: Sweet notes of vanilla and honey come first, followed by barrel spice, malted grain, dried fruit, and raw almond. The back of the palate encounters barrel spice, black pepper, and a slight bitterness (reminiscent of lemon peel or unripe pineapple). There's a distinct, non-Scotch-like warmth in the finish that radiates down into the chest... and you might wonder, 'where's the peat?' It appears right at the end, leaving a lingering, ashy aftertaste on the palate. *SPLASH: A small addition of water brings out lemon zest on the nose. The palate's warmth lessens in the finish, and the leather and raw almond notes become more pronounced. *VERDICT: This expression was a complete surprise. I had acquired it a few months prior, and seeing it was made in NC, I assumed it was aged in small barrels or perhaps rapidly aged with wood spirals, so I initially put it back. A few days later, an advertisement for it appeared on my Facebook feed, featuring an endorsement from a well-known personality. While I'm not easily swayed by celebrity endorsements, this one prompted me to investigate further. I finally decided to purchase it recently and am pleased with the decision. This is arguably the most 'Scotch-like' American Whiskey I've encountered and is quite reasonably priced, suggesting the endorsement was genuine. It's not universally available, but if you spot it, it's certainly worth around $40 in my opinion.

AROMA Woody, dry malt, cereal sweetness, banana chips, tree fruit, Nilla Wafers, and a hint of grass. A weak and unimpressive smell that comes across as faint. TASTE Caramel, grassy malt, cereal sweetness, banana chips, dried tree fruit, vanilla cake, and baking spice. More pronounced than the aroma, but still rather unremarkable. It lacks depth and seems dull and lifeless. FINISH Short to medium length -> Caramel, banana chips, and some spice.

Initially, you get hay, a little cinnamon/wood spice, and apple skin. This is followed by sherry, a touch of honey, and clear nuttiness. A hint of the sherry sweetness shows up toward the conclusion, which finishes with a gentle, peaty dryness. The finish lasts from short to medium. It's a respectable single malt. This is a mellow drink, not overwhelming. It bears some resemblance to a more intricate Monkey Shoulder.

On the nose, expect orchard fruits alongside vanilla wafers and hay. The palate mirrors the fruitiness, offering sweetness with notes of sherry and white pepper. The finish brings more sherry, a touch of smoke, and a dry white pepper that lingers. A very enjoyable pour.

Pleasantly surprised! Sweet and smooth, similar to most Irish and Japanese whiskies. It's rare that the bottle's description matches the taste, but they perfectly captured the flavor of "pecan." An easy-drinking spirit that doesn't cause heartburn.

Very disappointed it resembled a scotch and was aged in sherry casks. The bottle gave no indication of this, and I dislike both. I would never have purchased it.