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Wolves Whiskey made a big splash when it first debuted in 2019. The brand, founded by fashion and lifestyle entrepreneurs Jon Buscemi (Buscemi, Truff hot sauce) and James Bond (Undefeated) are often credited with (or blamed for) the “sneakerification” of whiskey—in other words, dropping limited-edition expressions in sleekly designed bottles that sell out as soon as they are listed for sale on the brand’s website. It seems the pair has decided to release something a bit more accessible in the form of the new Wolves American Single Malt, which will be the new flagship expression in the lineup.
“We were captivated by the challenge of creating a standard-bearer in the emerging category of American single malt,” said Wolves president Jennifer Marks in a statement. “We’re proud of our innovative approach and the result, a contemporary yet timeless classic that can be enjoyed year-round.” Translation: you won’t have to furiously refresh the website to get a bottle when it drops. The whiskey, as Marks stated, is an American single malt. While the category is still waiting for its long overdue legal definition, what that means is it’s made from a mashbill of 100 percent barley at one distillery.
This is not the first American single malt released by Wolves; the brand put out a limited-edition expression in 2023 that was matured in virgin oak barrels. That bottle was produced at Charbay Distillery in California, where master distiller Marko Karakasevic has been making whiskey for many years, but this was crafted in Arizona at an undisclosed distillery. It was aged for five years in French oak California wine barrels, and then finished in 400-liter, first-fill Cognac casks from France for six weeks. “Due to the 100+ degree temperatures in the rickhouse, the whiskey had to be watched very closely to maintain its integrity,” said a rep for the brand. “The intention behind our finishing process was to provide a kiss of Cognac, not to mask the single malt, but to enhance it.”
I think they were successful there. The resulting whiskey is fruity and grainy, with notes of citrus, banana, dark chocolate, apple sauce, vanilla, honey, and dried fruit on the palate. It’s bottled at 96 proof, which gives it a touch of heat and keeps the flavor robust. You can find the new Wolves American Single Malt (SRP $90) available to purchase directly from the Wolves Whiskey website (and it’s literally the only one available, as every previous release is sold out). Or you can check out websites like ReserveBar and retailers around the country if you’d like to try this new single malt for yourself.
