Stranahan's Blue Peak

Was very surprised how much I enjoyed this. Found it for $42 bucks. Light and creamy. Great taste. Will buy another

Pretty bottle - I like the packaging. Nose is a little sharp, but has a delicious ripe banana and light brown sugar note. Edges toward butterscotch occasionally. On the palate, this sh*t is bananas. Loads of bananas. Actually dried banana chips - where the taste builds as they rehydrate and is super-concentrated, but not quite "pure" banana flavor as one would expect. Definitely some caramel notes evoke bananas foster. A pronounced sharp, tart, and tangy apricot never lets go. Replicates the experience of some of the more musky and sulphuric Scotches without replicating the actual flavors. Honey and some floral influences. A pinch of mace. Quite creamy, but not viscous. Pours near the end of the bottle have tempered the banana to a degree, but have introduced a subtle milk chocolate note that adds some roundness, alkalinity, and a much needed additional layer to the flavor. The finish lingers for minutes. Slowly softening into something halfway between juicy fruit and bubble gum, and a thin but resonant vein of barrel char paying its respects. I really enjoy this and will definitely purchase again. Extremely fruity and creamy, but not bashful and gives the taste buds a hard slap. Carries a pleasantly challenging semi-saccharine tang and spice. Is unambiguously different than anything else I’ve had to date. Has a clear note that screams “American Single Malt” and actually has been a bit of an "a-ha moment" for me finally identifying a characteristic young malt note common to many ASMs and malted ryes. I’m presuming that this is universal and that longer aging subdues this (thus I don’t find it much in typical single malt Scotches), but perhaps it is more an outcome of a style than duration in a barrel.

First sniff has notes of honey and vanilla. First taste has notes of apple, vanilla and honey suckle. Very smooth and crisp