Holiday Gift Guide 2023: The Best Colorado Whiskeys

forbes | Joseph V Micallef | November 11, 2023

[Excerpt]

Colorado has more than 60 craft distilleries in operation. While it is premature to speak of a specific “Colorado style” of whiskey, the state’s distillers are characterized by robust and flavorful whiskeys, which generally show a high degree of extraction from cask wood. Below is a brief synopsis of some of Colorado’s more exciting whiskeys.

The state presents a challenging environment for maturing whiskey. It’s characterized by dramatic swings in diurnal and seasonal temperatures, significant variations in barometric pressure, and a generally dry climate with low humidity.

Colorado craft distillers also have a well-deserved reputation for innovation. A challenging and complex maturation environment and a history of innovative production techniques have produced some of the most interesting American whiskeys available today. Not surprisingly, Colorado whiskeys have been perennial medalists at the leading international spirit competitions.

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Old Elk is a Fort Collins-based craft distiller. It’s noted for its practice of bringing its whiskeys to bottling proof very slowly over a period of weeks. According to the company, when water is added to a spirit rapidly, “it creates a heat liberating reaction” that “ends up boiling off many of the lighter, finer flavors.” Hence, the distiller’s practice of gradually bringing its whiskey down to bottling strength, a process it terms “slow cut.”

The company’s core range consists of High Malt Bourbon, Straight Wheat Whiskey, Wheated Bourbon, and Straight Rye Whiskey. It also bottles specialty and cask-finished whiskeys and its award-winning Master’s Blend Series.

Try the

Old Elk, Straight Whiskey, Double Wheat, 53.55% ABV, 750 ml. This whiskey is a blend of 95% wheat whiskey with a wheated bourbon. The resulting whiskey has a mash bill equivalent to 71.5% wheat, 25% corn, and 3.5% barley and is a blend of whiskeys aged six to eight years. It’s exceptionally smooth, with a creamy, vanilla-tinged crème brulé quality, and features notes of butterscotch/brown sugar, candied nuts, well-seasoned oak, and a hint of spicy ginger pepper.

Also worth trying is the Old Elk, Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 52.95% ABV, 750 ml. This is a 50-50 blend of a wheated bourbon and a high rye bourbon. The whiskey is sweet and fruity, with notes of vanilla, caramel, and cherries and spice notes of cinnamon and clove.

Read the full article at forbes.com