291 Colorado Bourbon Single Barrel

Appearance: This delightful whiskey has a deep brown leather color and leaves very thin, mostly viscous trails. Aroma: The aroma is quite layered! It offers familiar scents like dusty corn, cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, molasses, and cocoa, alongside more unusual ones such as smoke, black grapes, pear, cooked carrots, and a faint polyurethane note. Adding a bit of water brings out notes of wildflowers, honey, and more caramel. Taste: The palate is sharp and a bit rough but enjoyable - a whiskey for a rugged individual. Flavors include caramel, brown sugar, maple, wood tannins, BBQ char, and pineapple. Finish: The finish is long, sweet, and almost minty, making this bourbon ideal for a julep. Reflections: The bottle I have is number 39 of 56, from barrel 387 (for those interested in the details). In my opinion, this adaptable bourbon is excellent served neat, in an old fashioned, or in a mint julep. It's comparable to a well-loved entertainer: versatile and highly effective. I thoroughly enjoy it and am a big fan of this spirit! The distillery has consistently impressed me, and I strongly suggest seeking out a bottle. Thank you again to the distillery! Cheers!

Woody, sweet, and bitter, with more complexity than typical 'vanilla' bourbons. I appreciate the attempt at something different instead of following the overly simple bourbon taste profile that most other distilleries seem to pursue. Does it seem a little young? Yes. However, if you enjoy all kinds of whiskey and are looking for something distinctive, you'll like this. If you're the type of person who exclusively drinks bourbon and believes there's a perfect taste standard everyone should aim for, you probably won't enjoy it - but their opinions don't matter.

Initial pour. I suspect the alcohol content is above what's listed. Intriguing taste, quite enjoyable, leaning more towards savory than sweet. Doesn't come across as potent or harsh. Aspen wood imparts a lingering woody finish. Quite drying in the aftertaste. The finish is brief, marked by wood and spice. I'd be curious to see this with aged spirit, but it's an acceptable debut from this producer for me.

The small batch is 100 proof. There's also a delightful barrel-proof single barrel starting at 125 proof. This isn't a typical Kentucky bourbon; the maltiness makes it a great choice for someone who enjoys Scotch. It's a sweet bourbon with considerable complexity and texture.

The aroma includes rye along with the usual notes. There are slight woody, leathery, and medicinal elements. The taste is initially sweet and medicinal, finishing with some cherry. It's good, but the flavor profile isn't my top choice.

Woody, with a strong scent of oak and cedar. The flavor is oaky with touches of vanilla. The Aspen staves add a pleasant mustiness. It's slightly sweet.