The Original Santa Fe Whiskey Mesquite Smoked American Single Malt

Batch #13. I genuinely don't comprehend the assessments from this site or other commentators. Perhaps your senses are dulled from smoking cigars. Upon initial tasting, this was among the least appealing spirits I've encountered, comparable to early batches of Wyoming Whiskey. Smoke masked a terribly bitter product. I will concede it improved after some aeration, leading me to increase the rating by half a star and consider the possibility of a flawed early batch. Furthermore, I don't believe this site or its reviewers adequately consider value. If a restaurant charges $25 for a burger, it should be exceptional compared to expectations for a $10 burger. The Quiet Man 8yr Double Gold San Francisco Spirits, outstanding taste and value, priced at $44.95, rated 86 by this site. This product, aged 2 years (and I'm not dogmatic about age; I believe the product has other deficiencies), costs $44.95, rated 91 by this site; that says it all.

Sampled neat from a small grappa glass after several minutes of resting. This is a sample from a direct-to-consumer subscription I received as a gift. The aroma of this whiskey is very faint. Hints of apple skins, cooked grains, and ethanol. On the palate, it's peppery and sour at the same time. There's a bit of dried apple, a hint of jalapeño against a backdrop of cereal grains. I'm finding it difficult to discern any distinct flavors, and more importantly, I'm not compelled to search for them. This is a rather unremarkable whiskey. I need to be fair. It reminds me of the Suntory Toki Japanese whiskey. I also found that one to be a bit on the dull side when sipped neat. It improved with soda in a highball, and I suspect this would too, but I'm unlikely to find out since I don't see myself buying a bottle.

In my experiences, I've found it challenging to appreciate some of the more traditional peaty and smoky flavors of scotch, but this neat little drink suited me well. When I first smelled it, I thought it would be like many scotches I didn't really enjoy; there was a lot of smoke and peat and a faint trace of lilac, but it's hard to distinguish over the smoke of this one. My first taste felt a bit overwhelmed by the smoke, so I swirled it in my glass a little, and it began to open up with some dry berries and cream. It had a very pleasing mouthfeel, but the smoke is the main characteristic here. Quite bitter, yet still smooth. Scotch might not be my preference, but I can enjoy this.

I sampled this 2 oz pour blind. The aroma was unusual; I perceived notes of peach, apricot, and something reminiscent of scotch. Upon tasting, I was fairly certain it wasn't bourbon or scotch, so I guessed American whiskey, which turned out to be a good call. I found very little sweetness. There's a tart citrus note and a prominent mesquite smokiness. It definitely tastes young and has a significant bite for its lower proof. The finish is peppery, with a smoky, licorice aftertaste. It was enjoyable trying this one blind. It offers a distinctive flavor profile, but it's not something I'd likely buy for myself.

A well-balanced American Single Malt Whiskey from Santa Fe Spirits in New Mexico, crafted using mesquite instead of peat for smoking their malted barley. It was aged in American oak barrels for two years in a climate-controlled facility. It possesses a rich beginning with notes of white chocolate, vanilla bean, marzipan, and floral & wood elements; a complex middle adds hints of hickory wood, black currant, rhubarb & smoke; culminating in a balanced conclusion of medium length with notes of raspberry & malted barley. 'Mesquite is among the most costly woods in America.' April / September 2019 / July / October / December 2020 / August 2022

This is unbelievably good. I typically favor Campbeltown peat or briny Oban notes, but this smells like a Lagavulin and tastes entirely different. I'm truly savoring this one. I will acquire another bottle and/or explore other varieties. Some American malts can be a bit dull; this is not one of them. I purchased it for the experience and am pleased it was recommended by my local shop and even more delighted my local store stocked it.