Bourbon has always been strongly associated with the use of corn and with no fault; considering how the grain has been sown into the very fabric of American culture, being planted and harvested since the time of the countries’ early settlers. Malted barley has played a more purposeful role here, leveraging its use for fastening the fermentation process with its inherent sugar content and activated enzymes, an outcome from the chemical transformation that is the malting process.

So it comes naturally that most distilleries would lean towards the more indigenous maize-bourbon genre. A few distilleries, however, are experimenting against this norm, the St. George’s Distillery being one, and the Baller being the expression for this review!

Long story short, we’re NOT diving into a Bourbon, but this one is surely 100% American, even keeping the “e” in their whiskey but sans the corn! The St. George Baller Single Malt is all barley, locally sourced 2 row malted barley, with a smaller percentage of it roasted.

The distillers leverage a combination of ex-bourbon and French wine casks to mature their spirits once distilled. And once aged for a minimum of three years, they are filtered through maple charcoal and further finished in umeshu casks. The Oriental styling and fonts on the labelling I would believe comes inspired from this finishing; Umeshu, being a Japanese stone fruit liqour.

Abv : 47%

Eye : Pale gold | Natural Colour, Non Chill filtered

Nose : A light, delicate sweetness that boasts of  lovely soft lychees and a wheat beer like nuance; fruity with a charred subtleness. Possibly some hints of vanilla and cedar wood. Some milk chocolate begins to show itself when left to breathe for a while.

Finish : Medium to long ; Sweet lychee, and malt

Taste : Lush stone fruits flood the palate, lychee, and peaches, mulberries fused with a beer like astringency interleaved with hints of rose.

Medium bodied with good viscosity and a lovely fruity, floral profile on the nose; exuberating maturity for a rather naive 3 yr old brew. The spirit delivers good depth, which starts with a lovely, delicate, inviting and unique sweetness. However, the whisky is quite unidirectional with a pronounced fruity palate that is restricted to lush stone fruits. And that is my critique, a limited offering to the senses!

And though I don’t quite remember what I paid for this, it does get a thumbs up for the rather innovative spin, its unique character, and the subtle yet profound fruity delivery. A well-deserved attempt for a distillery that dwelves in a largely bourbon dominated environment with its adoption to malted barley. I’m surely intrigued to try more from the distillery!

Preference : Holds well as is, but can also accommodate well with water; possibly even better in a highball!

Slainte!

PS: The whiskies’ pale colour didnt indicate the use of artificial colouring, and the higher ABV wouldn’t require the need for chill filtration – I wrote to the distillers who validated this info; and a super quick response at that!