It’s been over a year since my last whiskey review, and probably for good damn reason. Over the past year I’ve been through a lot, from couch surfing to giving up my rental farm, to falling in love and buying my own farm with the gal of my dreams. It’s been a fruitful year of great work and team building with a fantastic group of designers and videographers that I couldn’t be happier to spend my nine to five with, and it seems fitting that with the last review I wrote being an ode to my new job, this new review will be an ode to my new way of life as a homesteader in God’s Country—Huntsville, Utah.
Dorado American Single Malt
Whiskey Del Bac
Tuscon, AZ
$63.50
Nose - Campfire smoke and a very subtle hint of cinnamon, almost like a Rye malt; Oiled leather and dates.
Body - An exquisitely sweet blast of dark dried fruits like deep purple raisins or cranberries on the front end of the palate gives way to the on-brand intensity of a smokey, ashy, almost barbecue-esque flavor that presents a black peppered whisp. A vanilla-tinged cigar tobacco makes a final layer pass that wraps up the experience with a bow.
Finish - Well refined and smooth, almost creamy in its expression and mouth feel. The smokeyness doesn’t lead to a sharp burn, and makes this a top-shelf single malt that’s easy on the chest, and even easier to drink.
Thoughts - I’ve been debating on returning to whiskey reviews for quite some time. On one hand, I love having the availability of a library of excellent whiskies to share with friends, a fun blog to write up now and then, and a damn nice way to finish a week. Problems arise when you get excessive with that, but I believe I’ve been able to keep it well in check over the years. Frankly the biggest reason I haven’t written any reviews over this past year isn’t for a lack of desire, but because I just felt I didn’t have a good enough backdrop for the all-deserving bottle. There’s a magic I like to catch in all this, be it in the run-on paragraphs and sentences, the pretentiousness desperate take on gonzo consumerism, and most especially in the small sets I get to put together for these fun product photos.
But those are only the thoughts on the blog at general, and not so much about the bottle. I’ll cut that out from now on.
Del Bac is a new name in my neighborhood and with this being my first bottle I’d have to admit I am quite impressed. They seem to deliver a vesche of that hot Arizona night air, distilled into liquid and sent on its way to folks outside the tiny oven-state. To put it simply: I like it. I wish it was a bit More affordable because it’s a bottle I’d like to drink every day. I love when whiskey can capture the essence of the desert, and for a long while it seemed that only a select few could achieve the sensation. It’s cool to see the DABC bringing more unique manufacturers to the UT liquor stores, and I’m eager to see what else the come out with.
6.5/10, great for the price and easy to enjoy.