Distillery profile

Triple Eight Distillery

Explore the distillery's history, craft, production, and the distinctive character of its whiskies.

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Triple Eight Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

Triple Eight Distillery produces a wide range of craft spirits on Nantucket Island, with the single malt The Notch as the centerpiece. The distillery's lineup spans vodka, gin and rum to tequila and ready-to-drink cocktails, and many products draw on local ingredients and the deep well that provides water for production. The Notch has received international awards since 2008, contributing to the distillery's profile both locally and abroad.

History

The history of Triple Eight centers on The Notch single malt, released in 2008 and subsequently receiving a number of international awards. In the years that followed, the distillery expanded its product range to include vodka in several varieties (including an organic wheat vodka and several fruit infusions), a Storm Series with gin and rum, and La Langosta tequila in blanco and añejo editions. At the same time, the company has worked with combinations of its own distillation and imported spirits, which are further processed or aged on Nantucket to incorporate the island's aging conditions into the final products.

Raw Materials and Production

The raw materials vary by product category: The Notch is a malt-based single malt, the vodka products are made from organically grown grains and an organic wheat variant, while La Langosta Blanco is produced from 100% blue agave from both lowlands and highlands in Jalisco. The vodka is distilled three times (triple-distilled) for extra purity. The gin in the Storm Series uses nine botanicals with juniper as a prominent component and citrus overtones. For the rum, blends are typically around ten barrels per batch with ages ranging from four to twelve years. Additionally, purchased bourbon is brought to Nantucket for further aging in barrels, used as part of creating special bourbon and blend profiles.

Maturation and Barrel Types

The distillery works with traditional barrels as well as finish or further treatment concepts. The Notch 15 Year highlights a sherry influence, and La Langosta Añejo gains complexity by maturing in oak barrels from Notch Whiskey for more than a year. A recurring tactic is to take finished distilled spirits from other places and let them age in barrels on Nantucket, so the island's climate and aging conditions contribute to the development of flavor complexities.

Whiskies

The core range of whiskies comprises The Notch in 8-, 12-, and 15-year variants. In addition to the single malt, Triple Eight produces a range of vodkas (including fruit infusions and an organic version), the Storm Series with gin and rum, and La Langosta tequila in blanco and añejo. The ready-to-drink line reflects the bar's signature cocktails, and many products highlight local ingredients such as Nantucket cranberries and hand-zested citrus.

Whisky Type / Series Age Cask and Style Flavor Profile Status
The Notch 8 Year Single Malt 8 Year The Notch 8 Year highlights a subtle berry- and vinous quality combined with the distillery's herbal nose.; Nose: Signature herbal nose with discreet berry and vinous qualities.; Taste: Light berry- and vinous-character traits, according to the product description. Current; Core Range; Available
The Notch 12 Year Single Malt 12 Year The Notch 12 Year offers peach and apple tones with tannins and vanilla, as well as a crisp fruity character.; Nose: Notes of peach sorbet and aromatic toffee apples.; Taste: A lively, light palate with tannins, vanilla and orchard fruits; opens and intensifies with water. Current; Core Range; Available
The Notch 15 Year Single Malt 15 Year Sherry cask The Notch 15 Year shows a pronounced sherry influence with rich dried fruits, dark chocolate and vanilla at the center.; Nose: Rich sherry-barrel characteristics.; Taste: Round, sweet fruit character with roasted and dried fruits as well as notes of dark chocolate and vanilla; honey, coconut and spicy highlights are noted. Current; Core Range; Available
Nor' Easter Bourbon Bourbon; Storm Series Bourbon barrels Nor' Easter Bourbon includes both bourbon distilled on Nantucket and bourbon purchased from other states and then aged further on the island. Current; Available

Whisky Style and Flavor Profile

Product descriptions point to three throughlines: fruitiness (berry- and vinous notes in the 8-year, peach and toffee apples in the 12-year, roasted/dried fruits in the 15-year), malt sweetness and vanilla notes that grow with age, and evident oak influence, including sherry casks and tannins in the older releases. Taken together, this paints a picture of a fruit-forward single malt with both light, fresh and heavier, barrel-driven expressions.

Visit the Distillery

On Nantucket there is an on-island bar referred to as "the Brewery" where cocktails from the bar's menu are served and have inspired the distillery's ready-to-drink products. The products can be purchased via the distillery's online shop, and the website offers a contact form for inquiries. There is therefore a physical showroom on the island combined with the option to buy online.

Philosophy and Craftsmanship

Triple Eight emphasizes craftsmanship, local references and high-quality ingredients: the use of water from the deep Nantucket well, organically grown grain for vodka, infusion of local fruits and a combination of own distillation and further processing of purchased spirits. At the same time, traditional techniques such as triple-distillation for vodka and different barrel strategies are used to develop complexity in the products.

Awards and Recognitions

  • Gold Outstanding (Gold Outstanding, The Notch)

  • Best in Class (Best in Class, The Notch)

  • Best in Class (Best in Class, The Notch)

  • Best in Class (Best in Class, The Notch)

  • Best in Class (Best in Class, The Notch)

  • World's Best Small Batch Single Malt (World's Best Small Batch Single Malt, The Notch)