Because it first launched Mountain Angel 10 Years Previous in 2020, Stranahan’s has laid declare to one of many highest regularly launched age statements in American single malt. Now, below the steerage of second-year Head Blender Justin Aden, the model is tacking on a pair extra years to a core providing. Beginning in late 2024, Stranahan’s will start promoting a model Mountain Angel with a 12 12 months age assertion. In accordance with the model, it’s the oldest straight American single malt ever launched to the general public.
In accordance with Aden, this primary 12 12 months outdated launch is a small mix of simply 5 casks, bottled at 94.6 proof. However he expects that quantity to extend about 20-fold in 2025 (and probably additional past that). The liquid on this first 12 12 months outdated launch options whiskey that underwent a main growing older interval of round 9 years in new American oak, adopted by three years of ending in first-fill ruby Port casks. Shifting ahead, Arden plans to regulate parts together with main growing older and ending instances. His crew may even incorporate whiskey completed in white and tawny Port along with ruby.
Let’s see how this latest (and oldest) Mountain Angel tastes!
Campfire-smoked tropical fruit kicks off the nostril, like papaya, guava, and Pinkglow pineapple cooked in bonfire embers. The smoke affect is mild and fleeting, solely lasting lengthy sufficient so as to add a contact of char to a whole lot of hallmark Stranahan’s tropical fruit. Subsequent up are darker fruit notes — that ruby Port affect shining by — within the realm of darkish cherries and preserved strawberries. Notes shift farther from fruity to natural/floral after extra time within the glass, with whiffs of fried sage, dried rosemary, peony, and jasmine.
Fruit additionally leads on the palate, on this case of the orchard selection (peach, pear, and inexperienced apple), although there are hints of papaya all through. The second sip is sweeter and lives on the intersection of lemon drop sweet and vanilla donut glaze. That citrus-forward bitter aspect offers a surprisingly elegant segue to some astringency on the midpalate. It’s right here the whiskey dries out sufficient to supply a welcome respite from the candy/fruity combo. Just a little smoke and barrel char bridge the center and again palates; in comparison with the nostril, that smoke taste is extra paying homage to burning leaves than a real campfire.
The higher palate carries a whole lot of weight on the end: mild toffee, menthol, wintergreen, and spiced pineapple linger right here. Darkish caramel, vanilla extract, and wooden sugar present a candy end throughout the tongue and throat, although a bit shorter than the notes sticking on the roof of the mouth.
94.6 proof
A- / $100 / stranahans.com
Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey Mountain Angel 12 Years Previous
$100
