The whiskey wash logo
The World's Most-Visited
Whiskey Website
The World's Most-Visited
Whiskey Website

Trending Stories

Search
American

Whiskey Review: Stranahan’s Diamond Peak

One of Colorado's oldest craft distilleries launches a new American single malt, Stranahan's Diamond Peak. Is it a worthy follow up to the flagship?

OVERALL RATING

  • Margarett Waterbury is a whiskey enthusiast and industry expert.
Like Conversation
Stranahan's Diamond Peak

Tasting Notes

About:

Appearance:
Nose:
This is a really juicy, fruity aroma. Notes of melon, off-dry Riesling, clove, and plum sit on a warm grainy backbone for an effect something like a fruit cobbler or fancy breakfast porridge. The malt character is easy to detect with an almost beery richness, and there’s a pleasant bit of metallic, air conditioner-like ozone in the finish that keeps the whole thing from being insipid. Flavor: More grain character comes through in the
Palate:
along with richer toffee and leather that you’d expect from an older bottling. The metallic note from the nose also carries through here in the form of a wine-like minerality. There’s a very sweet, creamy quality to the spirit that’s reminiscent of my two favorite childhood movie theater candies: milk duds and Charleston Chew. The finish is long, mild, and low on wood astringency, instead offering a lingering note of raspberry and honey. It’s an intriguing combination. Score: 91 points. This is just straight-up yummy, without the caveats usually required for a younger craft whiskey. The intensity of the standard label has been turned down a few notches, resulting in a slightly more approachable, nuanced spirit. $70 a bottle isn’t cheap, but it would be a great entry point to the world of high-end American craft for a loyalist from the big-name Scotch or bourbon camps, since it shares some qualities with each.
Finish:
Comments:

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Margarett Waterbury

Margarett Waterbury is the author of "Scotch: A Complete Introduction to Scotland's Whiskies" and a full-time freelance writer and editor specializing in the beverage industry. Her work has graced the pages of numerous publications, including Whisky Advocate, Food and Wine, Spirited Magazine, Artisan Spirit, Edible Seattle, Sip Northwest, Civil Eats, Travel Oregon, and many others. She also boasts editorial experience as the former managing editor of Edible Portland and as a co-founder and former managing editor of The Whiskey Wash. In recognition of her talent, Margarett received the Alan Lodge Young Drinks Writer of the Year award in 2017 and was awarded fellowships for the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in 2017 and 2019.

All Posts

Latest On The Whiskey Wash

The whiskey wash logo