Swift Single Malt

Swift is a small single malt-focused distillery founded in 2012 by Amanda and Nick Swift, both Texas natives. Having traveled the world to learn about the art, science and business of whiskey-making, the Swifts clearly took a page from the homelands of whiskies and import all their Two-Row barley from Scotland before making the wort with water purposefully mimicking those from Northern Ireland and the Speyside region of Scotland. Even the yeast is a single malt-specific variety from Speyside! After distilling in two copper pot stills from Portugal, they take the narrow cuts and put them into barrels from either Kentucky or Portugal. Being a true micro-distillery, almost all the work is done by Amanda and Nick themselves, bucket by bucket, drop by drop, barrel by barrel. Their flagship offering, the Swift Single Malt, is a mix of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. Their hard work appears to be paying off, however, as Swift bottles have expanded beyond Texas onto shelves across the country.

Distillery: Swift
Country: United States
Age: NAS
Strength: 43%
Price: $41.99
Maturation: ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks
Location: Driftwood, TX
Nose: Black licorice, lemon, star anise, manuka honey, pollen, mint, brown sugar, peach, butterscotch, cherrywood, green apple
Palate: Honey, vanilla, citrus, floral, grain, oak
Finish: Perfume, grain

Comments: Many thanks to Catherine from the Austin Scotch Lovers for alerting us to Swift some years ago and allowing us to try a few samples. 

Adam – I’m surprised by the black licorice on the nose, as I almost mistake it for unfriendlier things but then my memory clicks and all is well. The nose is bright, like walking into a summer cabin on the first trip of the season; the sun is shinning warmly through the windows and there’s a little dust collected during the offseason you’re stirring up. There’s subtle sweetness even past the licorice, sugars and honeys interlaced with wood and fruit. The youth of the spirit does poke out here or there in the nose if you’re not careful. The palate is sweet but almost sharply so, a honeyed vanilla immediately backed by some momentary tannins before settling into a lovely floral finish that carries you far longer than the palate. The Swift Single Malt isn’t trying to browbeat you with any of it’s elements, though experiment with how you approach to find your sweet spot. I wonder how a little further age might allow the spirit to shine even more and help the tasting portion of the experience balance out a bit more. Pairs surprisingly well with dessert.

Henry – Nose of butterscotch, cherrywood, green apple candy, and spice, opening to a friendly, sweet palate with a hint of gentle oak. Perfume with a floral undertone enters on the back of the palate along with a hint of lovely smoke, both elements contributing to a nice, bright finish without being overly drying. This is a single malt which really reminds me of Kentucky bourbon in its floral and oaky character. A fantastic hot weather sipper.

Ben – If this was a syrup, I’d want it on pancakes. I would describe this as creamy. With the vanilla and the creaminess and the sweetness but there’s a little stone fruit

Bill – My favorite thing about this is the mouthfeel. It’s got a nice blend of viscosity and cloying that I actually enjoy. This could offer a lot of nice flavor options in a cocktail.

Mike – Smells like burnt eraser. It’s oddly refreshing. It has  a very thick mouthfeel. Like drinking a watered down honey. I would toss this in a rusty nail.

Evelyn – This smells like an eraser after you’ve used it. The Swift Single Malt kinda tastes like this buttery caramel.

Sam – This is very grain forward for me.

Kim – Starts with a smell of tempera paint. Tastes much better than it smells. Quite sweet and would work well for sipping on a hot day.