American single malt whiskey remains one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving categories in the spirits world, and Old Line Flagship 95 is a bottle that deserves your attention. Bottled at a confident 47.5% ABV — just shy of cask strength territory — this is a whiskey that announces itself with purpose. The "95" in the name refers to the mash bill: 95% malted barley, which places it firmly in single malt tradition while allowing a sliver of room for the distiller's own interpretation.
I'll be honest: when American single malts first began appearing on my radar a decade ago, I approached them with the scepticism of someone who'd spent years judging Scotch at the IWSC. That scepticism has long since dissolved. The best American single malts are not imitations of Scottish whisky — they are their own animal entirely, shaped by different climates, different barrel programmes, and a distinctly American willingness to experiment. Old Line's Flagship 95 sits squarely in this modern tradition.
Style & Character
At 47.5% ABV, this is bottled at a strength that rewards patience. It's not a whisky you rush through. The higher proof suggests the distiller wants you to experience the full weight of the spirit without excessive dilution, and I respect that decision. As a non-age-statement release, the Flagship 95 is likely built from a selection of casks chosen for consistency of character rather than a single vintage — a blending philosophy that, when done well, can produce remarkably balanced results.
American single malts as a category tend to deliver a richer, often more fruit-forward profile than their Scottish counterparts, influenced by the warmer maturation climate and the tradition of using new or heavily charred American oak. At this ABV and price point, I'd expect the Flagship 95 to offer genuine depth — the kind of whiskey that shifts and evolves in the glass over twenty minutes.
The Verdict
Old Line Flagship 95 earns a 7.9 out of 10 from me, and I give that score with genuine enthusiasm. At £65.75, it sits in a competitive bracket — you're paying a premium over entry-level bourbon, but you're getting a whiskey with ambition and craft behind it. The 47.5% ABV is a sweet spot: robust enough to carry flavour without punishing the palate, and versatile enough to drink neat or with a few drops of water.
What impresses me most is the intent behind this bottle. The 95% malted barley mash bill is a statement of commitment to the single malt category, and the bottling strength tells me this is a distillery that trusts its spirit. In a market flooded with forgettable NAS releases hiding behind clever marketing, the Flagship 95 feels like a whiskey made by people who actually care about what's in the glass. That counts for a great deal in my book.
Best Served
Pour this one neat in a Glencairn and give it five minutes to open up. If the proof feels assertive on first sip, add a teaspoon of room-temperature water — no more — and let it sit another minute. The higher ABV means it will respond well to gentle dilution without falling apart. On a warm evening, a Highball with good soda water and a strip of lemon zest would also do this whiskey justice, letting the malt character shine through the effervescence. Keep the ice minimal and the mixer quality high.
