Review: Clermont Steep American Single Malt Whiskey

American Single Malt Whiskey has seen significant growth over the last few years. What used to be a category dominated by a handful of craft distilleries has seen an influx of new offerings from distilleries large and small, and now seems poised for a breakout moment. Not wanting to be left out, James B. Beam Distilling Co. is trying its hand at American Single Malt Whiskey with Clermont Steep.

With the American Single Malt category currently in the process of being legally defined, Master Distiller Freddie Noe created his own guidelines in the development of Clermont Steep. Noe and his team hand-selected the American malted barley for the mash and used Beam family jug yeast in the natural fermentation process, the same yeast that is used in all Beam products. The single malt was then distilled on a column still and aged in Clermont, Kentucky for five years in bespoke new American oak barrels that were toasted and charred to a char level 1, before being bottled at 47% ABV.

Is the first American Single Malt from James B. Beam Distilling Co. worth seeking out?

Clermont Steep American Single Malt Whiskey Specifications:

• Spirit: American Whiskey.
• Classification: Single Malt.
• Region: Kentucky.
• Age: 5 Years Old.
• ABV: 47% (94 Proof).
• Cask Type: Bespoke new American oak barrels that were toasted and charred to a char level 1.
• Other: NCF (Non-Chill Filtered).
• Price Paid: N/A (Gift from a family member).
• MSRP: $59.99 for 750 mL.

Tasting Notes:

• Color: Dark Amber.
• Nose: Extremely malty. Toasted cereal grains upfront, followed by caramel, vanilla, and oak, with a hint of peaches and other stone fruit in the background.
• Palate: Moderate mouthfeel. Malty. Toasted cereal grains, burnt caramel, vanilla, peaches, and plums.
• Finish: The flavors from the palate carry on through the finish, accompanied by faint floral and herbal notes. It all fades rather quickly, with the exception of the cereal grains that continue to linger behind.

Clermont Steep drinks nothing like other American Single Malt Whiskeys that I’ve sampled. It doesn’t taste anything like Single Malt Scotch Whisky, either. If anything, it’s closer in profile to Bourbon and some of the Single Grain Scotch Whiskies that I’ve tasted over the years. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, seeing as how it was distilled on a column still instead of a pot still and aged in new American oak barrels.

This is a commendable first attempt at an American Single Malt by Freddie Noe and the team at James B. Beam Distilling Co., but it’s not a whiskey without faults. While Clermont Steep doesn’t have any off-notes, it’s a relatively simple whiskey that won’t knock your socks off. Couple that with the short finish, and you’re left wanting just a little bit more from a whiskey in this price range.

With that being said, I’m hopeful that Freddie Noe and the team at James B. Beam Distilling Co. can build upon the solid foundation they’ve created with Clermont Steep, and I look forward to seeing what comes next from the brand.

Rating: C (73-76%).

• American Whiskey
• Clermont Steep
• James B. Beam Distilling Co.
• Single Malt