Woody Creek Colorado Straight Bourbon

Acquiring this bottle proved more challenging than anticipated. I'm a considerable admirer of Woody Creek's ryes, especially their single barrel release, so I was eager to sample their straight bourbon. During my recent visit to Colorado over Thanksgiving, I had planned a specific excursion to the distillery. Unfortunately, circumstances changed when a car accident rerouted us off the highway into a blizzard, preventing our visit to Basalt. However, I managed to find a bottle at a small shop in Steamboat Springs. The question remains: was the effort worthwhile…? Nose: Cinnamon, honey, with a subtle hint of leather. Palate: Orange peel, spicy, and somewhat oaky. The finish is mild yet extended. Adding water introduced a pleasant spice to the nose and a much-needed balance to the palate, also enhancing the finish. Overall: a respectable offering from a reputable distiller. When consumed neat, the flavors don't quite harmonize, but a mere drop of water significantly improved the experience for me.

This bottle has a screw top instead of a cork, which knocks off some points before I even taste it. Just saying... On the nose, I get vanilla, oak, char, and a very faint hint of cut grass. The first sip has a strong woody flavor, just as the name suggests. I also picked up some sweet vanilla and charred oak. Adding ice mellows some of the burn and brings out more vanilla and smoke. I prefer this with ice over drinking it neat.

I tried this at a bar, having never heard of this distillery. The aroma had a hint of caramel and more of an ethanol scent. It wasn't too bad overall but not particularly exciting. The palate had more caramel and oak flavor, which was pretty good. The finish was short, with a little heat, and didn't last. I was hoping for more. Overall, it was just okay. I wouldn't purchase a bottle and probably wouldn't order a pour again.

Sweet and mellow, with absolutely no burn. Tasted side-by-side with the EH Taylor 4 Grain, as this also has a 4-grain mash bill. The main difference I noticed was that the EHT had a noticeably longer finish, but otherwise, the two tasted incredibly similar on the palate. Cherry, vanilla, caramel, and light spice on the finish.

On the nose, I detect vanilla and oak. The first sip offers lingering sweetness that gives way to some bitter char and ethanol. The finish has black pepper with slight oak and char. Ice smooths this out but removes most flavor and complexity. In my opinion, this is better when diluted and with ice.

Tasted blind Smell: cherry, barrel char, raw sugar Taste: barrel spice, citrus peel, cherry Overall: It tastes a little young and harsh, but it had good, classic, bold bourbon flavors.