Editor’s Observe: These whiskeys had been supplied to us as evaluation samples by Santa Fe Spirits. This by no means, per our editorial insurance policies, influenced the ultimate end result of this evaluation. It must also be famous that by clicking the purchase hyperlinks in direction of the underside of this evaluation our web site receives a small referral cost which helps to help, however not affect, our editorial and different prices.
The American desert southwest isn’t the primary place one thinks about relating to whiskey. Sometimes, one is inclined to consider mists, fog, wetlands and the like. However don’t promote the desert quick.
Out of Santa Fe, New Mexico, comes Colkegan single malt mesquite smoked whiskey. Santa Fe Spirits founder and proprietor Colin Keegan started his distillery in 2010. Shifting to the desert from England, Keegan wished to provide single malt whiskey on the apple orchard land he and his spouse, Suzette, bought. Utilizing malted barley and the distinctive addition of malted mesquite, Colkegan whiskeys are cask aged in numerous barrel varieties. Right here, I’m reviewing three: Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey, Colkegan Apple Brandy Cask End, and Colkegan Cask Power Single Malt. Every are fairly distinctive and have some great tastes and essences, although the Cask Power, with its excessive ABV, disappoints somewhat total.
The distillery can be at 7,000 ft. above sea-level, a far cry from the Scottish coastal lands with their fixed humidities. Keegan claims that the adjustments in temperature and humidity have a optimistic influence on the whiskeys. The three whiskeys are all created from malted barley, a few third of which is smoked with mesquite, and all three whiskeys are aged three or extra years in each new and beforehand used barrels.
It’s the mesquite utilized in smoking among the barley that units these whiskeys aside from different American manufacturers, and makes them–maybe–jealous rivals of their Scotch cousins from Islay, the place peat is used to encourage related, although extra subdued, flavors.
Colkegan Single Malt Whiskeys (picture through Mark Storer/The Whiskey Wash)
Tasting Notes: Colkegan Apple Brandy Cask Single Malt Whiskey
Important Stats: 46% ABV, mash invoice 100% malted barley, evenly mesquite smoked first in aged barrels after which transferred to apple brandy barrels. $69.99 per 750 ml bottle.
Look: Mild amber, pale golden.
Nostril: Ginger and spiced apple or pear, with a touch and backing of vanilla.
Palate: The acquainted smokey, “peaty” nature of the mesquite is noticeable instantly, although it has a smoked meats suggestion to it. That is adopted by pear and apple notes wrapped round a whisper of vanilla and a few ginger. The spicy character, whereas not disagreeable, does linger on the palate.
Rating: 3.5/5
Tasting Notes: Colkegan Cask Power Single Malt Whiskey
Important Stats: 59% ABV (sure, that’s right), mash invoice 100% malted barley which is partially mesquite smoked. Bottled from single American White Oak barrels. $79.99 per 750 ml bottle.
Look: Mild amber, pale golden.
Nostril: Slight astringency on the nostril with mild aromas of ginger, honey and a few alcohol. Mesquite belies itself on the nostril, however it’s there.
Palate: The astringency on the nostril does give manner, however the alcohol is straight away noticeable on the palate. On the strategy, there may be vanilla and honey, however that rapidly provides manner and there’s a lack of stability in flavors on the evolution. The mesquite and excessive ABV then dominate on the tongue, leaving little room for the lighter notes of pear, ginger, vanilla and honey.
Rating: 2/5
Tasting Notes: Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey
Important Stats: 46% ABV, mash invoice 100 % malted barley, once more partially mesquite smoked. Single barrel aged in American White Oak. $59.99 per 750 ml bottle.
Look: Barely much less pale than the earlier iterations, this amber and honey coloured whiskey, is much less pale gold and extra mild amber.
Nostril: Honeysuckle and vanilla predominate when aerated only a bit, with hints of lavender and ginger.
Palate: The honey and vanilla on the nostril observe by on the strategy adopted by a contact of butterscotch and this whiskey can be a bit extra clean than its siblings above. There’s ginger and spice on the evolution and the end, and mesquite comes strongly into play on the end as properly.
Rating: 3/5
Remaining Ideas:
I’m not bought on using mesquite as an agent of smokiness in whiskey. Its tastes and smells overpower only a bit greater than I’d desire. The Cask Power Single Malt merely tasted an excessive amount of of the smoke and the alcohol. That stated, the latter two Colkegan bottles are very positive tasting whiskeys that I discover myself actually having fun with, with the Apple Brandy Cask iteration as my first choice among the many three. There are positively delicate fruit and honey, sweet and spice flavors right here price exploring.
