McCarthy’s 6 Year PX Sherry Finish

Review #1102; American Single Malt #30

This American Single Malt comes to us from McCarthy’s, a brand that has been making American Single Malt since 1996 at Hood River distillers in Oregon.  The malt is distilled from 100% peat malted barley from Scotland, distilled in a 60 gallon Holstein pot still in a single pass, and then put into Oregon Oak casks. This bottling aged for 6 years in Oregon oak before being finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks from Toneleria Del Sur before being bottled at cask strength with no chill filtering or additives.


Distillery: Hood River Distillers

Bottler: Hood River Distillers

Region: Oregon, United States

ABV: 56.13%

Still: Copper Pot


Nose:  Rotting fall vegetation, Peppery, Raisins, Nuts, Hay, cedar, campfire

Palate: Medium oily mouthfeel, rotting vegetation, dark chocolate, nutty, raisins, hay, cedar, campfire, brine

Finish: Long finish, black pepper, dark chocolate, nutty, fig jam, hay, campfire

Rating: 7/10

This is a great American Single malt. A nice peat base, a bit of sweetness from the PX Finish, and the peppery and dark chocolate notes help to round it out. A great bottling for me.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect