Hoot + Howl Spirits Armagnac Cask Bourbon Review

 

“There’s an unrivaled bond that forms when you’re living life fully amongst friends. It’s a way of life that elicits spontaneous and uncontrollable outbursts of joy–hoots + howls that erupt from the soul, captured in every sip.” – Hoot + Howl Spirits

 

Founded just a few months ago, Hoot + Howl Spirits was established in the Colorado foothills in Golden. Cal Deline and his head distiller, Chris Ritenour, looked back in time to see how distilling used to be done and what may have been abandoned that perhaps shouldn’t have been. The goal wasn’t to recreate things the old way; instead, it was to do something new by combining old techniques with new ones.

 

Hoot + Howl produces a vodka, a handful of botanicals (meaning, not just gin), and one Bourbon. They’ve also created a variety of unique cocktails, and they don’t keep the recipes; all you have to do is visit the Cocktail section of their website.

 

It should come as no surprise that the subject of today’s review is the Bourbon. It aged for seven years in new, charred oak barrels and then spent another entire year in ex-Armagnac casks. They call it Armagnac Cask Bourbon. Obviously, the distillate isn’t their own, and there’s no crime in sourcing. For what it is worth, I’m fascinated by what a talented blender can do with someone else’s whiskey.

 

What talents did Cal and Chris add to the Bourbon aside from a long finishing cycle? They “raised the barrel.” What the heck does that mean? Essentially, it is a process more commonly used in brandy-making, involving blending, controlled environments, and proofing adjustments made during the maturation process, which is also called “Slow Proofing.” Water is added over weeks or even months to ensure things turn out just right.

 

So, how did all of that turn out? You know the answer, we discover it when we #DrinkCurious. Before we get there, I must thank Hoot + Howl for providing me with a sample of its Armagnac Cask Bourbon in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.  

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Undisclosed
• Age: 7 years,  plus 1 year finish in former Armagnac barrels
• Mashbill: Undisclosed
• Cooperage: New, charred oak barrels plus Armagnac barrel finish
• Alcohol Content: 50% ABV/100°
• Price per 750mL: $76.00

 

Appearance: I utilized a neat pour in my Glencairn glass to explore this Bourbon. The brilliant orange amber liquid formed a thick rim with syrupy tears.

 

Nose: Waiting for Armagnac Cask Bourbon to acclimate was challenging because the aroma filled my whiskey library with lovely fruits, such as apricots, pineapples, and white grapes. Once I decided I could no longer wait, I brought the glass beneath my nostrils and found oak, rich vanilla, and a bit of leather. Drawing the air through my lips produced a cinnamon sensation.  

 

Palate: The mouthfeel was thin and silky. I tasted caramel, vanilla, and apricots on the front of my palate. Next came roasted almonds, leather, and hazelnuts. The back included French oak, cinnamon spice, and fennel.

 

Finish: Cinnamon Red Hots took center stage as the spice level exploded and, like a supernova, quickly ran out of energy. Mild fennel, spiced nuts, dried apricots, and French oak were supporting actors. The duration ran 1:34, and it was somewhat arid.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Hoot + Howl Spirits’ Bourbon had one of the most enchanting nosing experiences I’ve encountered. I loved sniffing it and crossed my fingers that the sipping part would be similar. The palate shock concerned me, as it possessed a black licorice quality. Thankfully, it transitioned to light fennel on the second attempt.

 

Were I handing out Oscars, the nose would easily snag Best Actor, and the finish would be nominated for the Best Musical Score. The palate might be too avant-garde for some. Regardless, I commend Cal and Chris for taking a risk with their Armagnac Cask Bourbon.

 

Overall, I liked what I tasted. Yet, I recognize it may not have mass appeal. I am damned curious what Hoot + Howl Spirits has up its sleeve for its own distillate, and will patiently wait for that to be released. As it stands, I believe you’ll want to try this one at a Bar first. 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.