Stranahan's Diamond Peak (old recipe)

Nose: Smells fantastic. Like Cherry Dr Pepper, nougat, plum, spun sugar, and the slightest hint of green oak leaf. Zero ethanol. I could inhale this all night. Palate: Vanilla pudding, cola, muffin, and smooth dried fruits like apple, blueberry, and pear. It's balanced, not overly bright or dark. Finish offers more fruit (apple specifically), plus cocoa powder, and some wood and spice to balance. The flavors are so integrated it's hard to pin down the exact wood or spice. The finish is quite short overall. Mouthfeel is incredibly soft. Overall, it's very pleasing, but extremely MELLOW. The Commodores' song "Easy" comes to mind. I usually prefer bolder spirits, but this one felt like it was saying, "Hey friend, let's relax. No need to be harsh." At $66 and 94 proof, it's likely overpriced, but I enjoyed it enough to give it a 4.0 anyway. I'm not sure I'll buy another bottle soon, but I will truly miss this one when it's gone.

The aroma of this has more pear than the standard Stranahan's, yet it still presents tomato and American cheese. There's also an increase in mineral notes, accompanied by more caramel. The tartness becomes progressively more noticeable. A significant amount of minerals is present, leading to a drying finish. There's a moderate level of smoke, and the flavor profile is clear, although the alcohol is perceptible. A touch of vanilla is there, but fruit and floral elements are scarce. The spiciness is abundant, resulting in some heat. Its richness is somewhat subdued, and it tastes young. There are complexities present, including hints of charred wood and a bit of smoke. It might possess a trace of peat, but not excessively. Could the tomato and cheese notes simply be oiliness? It has a decent richness, though less than the standard Stranahan's. Frankly, the standard version is slightly superior. I would still enjoy sipping this, however. It's decent, but rather uninspiring. If you're seeking some general richness, this might suffice despite its youth.

The nose has barrel char and fruity notes, perhaps banana, and rubbing alcohol. On the palate, it's very chocolatey with bitter dark chocolate, rubbing alcohol, char, and dry oak. The finish is long with bitter chocolate, wood, and grass. Some of the more bitter flavors are a bit too dominant at the end for my preference, but I can appreciate its uniqueness. Edit: I typically don't add water to spirits below 55% ABV, but I did here, and it makes a huge difference. The nose becomes very malty, with hints of spice and a little bitter chocolate. The taste changes even more dramatically. The barley malt really comes forward, and the bitter chocolate notes recede. It has a nice spice, somewhere between ground ginger and white pepper, and develops a sour apple character. The finish has spice, malt, oak, and just a hint of baking chocolate. I wouldn't drink this again without water, but with it, it's almost a different spirit.

I received a generous sample to try this from a friend. I've been meaning to visit the distillery during my regular trips to Denver, but my schedule usually only allows for travel between the office and the hotel. Until then, this will have to suffice. I believe the most notable American single malt distilleries are Westland and this one; the others don't even compare. Products like this will continue to improve as they age more in barrels. This one offers flavors of brown sugar, some mint, and marzipan. It's well-made but young; it could use some age to smooth out the roughness and slightly bitter finish. Until this ages, I'm going to try their sherry cask, which I've heard is better, but what I'd really like to get my hands on is their annual Snowflake release, which is reportedly so amazing that people line up overnight for it. Thanks to my friend for the pour!

Stranahan's has consistently met my expectations. I enjoy their standard whiskey, as well as the single barrel version I sampled; this expression, apparently an upgrade from the flagship, is equally good, if not marginally superior. The mint and dark chocolate characteristics that seem to define the brand's style are even more pronounced here, particularly the mint. It also has a deep, dark fruitiness – not quite dried fig, but certainly reminiscent of raisins. The finish is pleasant, with a mild warmth, and the minty freshness extends for a long duration. An excellent whiskey, well worth the $60 price point.

Sampled at room temperature in a glencairn glass. No water added. 94 proof. The aroma is subtle, gentle, and pleasing. I don't mean to imply it's 'weak'. I detect brown sugar and apple pie. On the palate, a single malt character emerges. It has that distinct profile... you recognize it when you taste it. Sweet, syrupy, vanilla, butterscotch... with a substantial mouthfeel. The finish isn't as long as I would prefer, but while it lasts, it reminds me of apple pie again. Honestly, it's lighter than I'd prefer.