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American Whiskey Is Having A Moment – Here's Why According To Our Spirits Expert
Astonishingly smooth, enjoy this spirit neat, on the rocks, or in your favourite cocktail.
As part of ELLE’s Cocktail Hour series, we’re taking a look at what is currently influencing the liquid in our glass, and this week the spotlight is on Nashville, aka, Music City.
The birthplace of country music and cowgirl cool, Nashville has recently seen a surge in buzzy new openings, including a new outpost from Soho House, and the world’s longest bar (all 518-foot of it) opening just outside the city, in nearby Shelbyville. Country music fans will also know that fringing and tassels were also rampant on the SS23 catwalks, from Tom Ford’s western shirt (below) to Molly Goddard’s bright red and bubble gum pink cowboy boots.
So much more than honky tonks and hot chicken sandwiches, Tennessee is a vibe right now and it’s also having an impact on our drinking habits.
‘American whiskey sales have been on the rise in the UK for the last eight years,’ explains Dawn Davis, head buyer at The Whisky Exchange. ‘We have a love affair with all things Americana, from TV shows to food, so it's no surprise we also love their whiskies. Bourbon, especially, is more appealing to a broader audience than Scotch, as it doesn’t have the snobbery factor behind it, and it’s also sweeter and therefore more approachable.’
Davis adds: ‘There's also a growth in the number of women blenders and female run distilleries in the US, such as Uncle Nearest and Jeptha Creed, which is drawing in a female audience to the category that's fantastic to see.’
Entrepreneur turned distillery owner, Fawn Weaver is the impressive force behind Uncle Nearest, and one of the women putting American whiskey on the map for a new generation of drinkers.
Having discovered that Uncle Nearest — a former enslaved man — had taught Jack Daniels (yes, that Jack Daniels) everything he knew about Tennessee whiskey, Weaver felt she had a duty to share his story. She set about building a brand that would help communicate the legacy of the world's first known African-American master distiller to the wider world. Fawn contacted Nearest’s descendants and, despite having no previous distilling experience, went ahead and bought the Nearest Green Distillery.
She was then joined by Victoria Eady Butler, great-great-granddaughter of Uncle Nearest himself, and now the brand’s master blender and the first female African American master blender in history.
Inspired to learn more? Here at ELLE, we’re always keen to challenge the outdated white-male-whiskey-drinking narrative, so if you fancy dipping your toe into the world of American whiskey, here are our expert recommendations on what to drink, where to stay, what to wear and what to listen to.
Named after the year Nearest was credited with perfecting the Lincoln County Process (the charcoal filtering process used to make all Tennessee whiskey), 1856 is blended from corn and rye and aged in American oak barrels.
Creamy butterscotch bursts out of the glass, with vanilla, a little coconut and caramelised nuts coming through on the palate, and spicy oak providing a memorable finish. While it’s delicious with ice, if cocktails are on the cards, we’d recommend trying it in a Boulevardier. We make ours with one-and-a-half parts whiskey, one-part sweet vermouth, one-part Campari, garnished with a cherry.
A trusted brand in the world of bourbon, Wild Turkey is our go-to choice for an after-dinner libation. Caramel, clove, dark chocolate and a hint of white pepper make this the perfect base for an Old Fashioned or two.
Although at the entry-level of the Eagle Rare portfolio (bottles can exceed £2,000, for longer-aged expressions), this 10-year-old is still an exemplary sipper. Our panel adored the floral, buttercup nose, light maple syrup and pleasant almond finish.
Full-bodied and buttery, you could try serving it with apple pie and vanilla ice-cream or replacing dessert with this altogether.
Although we’re often pedalled the narrative that older equals better (particularly with Scotch), this no-age expression, perfectly demonstrates otherwise. Smooth, without being overly sweet, you can expect a little banana skin on the nose, cinnamon and charred wood. We approve.
Ready to step it up a notch? This is the bottle to splurge on if you’re serious about perfecting your whiskey portfolio. With vanilla, caramel and honeyed corn, it’s silky smooth and best drunk neat. Yes, it’s an investment, but we’re confident it will be a hit with bourbon buffs, taking pride of place on your bar cart.
With the second biggest pool in the Soho House portfolio, Nashville’s buzzy new opening has made a splash with international travellers. The former sock factory has all the classics — a Cecconi’s, a cinema, Sunday feasts and picantes — but with a distinctly Southern feel.
And if you’re visiting, no trip would be complete without popping into Attaboy. The innovative cocktail bar doesn’t have anything as passé as a menu – instead, trust staff to create your perfect serve based on a few choice questions.
Embrace your inner cowgirl with Tom Ford’s luxe western-style shirt.
There’s no such thing as an early night in Nashville, and many country stars have their own bars in this part of town, including Miranda Lambert and Kid Rock. To recreate the vibe at home, we’re turning to Brandi Carlile, who picked up a Grammy this year for her latest album In These Silent Days. We’d liken her to a country version of Sharon Van Etten.
Alternatively, if unadulterated cheese is more your thing, Taylor Swift’s Endless Girl Summer should get you on your feet.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
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