Fox and Oden Single Malt Review
In-Depth Review
Fox & Oden may be a newcomer to the whiskey scene, but they sure came out swinging. Based out of Holland, Michigan, this non-producing distiller is shrouded in mystery. It’s incredibly hard to pin down a history of the brand, where they came from, or where they are getting their whiskies. First launching with a bourbon blended from 8-15 year sourced straight whiskies, they have quickly expanded their range to include a 4-year rye, a double oaked bourbon, and this American single malt whiskey. And while their bourbon has garnered a lot of praise, their single malt seems to have flown under the radar.
Their American single malt features a blend of 4-8 year old malt whiskies that are sourced from an undisclosed distillery. But we can say for sure that this isn’t coming from MGP since the bottle says “distilled in Ohio” rather than Indiana. It comes in at 97 proof and features an MSRP of $69.99. This bottle was on sale from K&L in California for about $45 – so a bit lower than suggested retail. Let’s dive in and see if this mysterious brand has pulled together a compelling expression of American single malt.
Age: Blend of 4-8 year old single malt whiskies
ABV: 47%
Cask: Not Listed
MSRP: $69.99
Distillery Name: Fox & Oden (Sourced from undisclosed distillery)
Review Date: 5/23/23
Color: Light Caramel
Nose: The nose starts off light, with apples, floral notes, then hits you with a heavy dose of dark chocolate and coffee. Then it reverts back to a strange touch of…cucumber? Makes it feel like the type of water you get at a spa but poured through a used coffee filter. The wood notes come off as freshly cut lumber - like the inside of a newly framed house. As it settles, more notes of granola and a whiff of petrichor make an appearance. A strange nose for sure.
Palate: Immediately it hits the palate with lots of cherry cough syrup and bitter coffee grounds. There’s a bit of sweet milk chocolate hiding in the mid palate but back comes the woody coffee filter flavor. As I keep going back, it becomes more fudgy, with thicker chocolate notes. The palate isn’t as good as I was expecting at this price point, with a thin mouthfeel that disappears quickly.
Finish: The finish starts with a short burst of old chalky chocolate mixed with a waxy walnut character before moving into a lingering chili and white pepper.
Final Thoughts: Despite some oddities in its profile, this Fox & Oden single malt is actually an improvement over many versions of craft American single malts out there. While its bitter coffee and fudgy chocolate notes caught me off guard, it is a very drinkable whiskey that happily achieves middle of the road status. The palate I didn’t particularly love, but the finish was a standout. It never asks you to stop and think about what you’re drinking – making it a good conversation whisky, if not a great sipping one. At under $45 I think this is fine, but anything above that and I would argue there are better choices out there.
