St. George 40th Anniversary Single Malt Whisky

St. George 40th Anniversary Single Malt Whisky is a rare celebratory release from one of America’s pioneering craft distilleries. Created to mark four decades of innovation at the Alameda, California distillery, this limited bottling blends select barrels from across St. George’s whiskey library into a richly layered American single malt. Elegant, complex, and deeply collectible, it captures the evolution of the distillery’s style while showcasing the artistry of blending matured malt whiskies from a wide range of casks.

Origins & Craftsmanship
St. George Spirits, founded in 1982 in Alameda, California, is widely regarded as one of the early pioneers of the American craft distilling movement. The distillery began releasing single malt whiskey in 2000 and has built a reputation for experimental maturation and blending techniques.

The 40th Anniversary Edition was crafted as a special one-time release to commemorate the distillery’s four decades of artisan distillation. Head distiller Dave Smith evaluated more than 600 barrels from the distillery’s aging warehouses before selecting just 14 exceptional casks to create the final blend.

These casks ranged widely in age—from younger malts to some of the oldest whiskey in the distillery’s inventory—allowing the final spirit to showcase a broad spectrum of maturation character. The result is a complex American single malt that reflects decades of experimentation with diverse barrel types and finishing techniques.

The release was extremely limited—only 1,982 bottles were produced, a nod to the year St. George Spirits was founded. Bottled at approximately 48% ABV, the whiskey delivers both depth and intensity while preserving the elegant malt character for which the distillery is known. 

Tasting Profile

Nose:
Expressive aromas of toasted malt, honey, dried fruit, vanilla, and baking spice, layered with hints of oak and dark caramel.

Palate:
Full and richly textured, revealing caramelized sugar, roasted malt, cocoa, dried cherry, and oak spice, supported by subtle citrus and herbal undertones.

Finish:
Long and warming, with lingering malt sweetness, chocolate, spice, and toasted oak, reflecting the depth achieved through multi-cask blending.

Quick Overview

Cocktail Recipes

While this whiskey is best enjoyed neat or with a drop of water, it can also anchor refined spirit-forward cocktails.

American Single Malt Old Fashioned

• 2 oz St. George 40th Anniversary Single Malt

• ¼ oz demerara syrup

• 2 dashes aromatic bitters
  Stir with ice and strain over a large cube; garnish with an orange peel.

Malt Manhattan

• 2 oz St. George 40th Anniversary Single Malt

• 1 oz sweet vermouth

• 2 dashes aromatic bitters
  Stir with ice and strain into a chilled coupe; garnish with a cherry.