Corsair Triple Smoke Single Barrel
Some distilleries will sell off individual casks, either to producers like Gordon & MacPhail, or to separate parties like liquor stores, who bottle it themselves. Such was the case here, a single barrel from Ace Spirits of Hopkins, MN. Single barrel expressions like this offer a unique expression of the spirit, as each barrel can be slightly different from another due to all the factors that go into the whiskey making process. Normally, Scotchology likes to review whiskies that are generally available and not exceedingly rare or expensive; the thought process being that if you’re interested in what you see in the review, you can go out and get one for yourself. This is not one of those reviews, as the contents of a single cask are quite limiting. Rather, this review can help recommend the choice of seeking out single barrel expressions, and help shed a little light on what one of those barrels from Corsair is like.
Corsair Triple Smoke
One of the many American distilleries sprouting in the decade, Corsair Distillery is located in the somewhat unlikely city of Nashville, TN*. Founded by friends Andrew Webber and Darek Bell in 2008, Corsair has not wasted any time, purposefully eschewing what’s been done before. Not waiting seems to be a core value, as many of their spirits are aged less than a year and pushing the boundaries is an expectation. Not content to use one grain, they produce everything from absinthe to genever to pumpkin spice moonshine in several core offerings and many seasonal or experimental spirits. Thankfully they have good taste to back up their creativity. Many of their spirits have won awards, most of all this Triple Smoke whiskey that is pot distilled from three elements of malted barley, each smoked by cherry wood, beach wood and peat.
The Belgian Owl
Reading the story of The Belgian Owl is like stumbling upon a lost entry concerning Hobbits by J. R. R. Tolkien. The Owl Distillery offers their product made from spring barley with a love for the land, a sense of adventure and a decided touch of whimsy. Located in the region of Hesbaye, this whisky comes out of a long tradition of beer making. There are essentially three employees at the distillery: the farmer, the financier and the whisky maker. Between them, they have been offering core expressions of spirit and single malt whisky since 2008, both to their native countrymen and to the world. While other distilleries have histories, the gents at the Owl Distillery have crafted their own Legend. The Belgian Owl is the product of their creativity and adventuring.