King's County Single Malt 750ML

Kings County Single Malt 750ML is a 100% malted barley American single malt whiskey from Brooklyn, New York, bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof) in a 750ml format. This expression earned a Gold medal at the 2019 ACSA Craft Spirit Awards and represents one of the more distinctive American interpretations of the single malt tradition, blending Scottish-sourced peated barley with New York craft distilling sensibility.

Quick Facts: ABV: 47% (94 proof)  |  Origin: Brooklyn, New York, USA  |  Minimum 3 Years Old  |  Distillery: Kings County Distillery

Production & Heritage

Kings County Distillery, founded in 2010, holds the distinction of being one of the first whiskey distilleries to open in New York City since Prohibition. The single malt is produced from a mashbill of 100% malted barley — specifically New York Erie Pale Ale malt alongside Thomas Fawcett Golden Promise and Chariot Peated Malt sourced from England and Scotland. The grain is open-fermented off the grain and twice distilled through traditional Scottish-style copper pot stills, then aged for a minimum of three years in the distillery's own used bourbon barrels rather than the sherry or wine casks more typical of Scotch production. This barrel choice imparts a distinctly American character — leaning into vanilla and toasted oak — while the peated malt provides a restrained smokiness that nods toward its Scottish roots.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Biscuity malt rises first, followed by flamed orange peel and a thread of smouldering hay. Behind those initial impressions, gentle honeyed sweetness and floral notes emerge alongside a whisper of peat smoke.

Taste: The palate opens with delicate malt sweetness and tropical fruit tones before moving into a mid-palate layered with toasted oak, vanilla, and candied citrus. As it develops, honeyed stone fruits meet drying woody spice, and an elegant peat smoke weaves through without overwhelming the grain character.

Finish: Medium in length, the finish carries burnt orange peel, lingering hay, and a dry, sophisticated smokiness. The oak influence remains balanced, leaving behind clean malt and a subtle sweetness that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Kings County Single Malt

At 47% ABV, this whiskey rewards neat drinking — a few drops of water open up the floral and tropical fruit layers without washing out the peat. It also holds up well on a single large ice cube as the dilution gradually shifts the balance toward honey and vanilla. In cocktails, try it in a Penicillin, where the light peat complements the ginger-honey syrup rather than fighting it; in a Rob Roy, where the malt sweetness pairs naturally with sweet vermouth; or in a Whiskey Highball, where the burnt orange and smoke notes carry cleanly through sparkling water.

Best For

• Scotch drinkers curious about American single malt whiskey
• Gifting to a craft spirits enthusiast who values provenance and small-batch production
• After-dinner sipping alongside dark chocolate or dried fruit
• Building a home bar collection that spans single malt traditions across regions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Kings County Single Malt taste like? It presents a layered profile of honey, tropical fruit, and burnt orange peel balanced by toasted oak, vanilla, and a delicate peat smoke that runs throughout without dominating.

How does Kings County Single Malt compare to lighter Highland Scotch malts? Both share a malt-forward, gently smoky character, but Kings County's aging in used American bourbon barrels lends more pronounced vanilla and toasted oak sweetness than the typically subtler oak influence found in Highland malts aged in refill casks. The use of Thomas Fawcett peated malt also gives it a hay-like smokiness rather than the coastal or medicinal peat common in many Scottish expressions.

Is Kings County Single Malt good for sipping neat? Yes — the 47% ABV is high enough to deliver full flavor intensity but restrained enough to drink without water, making it an approachable neat pour for anyone who enjoys malt-driven whiskey with moderate complexity.

Where is Kings County Single Malt made? It is distilled and aged at Kings County Distillery in Brooklyn, New York, one of the borough's first legal whiskey distilleries since Prohibition. The malted barley is sourced from New York as well as from maltsters Thomas Fawcett in England and Scotland.

What foods pair well with Kings County Single Malt? Smoked salmon works well alongside the whiskey's peat and citrus character. Aged cheddar picks up on the toasted oak and malt sweetness. Stone fruit tarts mirror the honeyed fruit notes on the palate. Dark chocolate amplifies the burnt orange peel finish. Charcuterie with dried apricots bridges the savory spice and candied citrus tones.

What sizes does Kings County Single Malt come in? The standard release is available in a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely distributed format from Kings County Distillery.

Is Kings County Single Malt worth the price? It positions in the craft-premium tier, above mass-market blends but competitive with mid-range Scotch single malts. The small-batch Brooklyn production, Scottish pot still distillation, and minimum three-year aging in the distillery's own used bourbon barrels provide tangible quality behind the price point — reinforced by a Gold medal at the 2019 ACSA Craft Spirit Awards.

Why Kings County Single Malt?

What separates this whiskey from the growing field of American single malts is its specific barrel program: aging in the distillery's own used bourbon barrels rather than sourcing fresh cooperage. That recycling creates a dialogue between the bourbon character already absorbed into the wood and the peated, malt-heavy new make spirit — a combination that doesn't exist in traditional Scotch or Japanese production. The Gold medal from the 2019 ACSA Craft Spirit Awards and a Silver from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition confirm that the result is more than an interesting concept. For drinkers who appreciate single malt whiskey but want something that doesn't simply replicate Scotland or Japan, Kings County delivers a genuinely Brooklyn-born expression with verifiable craft credentials and a flavor profile that stands on its own.