Four Fireside Bourbon Reviews: Flagship, Bottled-in-Bond, Single Barrel, and Port Finish

 

The way that distillers come into equipment can be unusual. Wyn Ferrell and Joe Von Feldt were distillers at a now-defunct Colorado distillery. It folded so fast that it had no money to pay them. So, instead of waiting for money, Wyn and Joe accepted distillery equipment as payment. They began operations as contract distillers, making spirits for 50 private-label brands.

 

Believing they could do their own thing, the duo founded Mile High Spirits and were joined by Chase Campbell. They aimed to build a Denver-based distillery and tasting room and create only high-quality spirits. Today, Mile High Spirits produces five spirits: Bourbon, Tequila, Rum, Vodka, Gin, and RTD cocktails.

 

From 2011 to 2018, they remained a Colorado-only market. In 2019, Mile High Spirits expanded to 12 markets. Its new, 14,000-square-foot campus includes a live music venue that attracts its fair share of talent from Denver and worldwide.     

 

The distillery uses only locally-grown corn and grains, and the mash runs through a German-made copper pot still. Only pure, filtered Rocky Mountain water is used during proofing, and aging occurs in new, charred white oak barrels at its Denver-based rickhouse.

 

Today's review includes four Mile High Spirits Bourbons produced under the Fireside label. They include its flagship Bourbon, a Bottled-in-Bond, and two single-barrel offerings, one standard and another finished in Port wine barrels.  

 

The Bourbon’s mashbill for all four expressions is made from 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% chocolate malted barley. I drank these neat from a Glencairn glass.

 

Finally, before I #DrinkCurious, I must thank Mile High Spirits for providing me with these samples in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest reviews.

 

Fireside Straight Bourbon (Flagship)

 

 

• Aged 2 Years
• 40% ABV/80°
• $29.99 (750ml)

 

Appearance: The flagship Bourbon presented as a brilliant gold liquid. The medium-heavy rim formed thick, sticky droplets that clung to the side of my glass.

 

Nose: I smelled apricots and stewed peaches, along with field corn, brown sugar, and rye spice. When I inhaled through my lips, I found corn.   

 

Palate: The Bourbon’s mouthfeel was oily with a medium body. Flavors of corn, brown sugar, and vanilla were on the front of my palate; fresh-roasted coffee and peaches hit the middle. The back had green oak, barrel char, and rye spice.

 

Finish: The rye spice continued and was joined by clove, coffee, and caramel. It stuck around for a medium duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: The flagship is a youthful Bourbon that needs more time in oak. I don’t believe increasing the proof would assist, as the spice notes had no trouble taking the spotlight. It isn’t a poor-quality whiskey; it tastes like many flagship 80-proofers and could get mistaken for several. This Bourbon deserves no higher than my Bar rating.  

 

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Fireside Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

 

 

• No Age Statement (4+ Years)
• 50% ABV/100°
• $49.99 (750ml)

 

Appearance: The Bottled-in-Bond version had a copper hue. The rim was slightly thinner yet had similar, sticky droplets. I did observe thin tears slide down the wall.

 

Nose: The aroma consisted of caramel, vanilla, apricot, cinnamon powder, and oak. Drawing the air into my mouth unveiled sweet corn.

 

Palate: The texture seemed slightly creamy with oily undertones. I tasted apples, caramel, and brown sugar on the front. The middle featured corn, vanilla, and tobacco leaf. The back suggested smoky oak, rye spice, and clove.

 

Finish: The long finish offered plenty of oak tannins as well as clove, black pepper, rye spice, and a caramel apple kiss. The longest note was the black pepper.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: What a couple of years and 20 proof points will do to a Bourbon is terrific. Granted, the Bottled-in-Bond rules require tighter quality controls, notably the requirement of distillation occurring in a single distilling season. Nevertheless, Fireside Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon is a lovely representation of the category; it is appropriately priced and earns my Bottle rating.

