Normandie, an annual limited release by the local Whiskey Del Bac, has just been named one of the “12 Best New Spirits of the Year” by Robb Report.
From whiskey to rum to Cognac and gin, the new list praises tremendous new releases that have hit the market in every category. Basically, they suggest you add one of each of the mentioned bottles to your collection ASAP. For instance, Whiskey Del Bac’s Normandie is sold out locally but you can still find a bottle here and there online, such as frootbat.com.
Hopefully, you were ahead of the game and snagged a bottle early.
According to Robb Report writer Jonah Flicker, Whiskey Del Bac’s spirits are an American single malt that “continues to stand out” in the Southwest.
“As American single malt gets closer to receiving a long-overdue legal definition from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the category continues to see exciting releases,” he said. “This one, from Arizona distillery Whiskey Del Bac — whose flagship single malt, Dorado, is made with mesquite-smoked barley — leaves out the smoke and instead adds flavor via a lovely cask finish. The base spirit is a solid building block, made from 100 percent malted barley, and is aged in charred virgin-oak barrels. The whiskey is then transferred into Calvados barrels for an additional 13 months, infusing it with notes of raspberry, black pepper, fig, and chocolate-covered raisin.”
As mentioned earlier, Normandie is sold out in Whiskey Del Bac’s online store but it’s available elsewhere online and on-hand in local bars and restaurants around town.
About Whiskey Del Bac
Whiskey Del Bac has grown from two American Single Malts – Classic and Dorado – to multiple Distiller’s Cut releases, and has even launched annual limited releases like Frontera and Normandie in the Global Cask Collection in 2022. With Classic being named to the Top 100 Spirits List from Wine Enthusiast in 2021 and Whisky Advocate giving the Dorado a 90 rating in 2022, the flagship whiskeys have come a long way.The Whiskey Del Bac team has grown, with Amanda and Stephen still driving the ethos and values of the company. Elaine Paul is still out on some desert nights on the same back patio. Instead of wondering what mesquited American Single Malt would taste like — she’s enjoying it in her glass.
For more information, visit whiskeydelbac.com.