The Quintessential Portside Single Malt Whiskey

The Quintessential Portside (Photo by the brand)

The Quintessential

This past February, I proclaimed The Quintessential, the flagship Single Malt Whiskey produced by Iowa’s original distillery, Cedar Ridge, as my favorite American Single Malt (ASM). ASMs have come a long way since Hood River Distillery produced McCarthy’s Single Malt, America’s original single malt (barley) whiskey in 1996. Despite not being recognized by the TTB as an “official” whiskey style, ASMs are now produced by over one hundred twenty distilleries. So, with all of the options available these days, I still contend that The Quintessential sits at or near the top, and this new expression, The Quintessential Portside, is even better!

Cedar Ridge

Cedar Ridge is an “all-of-the-above” spirits and wine producer – the family-operated winery produces a full spectrum of still, sparkling, and fruit wines, and its distillery produces rum, gin, vodka, brandy, bourbon, rye, moonshine, and of course, ASMs. When I reviewed their inaugural ASM, The Quintessential, I was blown away and proclaimed it my favorite ASM.

The Quintessential Portside, a new, special release of their award-winning ASM, takes all of the best things about the original – aromas and flavors of warm, roasted pecans, candied ginger, home-baked shortbread cookies, dried fruit, milk chocolate, and so much more – and intensifies them. It’s partly due to the higher-proof, cask strength bottling at 58.6% ABV, but much of the “ooomph” is derived from time spent in first-fill Ruby Port and Amontillado Sherry casks. The port, which is most notable on the nose, imparts a dark candied fruitiness that belies its whiskey roots. At the same time, the sherry impact is evident in the finish, adding a creamy nuttiness beyond the initial pecan notes. As with the original version, I’m particularly fond of the notable nuttiness in the aroma, the candied ginger flavors, and the cookie or pie-crust on the finish. I find myself sniffing the glass long after the dram is finished. It’s deep, dark, and complex!

Tasting Notes

Although my initial taste seemed a tad”closed in” due to the alcohol heat, after adding a few drops of high-quality drinking water to reduce the burn, the flavors exploded. If I didn’t like it so much just for its own sake, I’d argue that this release makes a superb dessert or cigar dram. I’m heartbroken that the sample bottle I received is nearly empty, but more so that it’s not available anywhere near me! I fully expected The Quintessential Portside to be spectacular, but it far surpasses my love for the original!

Final Thoughts

I can’t recommend The Quintessential Portside highly enough. It takes all the characteristics that I love about malt whiskey and intensifies them. Although it has all the earmarks of a good Speyside Scotch, it imparts something uniquely American. It fills a niche in my preference portfolio, much like The Dalmore Cigar Malt, The Macallan Sherry Cask, and other port and sherry-influenced whiskies. I can’t wait until Cedar Ridge is available on the shelf here in Arizona. If you want to try something uniquely spectacular, I highly recommend getting some! And if you’re looking for a lonely soul to get a gift for, buy one for me!!!