THE SPIRIT
Breaking & Entering American Whiskey is our second release under the Breaking & Entering label. Whereas our gone-but-not-forgotten B&E Bourbon was a bourbon blend, B&E American Whiskey brings together bourbon and rye that head distiller/blender Dave Smith sourced and then blended with some of our own California malt whiskey. The blend brings together four grains—rye, corn, barley, wheat—with no one grain being dominant.
“As good as the sourced barrels were, it was only when I started blending them with our own malt whiskey that I realized we were onto something truly worthy of the Breaking & Entering mantle,” says Smith. “Breaking & Entering American Whiskey is an evolutionary step forward for B&E, and I sincerely hope it will delight longtime fans who have been patiently awaiting its return.”
THE PROCESS
Smith sourced individual casks of rye and bourbon from some of our favorite distilleries in Kentucky and Tennessee and brought them back to our own distillery here in California. He then blended the sourced barrels with some choice barrels from our in-house whiskey program to create a balanced, expressive, all-American whiskey.
THE EXPERIENCE
On the nose, you’ll find toffee, candied orange peel, cinnamon, and cherry bark. On the palate, rich pecan pastry, bittersweet chocolate, fruit preserves, and spice. Enjoy in classic cocktails, such as in an Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Whiskey Sour, or Sazerac. See here for suggested recipes.
ABOUT THE NAME
When we launched the B&E label in 2011 with our Breaking & Entering Bourbon, we deliberately chose the name in order to be transparent about the fact that whiskey made under the B&E label uses barrels we pilfered from other distilleries. We also wanted to distinguish our barrel-thieving side hobby from our own longstanding in-house whiskey program (which began in 1996 when we started laying down barrels for our St. George Single Malt Whiskey, and also includes our Baller Single Malt Whiskey).
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
A boundary-breaking spirit rich with toffee, candied citrus and dark chocolate. — Imbibe
Jammy, spicy, all-American goodness. — Esquire
Superbly silky and velvet… Smooth and balanced. — ABV
A natural for classic American cocktails. — Robb Report
This sipper shows smooth vanilla, spice and oak with a tease of red fruit on the finish. — Wine Enthusiast
SPECS
Format: 750ml
ABV: 43%