I have been looking forward to getting my hands on Bird Creek Small Batch American Single Malt. Bottled at 90 proof and priced at $96, it promises genuine character.
Mash bill of 100% malted barley; aged over 4 years in new oak; 90 proof/45% alcohol by volume; available in Oregon only; MSRP of $96 for a 750 ml bottle. Burnt orange, with watery legs on the side of the glass. Sweetness hits you right away, more reminiscent of a bourbon than a barley-based whiskey like Scotch or Irish. Molasses, Fig Newtons, and buttery Chardonnay. The whiskey itself is surprisingly good for a first release from an aspiring label. Mark Stell is clearly aiming at a niche market, at least initially, with high-quality, somewhat-expensive American single malt built on distinctive Pacific Northwest barley flavors. The bottles, the barrels, and the barleys all suggest a brand that is striving for distinctiveness and quality rather than mass distribution. In the rapidly expanding market for American whiskies, there is plenty of room for that. Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by Whiskeyful or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
The Bottom Line
Bird Creek Small Batch American Single Malt is a perfectly respectable whiskey that does what it sets out to do. At $96, the value is reasonable — it will not blow your mind, but it will not disappoint you either. A reliable choice.
