Meeting #5: Rocky Mountain High

Everyone knows about Kentucky Bourbon...but what about Colorado??? Great whiskey is made far and wide, so we decided to add some elevation to the mix!

Our fourth meeting featured three Colorado Distilleries. As always, this was a blind tasting and folks did not know the theme until the end. I will say, the members/guests this evening were tougher graders than usual! I think some of us are learning to dial back our scores, leaving room for GREAT bourbon. It will be Interesting to see how the club trends over time, and what we'd score the second go-around. That being said, these bourbons are all fit for human consumption!

#1 - Breckenridge Bourbon (Breckenridge, CO / 86 proof / $45)

Nose: Cinnamon, oak, vanilla.

Palate: Cinnamon, pepper, oak, with subtle notes of honey.

Finish: Medium length, lingers for a while with a touch of heat. As one member mentioned, it feels a little "warmer" than 86 proof, perhaps due to the cinnamon spice.

While some members were underwhelmed, I think this is a very drinkable bourbon. For those who are into cocktails, this may also be a great bourbon to elevate (touch of brown sugar and rosemary would pair nicely with those cinnamon notes). If you catch it on sale, I say give it another shot. For those who like a well stocked bar, its a solid addition. Per Greg, the distillery is way cool if you have the chance to go. HF average score: 2.67

#2 - Five Trails, Blended American Whiskey: (Coors, bottled in Bardstown, KY/ 95 proof / $65)

Five Trails is Coors-Molsen's venture into the whiskey market. This bourbon features ingredients from Colorado, Indiana, and Kentucky, and their not-so-secret ingredient, water from the rockies. The Coors factory is situated on Clear Creek, which runs through downtown Golden. It's a fun (and frigid) creek to go tubing down...just don't get sucked into the factory, you might get turned into beer or whiskey!

Nose: Vanilla, oak, oatmeal, hint of honey.

Palate: Soft and silky feel. Mild sweetness, baking spices, vanilla, and oatmeal

Finish: Mild finish. Persistent notes vanilla and oak, but tapers quickly.

Overall, an acceptable whiskey with an interesting story. Nothing ground breaking, kinda simple, but not bad either. HF average score: 3.07

#3 - Leopold Brothers, Straight Bourbon Whiskey: (Denver, CO/ 110 proof / $65)

Nose: Oak, fresh corn, orange.

Palate: Malty sweetness, orange, subtle spice.

Finish: Oak on the exhale, spice, and heat.

An interesting discovery... some members noticed that adding a couple drops of water to their glass actually ENHANCED the heat, which seems counterintuitive. This one comes with a hug, as higher proofs do, but I enjoyed the combination of sweet and heat. I think the club did too. HF average score: 3.31

July 11th will be our next meeting. Same time, same place. Keep an eye out for the next meeting email, and we kindly ask you to RSVP promptly - it really helps us plan for food and guest spots!

-Logan