Raisin | Dark fruits | Black raspberry | Hot pepper spice

Luxardo cherries | Raisin | Plum | Charred oak | Light smoke | Nutty base | Rich & savory

White peppercorn spice | Dark cherries | Raisin | Graham cracker | Dry leather

Frontera is a limited annual release from Whiskey Del Bac that was first introduced in 2022. According to the initial press release, “Frontera is Whiskey Del Bac’s Classic, aged in new American white oak, then finished an additional 13 months in Pedro Ximénez Sherry botas. The American single malt is named after the medieval city, Jerez de la Frontera, which sits on what was once the edge of Spain and is known as the world capital of sherry wine. This once border city still embodies a cultural richness that is common where countries meet.”

Frontera is part of the Whiskey Del Bac Global Cask Collection, which are limited releases inspired by different parts of the world. This year’s release marks Whiskey Del Bac’s second annual release of Frontera, and while they have produced more than their inaugural release, the 2023 release is still small, with a total of only 1,200 bottles produced in total.

Scents of raisin, black raspberry, and hot pepper spice give way to a rich and savory palate with flavors of Luxardo cherries, raisin, plum, charred oak, and light smoke atop a nutty base. It finishes on a spicy note, with white peppercorn spice amidst dark cherries, raisin, and graham cracker. Dry leather emerges on the backend.

Like other whiskeys from Whiskey Del Bac, Frontera is rich in its delivery of flavors and comes across as unique and authentic. It’s not malt-forward as single malts can be, instead focusing more on the dark fruit flavors undoubtedly driven by the finishing barrels. It’s a significant step up from the previous year’s release as a result. One thing is certain, as the American single malt category continues to take shape, Whiskey Del Bac is one of the distilleries taking part in defining it.