New Liberty Dutch Malt Whiskey 750ML

New Liberty Dutch Malt Whiskey 750ML is a 102-proof (51% ABV) American malt whiskey from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, built on Munich-style dark-roasted malted barley. It earned a Double Gold Award and Best Malt Whiskey at the 2016 American Distilling Institute competition, and The Whiskey Wash rated it 4.5 out of 5 — recognition that highlights a genuinely unconventional approach to American whiskey production.

Quick Facts: ABV: 51% (102 Proof)  |  Origin: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  |  Aged minimum 6 months in new charred oak  |  Distillery: New Liberty Distillery

Production & Heritage

New Liberty Distillery operates out of Philadelphia and takes a distinctly beer-influenced approach to whiskey making. The Dutch Malt expression uses Munich-style two-row malted barley sourced from Deer Creek Malt House in Chester County, Pennsylvania — a grain that receives a significantly darker roast than is typical in American whiskey production. This brewing-world technique imparts deep chocolate-malt and toasted-bread character at the grain level, before the spirit ever touches wood. The whiskey is aged for a minimum of six months in new, charred American oak barrels, allowing the barrel influence to complement rather than overpower the distinctive malt profile.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe stone fruit and a velvety malt sweetness, followed by layers of cocoa, nutmeg, and toasted grain. Subtle orange peel and vanilla emerge with time in the glass.

Taste: The palate enters grain-forward and nutty, quickly developing rich chocolate malt and toasted bread flavors across the mid-palate. Coffee bean, light leather, and a warm nutmeg spice build toward a peak of burnt sugar and saturated oak intensity.

Finish: Long and assertive, with tart chocolate-spice lingering prominently before circling back to sweeter stone fruit and cinnamon. Cereal and cocoa-malt notes persist well after the sip, rewarding patience.

How to Drink Dutch Malt

At 51% ABV, this whiskey has enough structure to drink neat, though adding a few drops of water opens it up considerably — reviewers note that water rearranges the flavor profile toward something closer to a malt Scotch character, which makes for an interesting comparative exercise. On the rocks, the chocolate and coffee notes become more approachable. For cocktails, the dark malt backbone brings uncommon depth to several classics:

• Old Fashioned — The chocolate malt and burnt sugar notes harmonize naturally with bitters and a sugar cube.
• Manhattan — Rich cocoa and coffee-bean flavors stand up to sweet vermouth without getting lost.
• Irish Coffee (riff) — The grain-forward, coffee-laden profile echoes the drink's flavors, reinforcing rather than competing with brewed coffee.

Best For

• Craft beer enthusiasts curious about how brewing-style malt treatment translates to whiskey
• Scotch drinkers exploring American-made malt whiskey alternatives
• Gifting to someone who values small-batch, locally sourced grain-to-glass production
• Building a tasting flight of American malt whiskeys alongside more conventional expressions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Dutch Malt taste like? It is distinctly grain-forward with prominent chocolate malt, toasted bread, and coffee bean flavors, followed by a long finish of tart chocolate-spice and stone fruit. The dark-roasted Munich barley gives it a character more reminiscent of a rich stout than a typical American whiskey.

How does Dutch Malt compare to a Scotch single malt? Reviewers note that when diluted with water, the Dutch Malt takes on qualities resembling a standard Scotch single malt, though it retains more overt chocolate-malt sweetness and a higher proof punch at 51% ABV. Unlike most Scotch, it is aged in new charred oak rather than used casks, which gives it bolder wood influence relative to its young age.

Is Dutch Malt good for sipping neat? Yes — at 102 proof it carries intensity, but the underlying malt sweetness and cocoa richness provide enough balance for neat drinking, especially for those accustomed to cask-strength or barrel-proof whiskeys.

Where is Dutch Malt made? It is produced by New Liberty Distillery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, using Munich-style two-row malted barley from Deer Creek Malt House in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

What foods pair well with Dutch Malt? Dark chocolate truffles amplify the cocoa and coffee notes. Smoked brisket matches the charred oak character. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the malt sweetness. Pecan pie echoes the nutty, caramel-adjacent flavors. Espresso-rubbed pork complements the roasted grain and coffee-bean profile.

What sizes does Dutch Malt come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Dutch Malt worth the price? It positions as a craft-tier American malt whiskey with a genuinely distinctive production method, Double Gold credentials from the American Distilling Institute, and a 4.5/5 rating from The Whiskey Wash — factors that support its value within the small-batch American malt category.

Why Dutch Malt?

What separates this whiskey from nearly everything else in the American malt category is the deliberate use of Munich-style dark-roasted barley — a technique borrowed from brewing, not distilling tradition. That grain treatment creates a chocolate-malt and coffee intensity at the spirit level that no amount of barrel aging alone can replicate. The Double Gold from the 2016 American Distilling Institute confirms this is not just a novelty; it is a well-executed expression that won over judges in blind competition. For anyone seeking an American whiskey that genuinely tastes different from the bourbon-and-rye mainstream, the Dutch Malt delivers a flavor profile with few real parallels on the shelf.