Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Distillery 291. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review.
It seems with the whiskey boom, that just about everybody who is into whiskey got into the whiskey making business. For instance, Michael Myers was a fashion photographer shooting the likes of Angelina Jolie and Sam Elliott before establishing Distillery 291. As it turns out, Myers and Elliott remain good buddies. and you can see Elliott sipping 291 in The Ranch on Netflix.
Distillery 291, located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, aims at making whiskey that embodies the frontier of the Wild West. Established in 2011, the distillery makes seven whiskies and one liqueur. While cowboys conquered the American frontier, it seems that only three states carry Distillery 291 products. With all the accolades plastered on the 291 Single Barrel Colorado Bourbon Whiskey, I would expect more distribution.
Overall, the 291 Single Barrel Colorado Bourbon Whiskey is young. By “young,” I mean aged less than two years young. The first stage of the aging process is to hold the whiskey in new American oak barrels for one year. Finally, the whiskey is finished with charred Colorado Aspen staves for an undisclosed amount of time. Let’s see if a former fashion photographer makes a fashionable whiskey…
Tasting Notes: 291 Single Barrel Colorado Bourbon Whiskey
Vital Stats: 50% ABV, 100 proof. Made with a corn, malted rye, and malted barley mash bill. Aged one year in new American oak barrels, and then finished with charred Colorado Aspen staves. 750mL ~$70.
Appearance: Mahogany.
Nose: For 100 proof, it stings the nose and burns making my eyes water. I get a strong sense of acetone and nail polish remover that moves into a yeasty funk. As this dissipates, I would describe the whiskey having an umami quality with mushroom, oak, and salt. The only sweetness I can smell is creamed corn.
Palate: This whiskey burns going down as well with it’s hot and oily mouthfeel. Smokey tar and cigarette ash is all I get at the forefront. In the middle, I taste nothing but bland sawdust. The finish and aftertaste remind me of menthol cigarettes.
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