- 93
Colkegan Cask Strength Single Malt American Whiskey (750ml)
UNITED STATES
$199. 00
Bottle
$2388.00 Dozen
ABV: 59%
Santa Fe Spirits was founded by Englishman and whiskey aficionado Colin Keegan in 2010 with the dream of using local, organic ingredients to bring high-quality Scotch-style whiskies and Calvados-style apple brandies to the Southwest. The whiskeys have a smokey quality as the barley is Mesquite-smoked. This cask strength edition is bottled from Keegan's top performing single barrels.
Tasting note: White chocolate is a recurring note in the Colkegan range. This one combines it alongside hints of pine buds, balsa wood, peppermint and incense smoke becoming more mezcal-like after time in the glass. At cask strength, it’s intense and a little prickly; by mid palate, it’s more settled and integrated; white chocolate, vanilla malt, a touch of menthol rub and delicate smoke emerge through the finish. A style unlike any other. 59% Alc./vol.
Other reviews... Rich and beefy on the nose: charred brisket, salted meat, tangerines, dark wood, brine, and white smoke. The palate is powerful, oak-forward without being astringent, and very spicy. Walnut, cayenne pepper, and grilled citrus balance out the meaty, oaky flavors. Saddle leather, cherries, and even more smoke on the finish. Tangy, salty, spicy, and malty. A truly compelling American single malt with great structure.
90 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Adam Polonski (Fall 2018) Extremely high loss due to the distillery location 7,000 feet above sea level means Colin Keegan has had to get smart when it comes to storing his aging stocks. In the desert of Santa Fe, it’s hot and dry, which increases the rate of evaporation. To deal with the atmosphere at high altitude, he's built a custom rickhouse (barrel aging warehouse) which uses powerful humidifiers to help keep barrels moist. This slows angel's share as the barrels no-longer dry out as quickly. They also now use a barrel aging program to monitor the amount of liquid in each barrel. The master distiller periodically weighs each barrel. Any getting low are “topped up” with another barrel of the same age. Once again, this helps reduce the angel's share as barrels with a higher content of liquid don’t dry out as fast or evaporate as quickly.
90 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Adam Polonski (Fall 2018) Extremely high loss due to the distillery location 7,000 feet above sea level means Colin Keegan has had to get smart when it comes to storing his aging stocks. In the desert of Santa Fe, it’s hot and dry, which increases the rate of evaporation. To deal with the atmosphere at high altitude, he's built a custom rickhouse (barrel aging warehouse) which uses powerful humidifiers to help keep barrels moist. This slows angel's share as the barrels no-longer dry out as quickly. They also now use a barrel aging program to monitor the amount of liquid in each barrel. The master distiller periodically weighs each barrel. Any getting low are “topped up” with another barrel of the same age. Once again, this helps reduce the angel's share as barrels with a higher content of liquid don’t dry out as fast or evaporate as quickly.