Stranahan's Snowflake

2019 batch

Batch 22 (2019) - Mt. Bross: A mix of 2 to 8 year Stranahan’s finished in bourbon, Sangiovese, port, maple syrup, and cognac casks. You get all of the wines on the nose and taste, but the maple syrup cask and 8-year Stranahan’s comes in at the end for a sweet and smoky finish.

Hoo boy there's a whole lot going on here. The different woods shine through, some of them pretty dark. Sherry sweet like their Sherry cask, but way more complex and rich. I love it.

A sample gifted by bourbonjosh24. VERY excited to try this super hard to find whiskey. Even more excited to not have to camp out in freezing temperatures in Colorado to get it. Nose: Front and center super sweet grape notes almost like grape soda (I like grape soda). Yeasty funky notes like you'd get from a good fortified wine like port or sherry. A little background grassy herbal note with some light wood and smoke. Flavor: Whoa! Sweet and spicy up front. More grapey dried cherry and wine notes with wood, yeast, and a background flavor almost like brandy. Tastes a lot like it smells. Not super thick and has just a little ethanol bite. Finish: Medium Long, lingering spice and oak with just a little bit of smoke and ash. Super interesting and unique. It tastes a bit like grape soda and I kind of really like that. Definitely more of a dessert whiskey. If this were more readily available I'd definitely keep this around. Stranahan's definitely knows what they are doing with a cask finished single malt!

Batch number 21 Mt. Elbert First opened at the summit of Mt. Elbert on 8/31/2019 Nose: Festive holiday smells. Cloves and citrus (might be my own holiday nostalgia bias). Sweet potato. Milk chocolate. Vanilla similar to graham crackers. Taste: This is Christmas morning in a glass. Deep, complex, and intense sweetness. Queen Anne's Cordial Cherries (especially the cherry liqueur inside). Don't kill me for this... the chocolate notes remind me of cookies and cream.