The U.S. whiskey scene is by no means hurting for a lack of independent bottlers and non-distiller producers . In fact, it often feels like the sheer number of little boutique bottling operations is beginning to exceed the number that could reasonably be maintained, especially with so many of them drawing on the same handful of companies for sourced whiskey, such as MGP of Indiana, Jim Beam, or Heaven Hill.
— The six distilleries included are all small and independent distilleries from around the country. They include Balcones , Copperworks , Santa Fe Spirits , Triple Eight , Westward and Virginia Distillery Co. . So yeah—American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1 can be compared to little else, because it blends the fruits of six American distilleries that are making extremely different takes on American single malt whiskey. Some of the whiskeys here have been matured in newly charred oak. Others have aged in re-used bourbon barrels. Others have had secondary maturations in sherry or re-toasted wine barrels.
On the nose, American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1 initially leads with a trifecta of grain, fruit and honeyed sweetness. There are definitely some more cereal grain notes here from some of the younger whiskeys in the blend, with some “doughy” and malty tones, which are supported by pleasant fruity notes of apricot, plum and sultana.