The home of 1776 steps into 2023 with an American Single Malt Whiskey.
The Pepper Distillery has a long standing history in the whiskey world. Founded by Elijah Pepper in 1780, the distillery and the generations of Peppers have been credited with the invention of the sour mash process, sealing bottles with a stamp, and helping to push forth the law that allowed distilleries to bottle their bourbon on site. Unfortunately, all of that fame wasn’t enough to keep the company afloat and the distillery closed its doors in 1967. Recently however, a new owner has stepped up to give the Pepper Distillery a new chapter.
In its first few years, the Pepper Distillery has certainly been grinding. The first releases included the James E. Pepper 1776 Bourbon Whiskey and its rye counterpart the James E. Pepper 1776 Rye Whiskey, but the selection continues to evolve with longer aged bourbons, barrel proof bourbons like the James E. Pepper 1776 Barrel Proof Bourbon, a more diverse rye whiskey portfolio with the Old Pepper Single Barrel Rye Whiskey, and whiskies that highlight the distillery’s history like Elijah Pepper White Dog and the Oscar Pepper Straight Bourbon Whiskey. But the distillery really stepped up its innovation with the release of Old Pepper Single Malt Whiskey.
Now before you ask, no, this is not Scotch. Although “single malt” is a term usually associated with the Scottish spirit, it’s not confined to the Scottish isles. In fact, American Single Malt Whiskey is trying awfully hard to give the Scots a run for their money. But let’s back up. To be dubbed a “single malt” that particular whiskey must be a blend of malt whiskies that all come from the same distillery and one specific type of malted grain. And while, yes, the Scots have been meeting those requirements for centuries, American distilleries began trying their hand at single malt and successfully petitioned the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau to recognize and standardize the new American Single Malt Whiskey. So the creation of Old Pepper Single Malt Whiskey is a pretty smart move for the Pepper Distillery.
The Old Pepper Single Malt Whiskey is made from 100% malted barley and distilled right at the Pepper Distillery, also known as DSP-KY-5. The first few whiffs of this whiskey reveal strong brown, almost burnt, sugar with a light cherry undertone. Then the malted barley absolutely takes center stage with an odd combination of flavors including light stone fruits like peaches, subtle grassy notes, and something strangely reminiscent of rising bread. It’s a uniquely enjoyable whiskey that does an excellent job differentiating itself from both rye whiskey and bourbon, not to mention Scotch.
With its Old Pepper Single Malt Whiskey, the Pepper Distillery is amping up the reputation for both itself and the brand new world of American Single Malt Whiskey.
STATS: Old Pepper Single Malt Whiskey
- Price for us: $60 for 750 mL
- Proof: 100
- Aged: 3 Years
- Distillery: James Pepper Distilling Company
- Recommendation: Neat
