What is Single Malt Whiskey?

Single Malt Whiskey: A libation of distinction

Whiskey aficionados and newcomers alike can agree: there’s a multitude of knowledge to be learned about whiskey and its endless variations, all the way down to the spelling (we’re in the -ey camp, but more on that later). As spirits of distinction are concerned, there is an abundance of dedication, precision, and mastery involved in the distilling process. Single malt whiskey—our specialty—is no exception.

What Is Single Malt Whiskey?

In short, it’s rather simple. Single malt whiskey is the product of one distillery (single) and made from barley (malt). If you’ve not yet tried single malt whiskey, you may be pleasantly surprised to find its taste is delightfully mellow, smooth, and rich. Notes of caramel, vanilla, and a pleasant oaky finish are common. Brother Justus focuses our attention on single malt whiskey in an effort to deliver the most exquisite whiskey, with undivided concentration towards our craft that results in a truly distinguished palate experience.

Tasting Notes of Our Single Malt Whiskey

Our current yield includes three different, yet equally exciting, single malt whiskeys: American Whiskey, Silver Whiskey and Cold-Peated® Whiskey. While all our whiskeys are single malt, they each offer a completely unique flavor profile. Our American Whiskey boasts an incomparable blend of butterscotch, toasted oak, and caramelized stone fruit. The Minnesota-grown white oak barrels used to distill our American Whiskey give a toasty, campfire-kissed finish that lingers on the tongue well after the last sip.

The first of its kind, American Single Malt Silver Whiskey, combines all the flavor and delight of a traditional single malt whiskey with the delicacy of a silver spirit, making it versatile beyond compare. With a similar taste to rum or tequila, it can be used in (and improve) almost any cocktail traditionally made with clear spirits.

Rounding out our whiskey repertoire is the Cold-Peated® Single Malt Whiskey. Traditional whiskeys burn peat prior to the distilling process, but our proprietary cold-peating Aitkin County Process® instead preserves the bold and complex boreal peat flavors. This offers an earthy and botanical flavor experience that will undoubtedly challenge even the most avid whiskey palate. Millennia in the making, this whiskey is unlike anything you’ve ever tasted.

The Difference Between Single Malt Whiskey and Blended Whiskey, Explained

If single malt whiskey comes from a single distillery, it’ll be no shock to find out its blended counterpart is the opposite, derived from multiple distillery sources. But, here’s where it gets a little complicated: while blended refers to the number of distilleries the whiskey is sourced from, it also refers to the blend of both malt and grain used when distilling. To blended whiskey’s credit, there isn’t an inherent qualitative difference between blended or single malt whiskey. However, single malt whiskeys tend to present a more dynamic flavor advantage over their blended counterpart.  

Despite common misconceptions surrounding blended vs. single malt whiskey and the respective spelling of each, whether whiskey is blended or single malt has no impact on -y vs. -ey. The spelling of whiskey actually denotes origin, not technique. Whiskey with an “e” indicates Irish or American origin, whereas whisky without an “e” refers to a Scottish spirit or Scotch whisky.

Single Malt Whiskey, a Choice Spirit

Brother Justus Whiskey Company was founded on the belief that quality whiskey requires reverence for the craft. A deliberate commitment to process, hard work, and fidelity result in the culmination of a superior whiskey, and the single malt process accentuates the pillars upon which our company is built. By distilling whiskey in singular batches, everything from the flavor to the depth is pronounced in the most sublime fashion. For us, there is no other way to deliver a product that is as versatile, enjoyable, and accessible than through a single malt process. What is lost in the blended whiskey process—time, consistent flavor, depth—is a cost too high for a true whiskey enthusiast. 

However, blended whiskeys are ubiquitous in whiskey cocktails. Blended whiskey is often less expensive to make, as it’s sourced from multiple distilleries which brings production costs down, but the quality of the cocktail suffers. Our whiskey room boasts brilliant concoctions, elevated with single malt whiskey foundations that welcome your senses to a fully immersive tasting experience. 

While in the end, it comes down to taste and personal preference, we believe there are clear benefits to opting for a single malt whiskey. The reliable yield, deep tasting notes, and complex flavor profiles make single malt whiskey a desirable choice for the avid whiskey drinker and the whiskey newcomer alike. Try it for yourself: visit our whiskey room, or find us at one of 150+ locations in Minnesota.

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