Mystic Mountain Outlaw Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

 

I lived in Colorado for just over twenty years. I loved almost everything about it. The scenery was gorgeous, the weather was mild, the skiing was great, the people were awesome, and, better than all of that, I met Mrs. Whiskeyfellow there. Colorado has a special place in my heart.  When I have a chance to get a taste of Colorado, I'm always excited.

I've had some fun trying Colorado whiskeys. It has been a ton of fun to #DrinkCurious and discover what the Centennial State has to offer, particularly since when I lived there, distilleries were few and far between. Nowadays, they have the Colorado Spirits Trail. 

On my last trip to Colorado, I did what I always do. I visited a few liquor stores I'm familiar with and buy whatever new (at least to me), local whiskeys I can get my hands on. One of those was Outlaw Whiskey, which is distilled from Mystic Mountain Distillery. The distillery is located in Larkspur, and it uses "sweet Rocky Mountain spring water" in the process. It claims it is crafted in small batches, taking advantage of lower temperatures and a slower distilling process. Yes, there is a backstory... its whiskey is perfected by a centuries' old family recipe. Of course it is. 

While doing my research, I was admittedly taken aback by something I read on Mystic Mountain's website:

"At Mystic Mountain, we take our whiskey seriously and will put our brand against any of the mass whiskey makers out there."

I try very hard not to let these types of claims influence my tasting experience. But, that's a big, bold statement!  You may have a "centuries' old family recipe" but the big boys have been in business for a hundred years or more because they know what they're doing.

Outlaw Whiskey is categorized as an American Whiskey and whose mashbill only states, "Made with grains."  That could pretty much encompass anything and everything. It carries no age statement, which means we know it is at least four years old.  Bottled at 80°, you can expect to pay about $36.00 for a 750ml. 

Let's see what this centuries' old family recipe is all about, shall we?

Appearance:   In my Glencairn glass, Outlaw Whiskey presented as the color of marigolds. It left a medium-thick rim and watery legs that fell back to the pool of whiskey.

Nose:  A huge aromatic blast of strawberries hit me before I brought the glass anywhere near my face. To explain how dominating it was, imagine yourself opening up a jar of strawberry preserves and taking a huge snort. I was able to pick up a light vanilla essence as well. When I inhaled through my lips, the strawberry stuck around and I also got a smidge of mint.  From there, I had high hopes.

Palate: The mouthfeel was thin and light-bodied. Sticking to the theme, I tasted strawberry jam. That was the front. It was the middle. It was the back. Try as I might, I could not find anything else.

Finish:  It had a pleasant strawberry start, and then it didn't.  If Vicks made a strawberry-flavored NyQuil, this would be that.  Thankfully, it didn't last very long, but dammit, while it did, it was not fun. I sipped again, hoping it was a fluke, and it was even worse the second time. Mrs. Whiskeyfellow started laughing at me and the face I was making.

Bottle, Bar, or Bust:  I don't believe in being cruel when I come across a whiskey that doesn't perform well. Usually, I offer helpful hints, such as it needs to be proofed differently, or aged longer (or less), etc. However, rarely I taste something so godawfully offensive to my palate that a Bust rating is unfair to other whiskeys that I previously rated a Bust. Outlaw Whiskey should be outlawed. The only reason anyone should buy Outlaw Whiskey is for a white elephant gift. Hopefully, this is the worst whiskey 2021 has to offer. Cheers!

My Simple, Easy to Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It