Deerhammer Port Cask Finish

The best part of staying at the same hotel during my monthly business trips to Denver is the familiarity with the staff. A hotel bartender gave me a complimentary pour of this. She mentioned it's difficult to find, being a limited, local release with low yield. I enjoyed the original Deerhammer whiskey, but this seemed more experimental and less refined. It's aged for about two years, then finished for another year in port casks. I admired the color—a burnt sienna shade. The aroma shows potential. Notes of dark cherry pie and buttered bread. However, the palate is somewhat disjointed. It has a syrupy, oily texture. Very sweet, almost like a dessert. The initial taste is overly astringent. A jumble of flavors vying for attention. And it's hot. Quite hot. A respectable start, but it needs more time maturing.

During a recent visit to CO, I received a complimentary small pour at the hotel bar. Being a regular guest at this hotel has its perks, like complimentary amenities (water, drinks, breakfast, room upgrades when available, etc.). I sampled this previously, but hoped a second try would alter my perception. It did not. This spirit is akin to how I preferred my dates in college: hot, young, and uninteresting, lacking any character. Not sure it's worth further comment... I'll conclude the review here...

I found this to be amazing. It has strong caramel notes.

Very chocolatey with a hint of dark fruit on the finish.

Fruity. Potent. Spicy as it goes down.