Denver-based craft distillery Mile High Spirits has partnered with World View to send a barrel of bourbon whiskey into the stratosphere. The result, Strato Whiskey, is set to become the first publicly available whiskey aged at the edge of space.
Mile High Spirits Strato Whiskey
With help from World View, a stratospheric exploration company working to offer space tourism, Mile High launched a barrel of Fireside Whiskey into the atmosphere at 7:03 am on July 15th, 2021 from Page, Arizona. The barrel reached an apogee of 106,627 feet (20 miles). This is almost four times the height of Mount Everest.
Aging in the atmosphere, the barrel experienced extreme temperatures from searing heat to freezing cold (as low as -60 degrees Celsius), and near-vacuum conditions. These fluctuating temperatures encouraged increased contact between the whiskey and the wood in the cask, amplifying the effect that Denver’s changing climate has on whiskey back on Earth. Ultra-violet rays also penetrated the barrel which, according to a brand press release, “[coaxed] out compounds.” The resulting Strato Whiskey is a silky smooth bourbon with notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak.
“We’ve always been fascinated by the science behind the distilling process and how different factors can affect the flavor of our whiskey,” said Wyn Ferrell, owner of Mile High Spirits. “Our stratospheric whiskey defies gravity, transcending tradition. It beckons us to explore beyond the ordinary, to taste the universe itself.”
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Strato Whiskey was bottled at 6 years old and 53% ABV. The whiskey will be publicly available from August 22nd, 2024. Visitors to the distillery in downtown Denver can purchase Strato Whiskey for $300. Miel High Spirits is also hosting a launch party at the distillery. Guests can experience an exclusive first look at Strato Whiskey, tastings of the distillery’s single barrel Fireside Whiskey, a distillery tour, and raffle entry with prizes worth over $500.
Online, the whiskey can be purchased for $350. Only 500 50ml bottles will be made available, presented in a specially designed tin with a rocket-shaped flask.
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