Bear Creek Distillery – Denver, Colorado
Born in Lakewood, Raised in Denver. That’s the tagline as you visit the Bear Creek Distillery website (bearcreekdistillery.com). Described as the brainchild of a small group of friemds focused on producing exceptional, hand crafted premium spirits, it’s clear they took that mission very seriously. Bear Creek has been putting out phenomenal spirits for many years now, regardless of the style.
After more than a decade of being open, the distillery last year released their oldest bourbon to date, an 8 year old whiskey that perfectly showcases the distilleries commitment to excellence. While the spirit has sadly sold out – almost immediately – I wanted to get a review up because I believe that BCD will continue to produce amazing products, and have been a huge promoter of Colorado products and people. So if you missed your chance to try this amazing release, then check out this review, and be sure that you don’t miss on their next old release.
If you’d like to learn a little about Bear Creek, I was able to sit down and talk to Ryan and Jay about the distillery, the awesome still they use to craft their spirits, and the Colorado connection they have. Check out the video below, or you can find it on your favorite podcast platform.
In the Bottle:
Mashbill:
75% Corn
20% Rye
5% Malted Barley
Age:
8 Years in New Charred American Oak Barrels
Proof:
100 Proof (50% ABV)
In the Glass:
Color:
Dark Bronze, brown with a little red tinge. A little bit of oily legs, but very clear.
Without Water:
Nose:
Lots of vanilla and hints of butterscotch jump right out, there’s some oaky tannins as well and just a bit of green earth as well. It is inviting and sweet, but has just a little bit of an edge on the nose, showing it’s age while also showing the distilled spirit underneath.
Palate:
Sweet vanilla and caramel up front, hitting the mouth immediately. It moves to a layered mid palate full of oaky notes, sweet but complex with a little bit of toasted nuts and baking spices. It’s medium-full bodied, coats the mouth but not oppressively.
Finish:
Very long and oaky, lots of barrel influence with some caramel and vanilla but also some toasted nuts and tannins. It really hangs around a long time, and has a little bit of a bite that quickly turns warm and comforting.
With Water:
Nose:
Theres a light, bright red fruit note that comes out after a couple drops of water are added. There is still a significant vanilla sweet smell, with some leathery notes and just a little pipe tobacco.
Palate:
Oily consistency, giving it an almost buttery mouthfeel. It is still sweet but almost even savory, there are notes of spices and nuts, nutmeg and toasted almonds. It’s still medium-full bodied, coating the mouth with a light oily feeling.
Finish:
The finish shortens just a little, but is still lingering and adds a bit of peppery spiciness. It’s mostly sweet still though, and every sip does a terrific job of encouraging the next.
Final Thoughts:
8 Years in the wood is a significant amount of time. It’s commitment to the product that a distillery is wanting to put out. That being said, whiskey does not get guaranteed better with each year in the wood. It’s a testament to the product placed into the barrel from day one. Bear Creek has repeatedly shown a dedication to the craft, producing a fantastic product living up to the exceptional standard they have set for themselves. While age does not always mean quality, but when done properly it can showcase both the distilled spirit and the wood in a balance complimenting each others contributions in a way that elevates the experience instead of overpowering.
As a quick side note, Bear Creek’s 8 Year Bourbon was recently chosen as my pick on the Locked on Avalanche Podcast for Mikko Rantanen. I chose it claiming, prior to the Mikko Trade, that because it matched so well to Mikko, it was a clear indicator to a Mikko 8 Year Contract incoming. I would like to say that I was right, in a way. Sadly, it was to a different team – and a division rival nonetheless. Check out the whole episode I did with Locked on Avalanche on youtube or wherever you get your podcasts, follow the links below.
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