Colorado has shortly develop into one of many premiere states for American whiskey. On the forefront of high-elevation whiskey is Boulder Spirits, which finds its residence at Vapor Distillery in, in fact, Boulder. Whereas Colorado produces quite a lot of American whiskey types, The Centennial State has largely staked its status on whiskey revolving round malted barley. Following in that custom, Boulder Spirits distills American single malt whiskey and bourbon with an atypically excessive quantity of malted barley within the mashbill. The malt utilized by Boulder is a mix of Cara Ruby, Vienna, and pale with 2-row Genie from Limagrain Cereal Seeds being the precise number of barley — intriguing for these most fascinated about malt whiskey, Boulder operates a Forsyth pot nonetheless in lieu of a column or hybrid nonetheless. The whiskey comes off the pot nonetheless at 145 proof and enters the barrel round 120 proof. All whiskeys popping out of Boulder are the results of a 56 hour fermentation.
We just lately obtained two new expressions to guage. Ideas observe.
Boulder Spirits Path Magic: Depart No Hint American Single Malt Whiskey (2024) – The latest launch within the Path Magic sequence is comprised of single malt starting from 4.5 years to 7.5 years of maturation. The mix consists of: straight malt matured for six years, sherry cask completed malt matured for 7 years, secondary-aged Ten Necessities starting from 5.5-7.5 years of getting old, straight peated malt starting from 4.5-6.5 years of maturation, and Root Shoot roasted malt matured for 4.5 years. Whereas the entire ratio isn’t disclosed, the Root Shoot roasted malt portion makes up 10% of the entire mix.
Depart No Hint definitely leaves greater than a hint of nice aromas as black cherry and wealthy caramel waft from the Glencairn. Juicy pear is the subsequent to rise from the glass, adopted by a lovely smoke and previous guide leather-based. The peat part is current, however extraordinarily balanced and much from overwhelming. The palate kicks off with a well-known black cherry and English toffee observe. As anticipated with peat, smoke is current, however once more, not overwhelming. Transitioning to the midpalate, the dram presents nougat and tart cranberry. The palate is well-balanced with a medium-thick mouthfeel. Smoke is the primary to current because the end lingers. Notes of nougat and cranberry are equally current on the end, however cinnamon reveals up for the primary time within the finale. The distinctive general presentation of Depart No Hint ends with a end of medium size.
Boulder’s 2024 launch of Path Magic is excellent as its presents as extra mature than in earlier years. There are quite a few elements going into the mix, they usually all work collectively harmoniously. Boulder has beforehand launched uniquely blended bottlings akin to The ten Necessities (2023), however Depart No Hint takes the complexity to a brand new stage. Depart No Hint provides a lovely quantity of tannins to the nosing experiences in comparison with the youthful The ten Necessities. For many who gravitate towards malt whiskey, this new launch will probably be of nice curiosity. For many who usually shrink back from malt whiskey, please rethink. The 2024 Path Magic positively lives as much as the expectation of what a restricted launch needs to be. 107 proof. A- / $75
Boulder Spirits Cask Energy Bourbon (2024) – The 2024 expression of cask energy bourbon is a mix of 15 barrels from Kelvin Cooperage and Impartial Stave Co. with a #3 char. The youngest barrel within the mix was matured for 7 years and 4 months. Boulder’s bourbon mashbill consists of 51% corn, 44% malted barley, and 5% rye.
The nostril smells thick and wealthy as molasses and darkish plum rise from the glass. After a second to air, peach and black pepper scents develop. Bitter darkish chocolate arrives late to tie the entire aromas collectively. Peach and wealthy molasses are the primary flavors to current on the palate. Because the dram transitions to the midpalate, nougat and buttercream frosting meet intense darkish chocolate and cinnamon. The mixture of wealthy flavors feels as thick within the mouth as they scent to the nostril. The theme of molasses and darkish chocolate proceed on the end. Because the cask energy bourbon heads towards the conclusion, black licorice and plum make themselves identified. For a bourbon that each smells and tastes dense, the end is a bit shorter than anticipated because it hangs round for a medium size of time.
Drinkhacker final reviewed Boulder Cask Energy Bourbon in 2022 , when it sported a maturation of a minimum of 5 years and was graded as a B+. The 2024 restricted launch is a considerable step up from the 2022 bottling on all entrance because it boasts an extra two yr of maturation. With two fewer years of getting old, the 2022 expression offered a pointy nostril that was heavy on barrel char notes. The 2 extra years of getting old permit for the 2024 bottling to supply a nosing expertise that’s much more developed, with distinctive molasses and stone fruit notes. The sharp barrel char scent from the youthful 2022 expression morphed right into a extra nice, bitter darkish chocolate character two years later. On the palate, the youthful 2022 bottling prominently featured notes of popcorn and peanuts. With extra maturation, the popcorn notes typically present in youthful bourbon have pale into the abyss two. The youthful expression’s stand-out peanut character properly develops right into a extra complicated almond nougat with the 2024 launch. The evolution Boulder Cask Energy Bourbon is a superb demonstration in how a whiskey progresses in character and high quality in a brief time frame.
Autumn is the right time for Boulder to launch their 2024 Cask Energy Bourbon. It’s a dense and wealthy bourbon that begs to be loved across the campfire as cooler climate strikes approaches. The excessive malt content material makes this well-made bourbon all that extra attractive. Boulder’s restricted launch bourbon will definitely seize your consideration and make you pause to understand it. 128.4 proof. A / $85
Boulder Spirits Path Magic: Depart No Hint American Single Malt Whiskey (2024)
$75
