Review #30: J.H. Cutter A. No 1 Whisky
We recently got our hands on a new whisky A.P. Hotaling, a spirits brand that’s part of the Anchor distilling in San Francisco. The distillery was started by Fritz Maytag who is famous for revitalizing Anchor Steam a beer brand that had fallen on hard times. Like many, Hotaling moved to San Francisco to get rich from the gold rush. He did not. He did, however, become a reputable distiller and spirits trader. Today’s Hotaling has a strong spirits portfolio, with half a dozen absinthes, Nikka Whisky, and Kavalan in the mix.
The whisky is mostly (73%) sourced Kentucky bourbon, aged 4.5 years. It’s also 17% Old Potrero 18th century Rye (aged 3.25 years), and 10% 4 year old Old Potrero Port Finish Rye. There’s quite a lot going on here in short.
J.H. Cutter A. No 1 Whisky Review
- Score - 6/106/10
Overall
Tasting Notes
Nose: Sour grapes, vanilla, warm, baking spices, comforting and warm and oak.
Palate: Very spicy, strong rye note! Orange, citrus, malt, tangerine, wood chips, nectarine and peach. Smooth drinker with little tannin. Waxy mouthfeel.
Finish: slight youthful burn at the end. Christmas spices and oak, short finish.
Overview: Palate falls a bit short of the promise of the nose. Incongruous.
Quick overview of our scoring system
Additional Information
- ABV: 48%
- 73% sourced Kentucky bourbon, 17% rye, 10% port finished Rye.
- Bottle features some historical accouterments like a metal cap which I guess used to adorn whisky bottles? Who knew…
About A.P. Hotaling
- Spirits importer and whisky distiller, formerly part of the Anchor Steam distillery before the beer company was bought by Suntory and the distillery was divested.
- Hotaling was a famous spirits dealer from San Francisco in the early 1900s. Bringing it back baby!
- Strong portfolio with a mix of whiskies from around the world, and some interesting San Francisco made spirits too.
- They used to have a remarkably cool tasting room on top of their distillery and they promise to re-open it in 2020. Very excited for it…