Name: Stranahan’s Snowflake Whiskey (2021 edition)
Color: Copper
Nose: Light malt, dry sherry, dark fruits
Taste: Light malt, sweet sherry, mix of unique flavors
Stranahan’s Whiskey was founded in 2004 and it is located at 200 S. Kalamath St. Denver, CO. The distillery/visitor center is in an industrial park and has a simple outdoor seating area with a nice view of the mountains. The inside bar has a modern rustic wood design with seating for around 75 people. The bar serves whiskey, flights, cocktails, and the retail store sells bottles and merchandise. The staff is very friendly with that easy going Colorado vibe.
The Snowflake is very nice tasting, smooth, and well-balanced whiskey. It is almost too smooth as a whiskey like this can be finished by two people in one sitting. I have heard stories of people who sleep outside for a couple of days to be early in line to get a bottle. I find this a little bit too extreme, but to each their own.
From my research Snowflake is 100% malted barley, aged 4 to 8 years in new white American Oak barrels at a #3. It is then transferred to a variety of barrels for finishing. These barrels are listed as sherry, rum, tequila, cognac, and “others”. This finishing in multiple barrels is the reason I list it as a “mix of unique flavors”. I had a difficult time detecting trying to determine each one during tasting.
Other expressions produced: Original, Blue Peak, Mountain Angel 10 Year, Snowflake, Diamond Peak, Sherry Cask, Single Barrel, and other special releases. The whiskeys that really impressed me are the Snowflake, Sherry Cask, and Cask Strength.
Priced around $125 and is an excellent whiskey. Not sure if you can find this expression in the stores as a limited amount is produced each year.
If you like it, drink it! – Chris
If you like it, drink it!
