Lyons, CO
45% ABV-90 Proof
100% Malted Barley
Finished in Colorado Honey Barrels
Spirit Hound based in Lyons Colorado has been making a terrific Colorado Straight Malt whiskey for a while now, and this collaboration was something so cool we had to check it out. When they finish aging a single malt, they would send some of the barrels off to Bee Squared Apiaries in Berthoud, CO, who age some of their honey for 100 days in the Whiskey barrels. Once they are finished, that barrel comes back to Spirit Hound where it is refilled with whiskey to finish aging. The final product is a truly 100% Colorado Collaboration that is phenomenal.
Color: A little hazy, dark golden brown, like honey.
Nose: Lots of malty notes come through, some chocolate and citrus come out as well. The first thing though is the honey and vanilla. Not overly sweet smelling, but extremely inviting.
Palate: Right up on the front of the palate you get honey, but still not overly sweet. Moves into a cereal, grain mid palate that is coating with notes of chocolate, citrus, and floral. All these flavors really compliment each other and work together, without anything overpowering the other. Medium full to full bodied.
Finish: A bit quicker of a finish than expected, but a nice semi-dry honey flavor complimented lightly with that distinctive malt flavor.
With a couple drops of water added:
Nose: A lot sweeter, really letting the honey shine through, but the vanilla also comes out a bit more.
Palate: Still honey right up front but a little lighter overally, with a thick, chocolate, grain, and honey mid palate. Almost like a scone with honey on it.
Finish: Even a bit more honey, a bit sweeter, but also a bit quicker.
Ratings:
Angie: 89/100
Zach: 93/100
Overall: 91/100
Basically a dessert in a bottle, it’s really surprising how it wasn’t overly sweet. This is absolutely one of best flavored whiskies we have tried, even though it’s not really “flavored” in the traditional sense of adding honey or flavor to the bottle. We highly recommend trying this out.
