The Very Best American Whiskeys 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

The American whiskey class has been rising exponentially during the last decade. Rye whiskey has seen a tremendous resurgence, whereas American malt whiskey has emerged as an vital new class within the American whiskey universe.

Moreover, the emergence of American blended whiskeys and the rise of unbiased blenders and bottlers have considerably expanded the vary of obtainable aroma and style profiles. Add to that the presence of round 2,000 craft distillers, a lot of that are devising new mash payments and creating progressive distillation and maturation strategies, and you’ll’t assist however conclude that we’re in a golden age of American whiskey.

This 12 months the San Francisco World Spirits Competitors (SFWSC) judged tons of of American whiskey expressions throughout greater than a dozen totally different classes. Right now we take a look at the finalists within the rye, American single malt, Tennessee, wheat, American blended, Particular Barrel completed, flavored and corn whiskey classes. On Thursday we are going to take a look at the bourbon classes.

Based in 2000, the SFWSC is the oldest competitors in North America and the biggest spirits judging on the planet. A complete of 70 judges from around the globe evaluated roughly 5,000 spirits over two weeks in April 2022.

The competitors is organized by the Tasting Alliance, a corporation based by Anthony Dias Blue, and along with the SFWSC contains spirit competitions in New York and Singapore and wine competitions in San Francisco and New York.

There have been three finalists within the Better of Class Rye Whiskey class: Whistle Pig, The Boss Hog VIII: LapuLapu’s Pacific, Rye Whiskey, 52.4% ABV, 750 ml; Lock Inventory and Barrel, 21 YO Straight Rye Whisky, 55.5% ABV, 750 ml and New England Barrel Firm, Single Barrel Choose Rye, 60.35% ABV, 750 ml.

This 12 months’s SFWSC judging produced a trifecta of completely beautiful rye whiskey expressions. All of the finalists are world-class and are simply among the many finest rye whiskeys ever produced.

The Whistle Pig LapuLapu is a robust, complicated rye whiskey named after a legendary Filipino warrior LapuLapu. He led the resistance to the Spanish conquest of the Philippines within the sixteenth century and held off Spanish occupation for greater than 40 years.

The rye whiskey is completed in a excessive toast, small batch cask of Philippine rum, therefore the affiliation with the nation’s legendary warrior. LapuLapu was additionally answerable for killing the Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan, the discoverer of the Philippine islands, therefore additionally it is the sequel to Whistle Pig’s Magellan Atlantic rum expression.

The rye gives up lush tropical fruit notes, together with spicy cinnamon, caramel and vanilla on the nostril. On the palate, there are espresso and chocolate notes, together with citrus zest and candy dried fruit. It’s barely drying, with an extended, candy, spicy end, adopted by lingering pepper and a few milk chocolate notes.

Lock Inventory and Barrel is a 21 YO rye whiskey produced on the Alberta Distillery in Calgary. Extremely-aged rye whisky expressions are uncommon and this one is outstanding. It gives up aromas of cinnamon and creamy vanilla on the nostril. On the palate, it has a crème brûlée like high quality. It’s semi-sweet, and easy, with tropical fruit notes. The end is lengthy and spicy, that includes cinnamon and hints of nutmeg.

The New England Barrel Firm, Single Barrel Choose Rye Whiskey is produced in New Hampshire. It reveals cinnamon on the nostril, together with a spread of fruit aromas. On the palate, it’s creamy, with tropical fruit notes and an extended, fruity end.

Within the Better of Class Tennessee Whiskey, two expressions, each from historic producers, are vying for the highest honor: Jack Daniel’s 10 YO Tennessee Whiskey, 48.5% ABV, 750 ml and George Dickel Bottled in Bond, Distilling Season Spring 2007 Whisky, 50% ABV, 750 ml.

The Jack Daniel’s gives up pronounced vanilla and caramel aromas on the nostril, together with a touch of black pepper. On the palate, there may be caramel and extra black pepper, adopted by vanilla and tropical fruit notes. The end is basic Jack – lengthy, candy, creamy and fruity.

The George Dickel could be very creamy on the nostril, with vanilla and tropical fruit notes. On the palate, it’s candy and creamy, with pronounced tropical fruit flavors. The end is lengthy, that includes candy, dried tropical fruit notes.

