Berkshire Mountain Distillers (BMD) was founded in 2007 in Massachusetts by Chris Weld. Chris tried making a still in the 8th grade, which feels qualified as a good start. The distillery sits on an old apple farm and a working spring. In the proceeding years, the distillery has made a variety of vodkas, gins, rums, and bourbon, along with corn and single malt whiskies. BMD seems to love experimenting, as they have developed multiple kinds of each spirit by making use of their small batch production. The distillery is also into collaboration with local breweries and farms, as shown by their recent Craft Brewers Whiskey Project. The Berkshire Mountain 10 Year Oktoberfest is another entry in collaboration, as this single malt is aged for ten years and was distilled from an Oktoberfest beer by nearby brewery Berkshire Brewing.
Distillery: Berkshire Mountain Distillers
Region: Foreign
Age: 10 year
Strength: 43%
Price: $70.00
Location: Sheffield, MA
Nose: Vanilla, fruit, grapefruit, orange, rye
Palate: Grapefruit, floral, hops, spice, vanilla
Finish: Pepper, pine, hops
Comments: Water is not needed and can muddle the balance. Though we didn’t test it, this could be curious in a cocktail.
Adam – While I love the distillery’s exploration, the small batch nature of their production means many offerings, like this one, are by necessity limited. Even if you can’t find this one, however, they will surely have something similar in ambition. The Berkshire Mountain 10 is unique right out of the gates. The grapefruit in the nose is unlike any whiskey I’ve ever encountered. Probably due to the Oktoberfest mash, of course. I’ll be the first to admit I am not a huge beer person but even I can find the influence here. The nose is relatively simple but unique. In a twist from the whiskey norm, the palate opens up compared to the nose and the grapefruit is joined by some light florals like hops and some spice, carrying over the effervescence of the nose that is not quite as dialed up as a beer might be. I enjoy this aspect. The fruit finally peels away to reveal pepper as the only remaining spice, with a dryness reminiscent of pine. The mouthfeel is gentle when tasting and then dries out relatively fast after swallowing, if not going to all the way into a dry white wine territory. It’s a fascinating journey.
Meghan – There was a hairspray smell first in the glass but it fades pretty fast. I’m not sure I’d get a bottle of this or would care if I had it again. It’s interesting but doesn’t have enough there for me.
There’s a hole in the middle of it between the big nose and the finish.
Ben – The Berkshire Mountain 10 reminds me of the M Whiskey, with the orange and floral. But there’s a hole in the middle of it between the big nose and the finish.
Kate – Grapefruit and hoppy. It had a vinegar smell when I first put it in the glass but it calms down quickly. There’s a bitterness that’s prominent on the palate fighting with some sourness. There’s a generic spice on the back of the palate.
Henry – What a big nose. Sweetness like rye, with vanilla and toast supporting. An unremarkable beginning to the palate bursts into the floral and hoppy bitterness of a good IPA, which lingers mouthwateringly.
