Peated Malt
YegWhiskyNights Barrel Pick
Single Barrel #1237
Boulder Spirits was founded by a Scottish-born former Air Force veteran name Alastair Brogan. His biggest claim to fame (to date) was being on Survivor: Panama. His heart was always back in his homeland, yearning to make whisky. Instead of heading home, he found himself in Boulder Colorado, and here we are, talking about his whiskey.
Enter YegWhiskyNights aka Sean M.
I met Sean on Instagram and have been building a friendship with him ever since. When I caught wind that he had his first barrel pick coming, I just had to jump at the opportunity to try the juice he selected. Sean with the help of Steve (of Park Whiskey Society fame) worked through a selection of cask samples he was sent from Boulder Spirits. My guess is that it took a lot of notes, re-rating, revisiting, tasting, nosing and repeating while he painstakingly narrowed it down to his final choice.
His choice: Boulder Spirits American Single Malt Peated Whiskey, aged 4 years in a heavily charred new oak barrel and bottled at an impressive 58.8% ABV (alcohol by volume). This has created a whiskey with a deep copper color, a hint of peat, a sip that hides it’s proof and a finish that lasts.
The Review
The Sniff
At first there is just a hint of peat. As time passes, this gives way to dark stone fruit (plum, black cherrys), hint of malt and oak. It coats the glass nicely and has long thick legs. For an ABV of 58.8% it is quite pleasant and approachable for your nose.
The Sip
Full-bodied and rich on the first sip. Expecting the dark stone fruits from the nose, I was pleasantly surprised with a dark chocolate upfront with a sweet peat. It continues into a coffee mixed with cocoa and a hint of hazelnut (but earthier), followed by a dark caramel and wrapping up with a wonderful oakiness.
The Finale
After the sip, the finish builds on the oaky ending moving through baking spice into black pepper over roughly the first minute. It then begins to fade into white pepper with a light drying of the tongue and cheeks and a slight hint of cocoa from the sip. After a few minutes, the finish has all but faded while your palate asks for another sip.
The Wrap-up
When I first received this bottle in the mail, my plan was to first enjoy it over a week or two before writing this review (check), then allow it to open up, oxidize over 4 to 6 months and review it again to see how it has changed. Then I had my first sip. It is going to be very hard to make this bottle last that long. I have a sneaking suspicion that this bottle will disappear long before that. Why? It is dangerously delicious and I just want everyone to try it. Congratulations Sean on your first barrel pick, its a great one. I can’t wait to see what you create with the used barrel. If you can get your hands on this expression, do.
