Introduction
I picked up a bottle of JW Powell American Single Malt out of curiosity more than anything else. I’ve been exploring more American malts lately, and this bottle caught my eye with its simple presentation and reasonable price. I didn’t go in expecting complexity or age—just wanted to see what this smaller brand from Colorado could do with a straightforward single malt style.
Nose
Right from the pour, the nose is clean but a bit reserved. There’s a clear cereal note, like barley and dry grain, followed by hints of dried apple and unripe pear. Some soft oak shows up with a slight woodshop hint—dry sawdust more than sweet oak—and there’s a faint edge of vanilla and light cinnamon. Not especially intense, but everything comes together in a calm, balanced way.
Palate
On the palate, the whisky stays in familiar territory. Medium-bodied and easy on the tongue, with more of those grainy malty notes leading the way. A mild sweetness builds with some green apple and dry apricot. There’s a touch of baking spice and a faint, toasted tannic oak note that gives it a bit more grip on the mid-palate. I didn’t find much smoke or depth here—it leans light, with an even tempo throughout the sip.
Finish
The finish is short to medium in length and sticks close to the palate. A drying feel from the oak carries through, with lingering notes of cracked cereal grain and a bit of brown sugar. A tiny tickle of spice lingers at the end, but it fades quickly and doesn’t overstay its welcome. It’s clean and leaves the mouth fresh but not terribly complex.
Price and Value
When you consider the price—generally sitting around the $35–$45 mark—it’s a fair value for what it offers. JW Powell isn’t trying to be flashy or overly layered. It’s a steady, gentle American single malt that most people can sip without needing a lot of prior experience. For those looking to try an entry-level malt or branch out from bourbon into barley-based spirits, this feels like a reasonable place to start.
Background
JW Powell American Single Malt is made by the Colorado-based Lee Spirits Company. It’s distilled entirely from malted barley and produced in small batches. As far as I can tell, there’s no age statement, and it likely hasn’t spent many years in barrel—probably under four. The presentation is simple and transparent, bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof), which gives it a little backbone without feeling hot.
These kinds of American single malts still represent a growing category, and products like this show that there’s a lot of room to explore. It’s clearly made with care, if not aiming for anything particularly bold.
Final Notes
Would I buy this bottle again? I probably wouldn’t keep it on regular rotation, but I could see myself returning to it now and then—especially as a casual evening sip or to introduce friends to American malts. Is it suitable for newcomers? Absolutely. The flavour is soft and well-mannered, without the aggressive oak or sweetness that some might find overwhelming. What kind of moment suits this whisky? I’d say it fits best as a relaxed, everyday pour. It doesn’t demand much attention, so it works nicely in social settings or as a quiet evening drink. How does it compare to others from the same region? Compared to other American malts I’ve tried, JW Powell keeps things simple—it’s not as rich or expressive as some West Coast malts, but it holds its own in approachability and clean structure.