American single malt pioneer Stranahan’s has unveiled its latest innovation: Stranahan’s Mountain Angel 10 Year Old.
This is the brand’s oldest and rarest release to date.
Mountain Angel 10 Year Old is comprised of 100% Rocky Mountain barley and Colorado spring water, the company says, made in small batches before aging 10 years in new American oak barrels with a #3 char. (Global single malts are traditionally aged in ex-bourbon barrels).
As a result of Denver’s high altitude and dry climate, Mountain Angel 10 Year Old saw a significant angel’s share loss, with several of the 10-year barrels experiencing a loss of up to 80%. Only a handful of these volume-reduced barrels made it to a decade of maturation. As a result, Mountain Angel 10 Year Old is available in very limited quantities with less than 500 bottles hitting the market this year.
“Stranahan’s has produced single malt whiskeys for almost 20 years, allowing us to hold back casks for extended maturation to see how they evolve, but aging whiskey in Denver comes with certain challenges,” says Owen Martin, head distiller at Stranahan’s. “Water evaporates from our casks more quickly in the mountains than at sea level, which leaves limited supply and little margin for error. After a decade of maturation, the Mountain Angel 10 Year Old casks saw an average angel’s share loss on par with a Scotch over twice its age, resulting in a liquid with a stunning concentration of flavor.”
On the nose are candied apples, spicy pipe tobacco and heavy oiled leather notes, the company reports. The palate brings a velvety mouthfeel with rich tobacco and a lingering pepper character. These fade into dark chocolate and molasses, as the charred oak takes over. On the finish you will find more oak with hints of dark caramel and earthy spearmint.
Mountain Angel 10 Year Old is bottled at 47.3% ABV and available in highly limited quantities for $129.99 per 750-ml. bottle, at select retailers in Colorado, California, New York and SpiritsNetwork.com. In addition, Mountain Angel 10 Year Old is available as part of the weekly tasting experience at Stranahan’s Denver distillery, located at 200 S. Kalamath.
