Deerhammer American Single Malt

A friend gave me a bottle of this Colorado whiskey in April as a late birthday present. I decided to try it neat and also mixed with my go-to soda, Coca Cola. This whiskey is produced and aged entirely on-site for 2 years in newly charred virgin oak barrels. This is the most recent batch, number 41, and it comes in at a strong 46% ABV. Its color is a bright, new penny copper, and it leaves noticeably thick, oily legs when swirled. I think it costs about $40 and, as far as I know, it's currently only available in Colorado. The aroma is delightful: caramel, cinnamon, and milk chocolate are the main notes. The influence of the barrel and the heat from the alcohol are skillfully well-concealed. The taste is warm and remarkably smooth for a spirit aged only 2 years. More toffee and chocolate bits are present, along with a pleasant spicy kick from the oak finally making its presence known. There's enough bite to balance the sweetness. The finish is rather brief and somewhat weak considering the nose and palate. There's sufficient subtle oak to counteract the sweetness. I ended up using about a third of this bottle with Coke over a week. Some evenings it tasted quite good, while other nights it seemed excessively sweet. The cola and chocolate flavors didn't quite meld as I had anticipated. Overall, it's an excellent whiskey for sipping, though. $40 is a fantastic price. It has enough strength to impress you, but it's smooth enough to be a fine end-of-meal treat. If you are in Colorado and see bottles of this on the shelves, I strongly suggest grabbing one. Seriously, get two or three, and I'll trade you for one. It's good stuff. I rate it 4 to 4.25 stars. My thanks again to my friend. This was a great choice. Enjoyment.

(Remembering this from a few weeks ago in Denver). I'm really enjoying the craft American whiskey movement. While some are misses, and others are hits (like High West, Westland, Coppersea), there are also these smaller, craft distilleries run by just a couple of people (similar to this one and Wyoming's Single Track) that are producing fantastic whiskies at accessible prices, but are geographically limited due to distribution constraints. I sampled this, then bought a whole bottle. It's like liquified chocolate. The nose offers cinnamon and cloves, leading to liquid chocolate and caramel on the taste. It might be too sweet if you prefer only Island or Islay malts, but if you're open to occasionally deviating from peat, smoke, and brine with a dessert-like malt, this is worth trying, especially considering the price (I believe I paid around $45). Since I visit Denver monthly, I might have a steady supply of this going forward.

Returning to a craft distillery from the western region, this is Deerhammer American Single Malt from Colorado. They handle the entire process—milled, mashed, fermented, distilled, and bottled—all in a quiet mountain town. It's a pretty cool story. Initially, the aroma wasn't to my liking, presenting a sour, hot faux-leather scent mixed with grass, reminiscent of a landscaping shop. While a weak nose can often spoil a drink, Deerhammer redeems itself with its taste and finish, offering cacao nibs and a sharp sweetness that is very pleasing. Rating: Although a commendable offering from an interesting distillery, the 92 score seems overly generous; it likely deserves a mid-80s rating. As far as I know, it's only available in Colorado, and at $47, I considered it a reasonable purchase. I would definitely consider buying another bottle in the future. Cheers, everyone. Batch: 41

My family brought this back with them after visiting Colorado. I detect notes of chocolate-covered raisins on the nose, along with some cinnamon/nutmeg, reminiscent of raisin bread. The palate is dominated by deep, dark, bitter chocolate flavors, and I also perceive some vanilla. This whiskey has a consistent spiciness that you can feel. Additionally, a sweet nuttiness emerges on the finish. This is quite intriguing and warrants further exploration. I'm very curious about the impact of the open-top fermentation and direct-flame pot distillation on the flavor profile. Kudos to Deerhammer for this spirit. If only they had distribution in Texas...

The label indicates a minimum age of 2 years, suggesting most of the spirit is 2 years old, with older barrels blended in to refine the taste. I'd be interested in trying it with a higher age statement, as I appreciate Deerhammer's approach, but it needs more time to mellow. Nose: Nougat and chocolate on the initial aroma, with a slightly dusty quality. Palate: Sweet, with notes of orange, coffee, cocoa, and a hint of menthol. It has a slightly harsh texture. Finish: More coffee flavor, with an acetone aftertaste. While it has a promising start, I believe a few more years would help refine it further.

The appearance of this single malt resembles polished brass, with thick, watery streaks descending the glass. The nose is sweet, offering notes of green apple, cinnamon sugar cookie, lemon zest, red grapes, chocolate, honey, and vanilla. The palate has an oily texture and presents flavors of tangy clementine, plum, strawberry, caramel, milk chocolate, and honey. The finish is extended, with some initial warmth, and concludes with a Raisin Bran cereal note. Cheers!