The American Single Malt Whiskey class has been rising by leaps and bounds. This 12 months noticed greater than 60 entries within the class. The highest two finalists are Triple Eight Distillery, The Notch Nantucket Single Malt Whisky, 48% ABV, 750 ml and Balcones, Mirador Single Malt Whiskey, 53% ABV, 750 ml.

The 2 whiskeys provide up an attention-grabbing distinction. The Triple Eight expression has pronounced tropical fruit notes on the nostril. On the palate, it’s candy and easy, with dried tropical fruit notes. The end is lengthy and candy, with lingering tropical fruit notes and a touch of licorice.

The Balcones, alternatively, reveals hints of milk chocolate and low on the nostril, with cooked cereal notes. On the palate, it’s dry and fruity. The end is lengthy, with lingering fruit notes.

Different finalists to focus on embody Outdated Hickory, Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Corn Whisky, 58.5% ABV, 750 ml and Dancing Goat Distillery, Corn Whiskey Completed in Spanish Oak, 62.2% ABV, 750 ml. Each are considerably overproof.

Corn whiskey is outlined as a spirit produced from a mash invoice that’s a minimum of 80% corn. If the mash invoice was lower than 80% however a minimum of 51% corn, offered the spirit was made within the US, it could be thought-about a bourbon.

The Outdated Hickory is good on the nostril, with pronounced caramel notes. It’s equally candy on the palate, barely drying and tannic, with caramel and dried fruit notes. It has an extended candied candy end, with lingering dried fruit notes.

The Dancing Goat expression is dry on the nostril, with pronounced caramel and cinnamon notes. On the palate, it’s candy, with notes of dried fruit, cinnamon and black pepper. The end is lengthy and candy, with a notable peppery end.

The Better of Class Wheat Whiskey was Bernheim, Unique Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey, 45% ABV, 750 ml and Bainbridge, Battle Level Barrel Proof Wheat Whisky, 70.6% ABV, 750 ml.

The Bernheim distillery is among the storied names within the historical past of American whiskey. Right now the distillery is owned by Heaven Hill.

The whiskey reveals caramel and tropical fruit on the nostril. It’s easy and candy on the palate, with stone and tropical fruit notes and a touch of licorice. The end is lengthy and candy, with lingering tropical fruit notes.

The Bainbridge Battle Level expression reveals cinnamon and caramel on the nostril. It’s barely savory, with pronounced caramel notes on the palate. It’s a little bit drying on the end, with an extended, candy, lingering fruity notice.

The Better of Class Unaged Whiskey was New Alchemy Distilling, White Satan Whiskey, 40% ABV, 750 ml.

The Better of Class American Blended Whiskey was George Dickel, George Dickel x Leopold Brothers Collaboration Mix Whiskey, 50% ABV, 750 ml and Excessive Financial institution Distillery, Whiskey Warfare, Barrel Choose, Double Oaked Whiskey, 57.75% ABV, 750 ml.

Whereas the Better of Class Flavored Whiskeys have been: Commonplace Proof, Cinnamon Whiskey, 40% ABV, 750 ml and SoNo 1420 Blaze Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey, 33% ABV, 750 ml.

The Better of Class Particular Barrel Completed Whiskeys have been Misplaced Lantern, 2021 Single Cask #1 Cedar Ridge Iowa, Single Malt Whiskey Completed in a Sherry Cask, 57.6% ABV, 750 ml and Barrell, Dovetail, 62.35% ABV, 750 ml.

The Misplaced Lantern expression is dry on the nostril, with slight caramel and natural aromas. It’s dry on the palate, with natural notes and an extended, dry end.

The Barrell Dovetail has wooden notes and spices on the nostril. It’s semi-sweet, with cinnamon and nutmeg spice and dried fruit on the palate. The end is lengthy, with lingering spice notes.

The 2022 SFWSC judging highlighted an outstanding assortment of American whiskeys from the biggest set of entries within the competitors’s historical past – a stark reminder that the renaissance of American whiskey remains to be in its early levels.

A complete record of all of the Gold and Double Gold winners is out there on the Tasting Alliance web site. Keep tuned for the announcement of the Better of Class winners and Greatest Whisky in June.