St. George Spirits Single Malt Whiskey, Alameda, 750ML

St. George Spirits Single Malt Whiskey is a handcrafted American original produced at the St. George Spirits distillery in Alameda, California. Bottled at 43% ABV, it is part of the distillery's celebrated annual Lot series, with the current release being Lot 25. This is a true artisan single malt whiskey that helped define the American single malt category, crafted by master distiller Lance Winters — a Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame inductee — who began the program at St. George in the 1990s.

The mash bill features two-row barley malted to multiple roast levels, yielding rich aromas of toasted nuts and cocoa, with a portion of unroasted barley smoked over beech and alder wood for added depth and complexity. For Lot 25, head distiller Dave Smith hand-selected and blended 28 casks from over 2,000 in the rickhouse. The blend draws from used American oak barrels previously holding bourbon and rye, French oak barrels that held apple brandy, rum, and Port, and California Sauternes-style wine casks. Cask ages in Lot 25 range from five to thirteen years, and as a nod to the program's origins, the blend includes whiskey from SM-01 — the very first barrel laid down by Lance Winters in 1997.

On the nose, Lot 25 offers crème brûlée, marzipan, orange zest, fresh peach, and sandalwood. The palate delivers cocoa, brown ale, peanut brittle, and nutmeg. Best enjoyed neat or with a single large ice cube. Named Craft Whiskey of the Year 2014 by Whisky Advocate. Sold as a case of six 750ML bottles.