Stranahan's Original

Batch 247, Bottle 4782. I appreciate the tall Stranahan bottle, similar to E.H. Taylor but with a squared-off back, and the metal jigger. The new labeling is also attractive. Appearance: Light amber in the glass with good legs. Aroma: Sweet cereal and a dusty floral note (perhaps chocolate?). It progresses from malted grain to Malt Balls. Taste: Rich, light port oak flavors, banana, and a balanced (not hot) ethanol follow. Mouthfeel: Pleasantly lightly oily. Finish: Short, but honeyed grain and some spice remain. It's not hot, but a rather subtle, delicate finish. One can imagine where peat smoke flavors might fit if this were a scotch, but it is not. I can understand the professional reviewer's description of chocolate milk on the nose, and I would add that it's a lingering essence I noticed about a minute after the finish. First impression: A beautiful example of American single malt. If you dislike scotch peat, try this for the unpeated single malt character. I will revisit this assessment as I become more familiar with this bottle. Next night: Tried with ice. Initially, the ice intensified the sweet cereal and ethanol (which was surprising). With some melting, the spice and grain sweetness mellowed into a creamy finish. This is easy to enjoy, though not as complex as when neat.

NEAT NOSE - Loads of honey and a distinct malt aroma, reminiscent of an unpeated scotch. Touches of cinnamon and vanilla are also present. Compared to scotch, the aroma is richer, warmer, and livelier. PALATE - Sweet, thick honey. The texture is dense and oily. I also detect cinnamon and vanilla, with the cinnamon being quite subtle. FINISH - Long and Lingering BUY? - Definitely. This is a highly distinctive pour that might lead you to explore American Single Malts. BUY AGAIN?? I would repurchase if seeking this specific flavor profile. It's truly unique. Additionally, they offer Single Barrel Cask Strength versions of this, and I recently acquired one. Keep an eye out for those. I'm eager to try mine.

The aroma was pleasant, with vanilla and cinnamon, and the taste had notes of cherry, vanilla, and cinnamon. Overall solid, but nothing particularly stood out. Stranahan's selections are distinctive and worth trying as they balance bourbon and scotch characteristics. Despite being a single malt, it has many bourbon-like qualities. I could grow to like this distillery over time, as I was surprised by its unique take on whiskey, but it's a good kind of unique, and I'm eager to try more of their offerings in the future. The distillery tour was absolutely worthwhile! And the location is great!

I actually purchased this on a discount at Walmart for $20 on impulse. I typically stick to bourbon and rye, but this was a spontaneous buy. I'm so glad I did. The aroma is a very pleasant apple note with a hint of sweet tea. It's something you might expect from a brandy. The taste mirrors the aroma, with that apple note carrying through to a somewhat short finish with just a touch of spice. I would certainly buy another bottle at $50 when this one runs out. It's easy to drink and a good choice to introduce to fellow bourbon drinkers as a change of pace.

Caramel and leather aromas. Very appealing. Dark chocolate and caramel are present on the palate. The middle of the palate is warmed by cinnamon with hints of butterscotch and vanilla. The finish has some maple syrup and the warmth of the alcohol. It's long and satisfying. This will have a place in my home bar.

To me, this tastes like a carnival with candied apples and cotton candy. When I read the tasting notes, I can definitely pick out each of those flavors, the spice and warm honey. But without that information, it's just pure candy, and I really like it (in small amounts).