The Details
10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Company
Rocky Mountain Bourbon Whiskey
Aged 1 Year
Batch 62 / Bottled 12.27.22
Distilled and Bottled by 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Company
Gypsum, Colorado
46% Alc/Vol / 92 Proof
Mashbill: 75% Corn / 21% Rye / 4% Barley
Price: $60
Poured Neat in a Glencairn
Appearance: Light Amber
Nose: Green Crisp Apple, Vanilla, Honey, Walnut
Palate: Flakey Pastry, Caramel, Vanilla Bean, Honeydew
Finish: Short to medium linger with a baking spiced finish
Overall: Okay, what stands out here as a Whiskey Enthusiast is the age statement. 1 Year. We all know time in a barrel plays such a vital role to pronounced flavors and the overall experience. But can a younger age stated bourbon taste good? The answer in this case, is YES. I always tend to study a label as soon as I see it and sometimes, I admit, it influences my initial reaction. This was also the case with the Jim Beam Hardin's Creek Col. Beam 2 Year Bourbon. That really helped me change my approach to younger whiskey. This 1 Year Rocky Mountain Bourbon Whiskey from Colorado is such a great example of a fine crafted whiskey that the distillers and tasters felt was ready to bring to market. I actually said "wow" as I finished my first sip. As most of you know, I tend to review whiskey first thing in the morning and in solitude, so for me to talk to myself is rare...depending on how crazy the night before was.
I immediately picked up those crisp green apple tones mixed with walnut and honey and of course, vanilla. The palate followed through quite nicely with the apple transitioning to a honeydew and some flakey pastry. The finish is where the youth showed up. But I can deal with a lighter finish when the nose and palate are delicious. And who says a light finish isn't still refreshing? Not I. The finish teeters on the light to medium scale for me. There are some delicious baking spices on the backend that round out the entire pour. While I can see myself sipping this on a normal basis, I'd personally love to see this exact mash and age finished in, say, something toasted. Not to mask any youth, but to raise the bar another notch. Just an idea.
"The patriotic men of the 10th brought diversity, courage, and hope to the Rocky Mountains when they arrived in the 1940s to train just a few miles south of what is now Vail.
They were part of the greatest generation of men, wanting to make each day count and each day better than the last. The mentality they had was strong after being shaped from the rigors of mountain warfare, their egos humble." - 10th Mountain Website - Click HERE for more.
I'd like to thank the folks at 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirits Company for providing me this sample and for trusting my honest review. I can't wait to visit soon.
Library Rating: 7.6 / 10
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