The latest celebrity whisky is here – this sees a collaboration between global singer and songwriter Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Moët Hennessy, the drinks subsidiary of LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy). SirDavis is named after Knowles-Carter’s paternal great-grandfather, Davis Hogue – a farmer in the American South during the Prohibition era of the 1920s who did a bit of moonshining on the side. This family history, plus Knowles-Carter’s love of Japanese whisky, is said to have been the main inspiration behind the new brand and product.
As part of the collaboration Moët Hennessy called on the assistance of their most senior whisky maker, Dr. Bill Lumsden – the Director of Whisky Creation for Scotch whisky brands Glenmorangie and Ardbeg. He selected a mashbill consisting of 51% rye and 49% malted barley. After initial maturation in new American oak barrels, the spirit has undergone a secondary maturation period in ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. The finishing, blending and bottling have taken place in Knowles-Carter’s home state of Texas, with the brand based out of Houston.
SirDavis is available from retailers across the USA and can also be ordered now via www.sirdavis.com. It is bottled at 44% ABV (88 Proof) and is non-chill filtered. It is also be in selected retailers worldwide including the UK, France and Japan, plus airports including Los Angeles, New York (JFK) and San Francisco. A bottle will cost US$85/ £79.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is a deep coppery amber and the nose is instantly vibrant and fresh with plenty of green fruit, wood and spice on show. Aromas of bitter orange and baked apple mingle with freshly sawn oak and chocolate coated raisins. Underneath are further aromas of toasted rye bread and some warm baking spices. These have a peppery edge with a hint of clove.
On the palate this whiskey is robust and rich with the sweet and fruity aspects showing first. The chocolate coated raisin note from the nose is joined by some golden syrup and dark treacle tart. Then comes some of the baked apple – this is now topped with vanilla patisserie custard and a pinch of cinnamon – and that toasted rye bread note again. This builds with time in the mouth and is an interesting mix between sweet and savoury.
The savoury notes slowly begin to build and take control as the sweeter characteristics are pushed to the background. Earthy cereals take hold in the second half of the palate, as do notes of freshly sawn oak. These are complimented well by evolving woody and earthy spices that are reminiscent of cinnamon bark, clove and szechuan pepper. Hints of maraschino cherry, menthol and orange oil are also present, as is some bitter walnut and crisp green capsicum.
The finish is of decent length and becomes increasingly dry and peppery with time. The sweetness and fruitiness is all up front and fades rapidly to leave the woody and toasted rye notes to battle it out. The oaky elements and woody spices (cinnamon and clove in particular) dry things out and leave it gripping the tastebuds.
What’s The Verdict?
This is an interesting whiskey and one with plenty of attitude. It is not the easiest drinker when tasted neat if we are honest and the robustness, peppery nature and a distinct astringency contribute to this. However, it would mix well and stand out in a cocktail superbly well. SirDavis has taken rye whiskey is a slightly different direction – it does have elements of a classic rye profile but exaggerates and pushes them down an alternative path.
The choice of a rye whiskey with a finish in an expressive cask type like Pedro Ximenez sherry is a bold one. Rather than panda to a wide audience and generic flavour profile, Beyoncé and Dr. Bill have created something to start a conversation and get people talking about the whiskey – this can only be good for the category and introduce new people to it.
