SIPPIN’ SINGLE MALT • Don Thumel

Description

Though my roots run deep in jazz and pop piano, the response to my first country album made one thing clear—I wasn’t finished down that road. The songs kept showing up, so I followed them, writing and arranging a second collection that leans confidently into a country voice.

Sippin’ Single Malt speaks in a grounded, plainspoken way—simple, sincere, and built on the kinds of truths country music has always carried. Still, I couldn’t resist adding a twist here and there. Ain’t Just Another Country Song reflects that tendency. The title track itself grew out of a friend’s casual nudge—“When are you going to write Drinkin’ Single Malt?”—and this is where that idea ultimately settled.

Alongside the title track are Jump Start, Wish You Could Have Been There, That’s Country Livin’, Old Habits Die Hard, Honky-Tonk Jazz (one I’m especially fond of), and Somethin’ Different—a more personal piece that explores the emotional undercurrent that comes with facing an unexpected, life-altering illness.

Also included is The Christmas In Me, released on Christmas Eve 2025, which received a wonderfully warm response.

In the end, Sippin’ Single Malt continues the journey—blending tradition, honest storytelling, and just enough of a sideways turn to keep things real.

See SONG LIST in PHOTOS.