Stranahan's Snowflake

A gift from a friend. I was really looking forward to trying this hard-to-get spirit, and even happier about not having to wait in the cold in Colorado for it. Nose: Immediately, there are very sweet grape notes, almost like grape soda, which I enjoy. Yeasty, funky notes are present, similar to a good fortified wine like port or sherry. A subtle herbal, grassy note with light wood and smoke underneath. Flavor: Wow! Sweet and spicy at the outset. More grape-like, dried cherry, and wine notes mingle with wood, yeast, and a background flavor reminiscent of brandy. It closely matches the aroma. It's not overly thick and has a slight ethanol bite. Finish: Medium to long, with lingering spice and oak, and just a hint of smoke and ash. It's a very interesting and unique spirit. The grape soda-like quality is quite appealing. It definitely leans towards a dessert spirit. If it were more accessible, I would certainly keep it on hand. The distillery certainly excels with a cask-finished single malt!

Batch number 21 Mt. Elbert First opened at the summit of Mt. Elbert on 8/31/2019 Aroma: Smells like a festive holiday. Cloves and citrus (perhaps my own holiday nostalgia influencing this). Sweet potato. Milk chocolate. Vanilla reminiscent of graham crackers. Taste: This tastes like Christmas morning in a glass. Deep, complex, and intensely sweet. Queen Anne's Cordial Cherries (especially the cherry liqueur inside). Please don't judge me... the chocolate notes remind me of cookies and cream.

There's nothing quite like enjoying whiskey in its place of origin—this particular one at the Stranahan's distillery in Denver. Snowflake is their yearly limited release, and just like a real snowflake, no two annual releases are the same. This is their famously sought-after annual release that draws overnight queues when it's available for just one day in December. It's truly exceptional—complex layers of fruit, wine, sherry, and bread pudding. We'll likely never find it elsewhere, so experiencing it at the source was a great opportunity.

Tasting perceptions can vary, as this is an annual single batch release. The initial aroma presents sweet malt and caramel with a touch of heat. The palate is creamy and oaky, with spice and some dry fruit notes from the cognac and sherry casks. The finish is lengthy, maintaining its sweet and spicy character. Quite enjoyable.

Sampled at their tasting room, it was merely acceptable. I really enjoy their standard and Silver Peak offerings, but this one was somewhat overwhelmed by added flavors from secondary aging. Excessively sweet. It's only sold at the distillery and has a long wait for its once-a-year release.

Batch 22 (2019) - Mt. Bross: A combination of 2 to 8 year old Stranahan’s aged in bourbon, Sangiovese, port, maple syrup, and cognac barrels. All the wine influences are present on the nose and taste, but the maple syrup cask and the 8-year-old Stranahan’s emerge at the end, creating a sweet and smoky finish.