‍Stranahan’s Snowflake 2022

Detailed Description

As in nature, no two snowflakes are ever alike. Once a year we gather the best of our special-finish casks to create a uniquely individual snowflake batch strictly by taste. Nosing and tasting each cask sample to find the perfect marriage of casks, released once a year only at our distillery in Denver, Colorado. The diverse result is always unique.

Distillery Information

The story of Stranahan‚Äôs Colorado Whiskey sounds like a legend. A volunteer firefighter met a brewery owner when the latter‚Äôs barn caught fire. Chatting about homemade distillers, the brewery owner offers up kegs of old beer to distill. After refining his technique, and shifting to his own mash, the firefighter founds Colorado‚Äôs first distillery since Prohibition, with the brewer‚Äôs blessing and his last name for the company, in a neighboring building for the distillery. In 2003, Stranahan‚Äôs opened its doors beside Flying Dog Brewery in Denver, Colorado, and soon became a popular, nationally distributed brand. Stranahan‚Äôs is a member of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission. The Commission is an organization of American whiskey distillers whose members produce and label their Single Malts according to strict guidelines, not unlike Scotch whisky regulations. Whiskeys labeled as ‚ÄúAmerican Single Malt‚Äù must be made from 100% malted barley and be distilled at one distillery in the USA. Does it make the whiskey better? That, of course, is debatable. But it does better inform the end consumer, and I‚Äôm 100% onboard with transparency. So bravo to that. In 2010, Proximo Spirits purchased the distillery. They decided to expand the production (which, keep in mind, wouldn‚Äôt hit the shelves for two to five more years) while narrowing distribution to within Colorado. Whether purposefully or not, these moves created a cult brand overnight. Proximo Spirits is best known for its line of Jose Cuervo tequilas, which supply the finishing casks for this Stranahan‚Äôs Extra A√±ejo Tequila Cask American Single Malt Whiskey. The whiskey was finished for up to two and a half years in casks of Reserva de la Familia Extra A√±ejo tequila, Jose Cuervo‚Äôs ultra premium line made from 100% blue agave aged for 10 to 12 years. Tequila cask finished whiskey is not out of the norm, but it‚Äôs rare so far to see ‚Äúextra a√±ejo‚Äù casks used, given its newness. First introduced in 2006, extra a√±ejo is considered the cr√®me de la cr√®me (crema de crema?) of the tequila world with the longest minimum aging requirement, high impact oak flavors, and commensurately higher price tag. The distillery describes this whiskey‚Äôs flavor profile as showing floral, herbal, and caramel notes and leaving a lingering note of agave sugar on the finish. As befitting its Colorado location, it‚Äôs cut with Eldorado Springs water from the Rocky Mountains. Tequila fans: plan your road trip sooner rather than later, as this was released in May and is available exclusively at the distillery.