Romanian Whisky arrives in the USA

| BY KEVIN PILLEY

Worth $790m, the United States became the No.1 market for Scotch whisky in 2021. It has been estimated that four bottles of Scotch were exported to the US every second last year. The first few cases of Romanian are now available made in place called Pleasa.

The Carpathian Mountains of Romania boasts the largest track of virgin forests in Central Europe and nearly a half 45% of the continent’s big carnivores’ population. Nearly half of the 930 mile long Carpathian (from the Dacian for rocky) chain is in Romania, as well as providing the home of the largest free European wolf and bear populations, the region has now lent its name to the country’s first malt was launched in the US on May 21 – World Whisky Day, and it’s made by a Scotsman not a Transylvanian. The 46% ABV The whisky has been under the stewardship of master distiller Allan Anderson, formerly of the Great Northern Distillery, Slane Distillery, Whyte, Mackay and the Loch Lomond Distillery.

“When we started in 2017, we set out to make a world-class single malt whisky. We began by upgrading our equipment and updating the training of our laboratory staff. “The first distillate was produced in September 2017. We now have thousands of casks with 37 different whiskies. Over a 30-year career, I’ve made hundreds of millions of liters of whisky, in large grain distilleries and in smaller malt plants, across three countries. This is the first time I’ve seen it through from inception all the way to signing the first release of the finished product with my name as Master Distiller. It’s been a hugely rewarding experience. “It is immensely gratifying to contribute to writing this part of Romanian history.” Carpathian is the first single malt to have been matured in ex-Romanian wine casks/The Alexandrion Group, Romania’s largest spirits and wine producer and distributor will showcase the range of single malts with global events throughout the year. The liquids will make their debut as a special event held in the residence of the Romanian ambassador to the US in Washington D.C.

Founding chairman and the only east European Keeper of the Quaich, Syrian businessman Nawaf Salameh, says: “We have been quietly distilling and maturing the single malt whisky liquid since 2017, sourcing casks from all over Europe and the USA.”

The three inaugural expressions are a Feteasca Neagra and Pinot Noir whisky from the brand’s Romanian Wine Cask Selection, and a Madeira cask-finished whisky, which its feature as part of the Spanish and Portuguese Wine Cask Selection. Both the Feteasca Neagra and Madeira-finished whiskies were initially matured in first-fill Bourbon casks, while the Pinot Noir expression was exclusively matured in Romanian Pinot Noir casks. The use of Romanian wine casks is a ‘world first’ in terms of single malt production, despite Romania’s 2,000-year history of wine production. Later in the year, there will be a commercial launch of 10,000 bottles with eleven finishes.

Carpathian Single Malt is distilled, matured and bottled at the Alexandrion Saber 1789 Distillery. The company also operates the Gleneida Distillery in Carmel, New York. Adds Anderson: “This whisky perfectly showcases our distillery terroir. The huge flavor impact of our malted 100% Romanian barley, the pure sub-Carpathian water combined with the unique flavors of Romanian and Portuguese wine casks make Carpathian Single Malt an exquisite whisky, which without doubt will become one of the best in the world as it further matures. “The maturation in warmer climate regions vs Scotland (+5⁰C on average) might explain the unique, milder character of this superb whisky.”