 

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Fireside Single Barrel Bourbon

 

• Barrel # 17f2.4a3
• Aged 6 Years
• 68.5% ABV/137°
• $64.99 (750ml)

 

Appearance: This barrel-proof Bourbon was a deep, dark burnt umber. A microthin rim held sticky droplets but also produced fast, thick legs.

 

Nose: The aroma was enticing. It smelled of cinnamon, baked apples, sweet vanilla, brown sugar, leather, and oak. Pulling it through my mouth yielded thick, rich caramel.

 

Palate: The thin, oily texture coated everywhere and slid down my throat. It was warm for sure and didn’t attempt to hide its stated proof. The front offered caramel, burnt sugar, and tobacco leaf. Vanilla, old dusty leather, and cinnamon-soaked toothpicks came next, with black pepper, barrel char, and bold rye spice on the back.

 

I took an eyedropper and added two drops of distilled water to explore how it might change the palate. I observed how it interacted with the whiskey, forming a cloud that dissipated shortly afterward. The mouthfeel became creamy, while at the same time, it was as if a caramel bomb exploded in my mouth. That was joined by nutmeg, and then, in the middle, I tasted fresh leather, tobacco, and rye spice. The back kept the dry oak and black pepper, then added clove.

 

Finish: Neat, it owned a freight-train finish. It started slow and lumbering, and as time wore on, it seemed almost unstoppable until it finally crescendoed into a blaze of cinnamon Red Hots, potent rye spice, very dry oak, and black peppercorns.

 

With those two drops of water, the finish mellowed slightly. I was taken aback at how significantly the water affected the mouthfeel but how little it impacted the finish, including its duration.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Normally, I’d have saved this whiskey for last because it is the highest proof of the quartet. However, it lacks the Port finish used in the next Bourbon.

 

The Single Barrel’s nose made me want to forgo tasting it – not because it was terrible, but because it was great. Sometimes, that spooks me because it can lead to disappointment with a palate that falls short.

 

I drink cask strength whiskeys all the time. The Fireside Single Barrel required some help from water. While it didn’t drastically change things, that explosion of caramel was welcomed and seemed luxurious. For $65.00, you’re getting a whiskey worth buying – thus, it takes my Bottle rating.  

 

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Fireside Single Barrel Bourbon – Port Finish

 

• Barrel # 21L09.sr.46
• Aged 4 Years in New, Charred White Oak, then 1 Year in a 225-liter French Oak Cask that held Australian Tawny-Port, 5 Years Total
• 52.80% ABV/105.6°
• $64.99 (750ml)

(Interesting observation: The ABV is the altitude of the Mile High City.)

 

Appearance: This Bourbon was an even darker brown than the previous Single Barrel. It carried a thick rim that dropped a full curtain of tears.

 

Nose: The expected dark chocolate and leather smells emanated from my glass. They were accompanied by smoky wood, pipe tobacco, and heavy vanilla. Through my mouth, the air came across as plum.  

 

Palate: Dark chocolate, plum, and cocoa powder plowed through the front of my palate like the Kool-Aid Man after producing a silky, full-bodied mouthfeel. The middle consisted of raisins, cherries, and caramel, while the back offered roasted coffee, pipe tobacco, and French oak.  

 

Finish: I found the finish long-lasting but nothing like the previous Single Barrel. The pipe tobacco, plum, and dark chocolate found a friend in fresh leather and roasted coffee.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I enjoy most whiskeys finished in Port casks. Fireside’s was outstanding. It was perfectly proofed, requiring no taming by water. Everything from the nose to the mouthfeel, from the palate to the finish, was flawless and enjoyable. Is this a $65.00 Bourbon? Yes. Would I pay more? Also, yes.

 

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Final Thoughts: Overall, I’m impressed with Mile High Spirits and what it produces. My favorite of the four was the Single Barrel Port Finish. The remaining in order were the Bottled-in-Bond, the Single Barrel, and the flagship. That Port Finish was incredible. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

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

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.