Today I have the Down Time Single Malt Whiskey from DeerHammer Distilling in Buena Vista. Distilled from 100% Malted Barely, this is definitely a different whiskey than most you will try. It is also aged in smaller barrels, giving it more influence form the oak for how young it is.
The nose on this is definitely an oaky one. There are some sweet smells, maybe a bit of honey, and a little bit from the barely, but that oak is the most prevalent.
Taking the sip, the palate starts with some sweetness, honey and vanilla flavors. The mid palate has the sweetness open up a little more, and the oak start to comes through, with a little bit of smoke, making the mid palate becomes a bit more complex. The finish is a lot of toasted oak flavors, that goes quick.
After letting an ice cube melt slightly into the glass a little bit, this whiskey opens up a lot. The sweetness on the start opens up a bit, and the DeerHammer becomes more complex. The honey and vanilla become much more prevalent, and then mix into spice, smoke, and a lot of oak. It is smoothed out, but opens up a lot. I usually prefer to have whiskey straight, but this one needs just a little bit of water, or melted ice cube, to really let you enjoy all the flavors and nuances it has to offer.
Great whiskey, and the only one of its kind that I have found that is from Colorado. Overall, I give this an 82/100. It is really fun and unique.
As a side note here, I have had the privilege to visit this distillery, and they are some of the nicest folks I have ever met. If you ever find yourself traveling through or by Buena Vista, I highly recommend that you stop in. Not only is the whiskey worth trying, but the great folks there mixed with the atmosphere of being up in the Colorado Mountains, it is worth the trip.
