Stranahan's Diamond Peak Local Brewer's Blend #4 American Single Malt Whiskey Review

 

Founded in Denver in 2004, Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey was Colorado’s first legal post-Prohibition distillery. In 1998, George Stranahan’s barn caught fire. George was a long-time brewer. His neighbor, Jess Garber, was a volunteer firefighter who tried to save Stranahan’s barn from total destruction. When all was said and done, the two discovered a mutual love of whiskey and became the foundation for building the distillery.

 

Stranahan’s concentrates on producing American Single Malts and is one of the category’s pioneers. Its first whiskey, Stranahan’s Original, was released in 2006, and its portfolio has grown to six expressions. It has an annual release, Snowflake. It has a cult-like following, with people literally camping overnight in the parking lot. I have a handful of friends who participate in this tradition and share their experiences on social media.

 

But that’s not the only annual release Stranahan’s offers. Diamond Peak is the distillery’s attempt to showcase the versatility of American Single Malts and what can be done with them. For 2025, it is named Local Brewer’s Cask #4.

 

Stranahan’s partnered with four local breweries: Avery Brewing Co., River North Brewery, Crooked Stave Brewing Co., and Wild Provisions. Each was provided with barrels that formerly held Stranahan’s Original to age their specialty beers. Those barrels were then returned to Stranahan’s and refilled with American Single Malts aged between four and six years and allowed to rest an additional 18 months.

 

“Partnering with local breweries is a long-standing Stranahan’s tradition. Founder Jess Graber first distilled American Single Malt using beer mash from George Stranahan’s Flying Dog Brewery, and we’ve continued honoring Colorado’s rich brewing culture ever since. It’s why we’ve always championed our state’s barley growing, malting, and brewing expertise.” – Stranahan’s

 

A majority of the finishing cycle occurred in the Avery Brewing Co. barrels. The other three helped round things out. The beers involved were Belgian-style ale, Imperial and Coffee stouts, Barleywines, and Peach ales. Once the finishing cycles were completed, Stranahan’s then used water from Eldorado Springs to proof the whiskey to 90°.

 

I’m not a fan of beer, but I tend to enjoy beer-finished whiskeys. How will Local Brewer’s Cask #4 fare? Thankfully, Stranahan’s was kind enough to send me a sample of this whiskey in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and discover what it is all about.

 

• Whiskey Type: American Single Malt Whiskey
• Distiller: Stranahan’s
• Age: NAS (4 to 6 years)
• Mashbill: 100% malted barley
• Cooperage:  Full maturation in 53-gallon oak barrels, then finished 18 months in former Belgian-style ale, Imperial and Coffee stouts, Barleywines, and Peach ales.
• Alcohol Content: 45% ABV (90°)
• Price per 750mL: $79.99

 

Appearance: I poured this American Single Malt into a Glencairn glass to explore neat. In my glass, the whiskey had a copper color; a thick rim formed thick, syrupy tears.

 

Nose: After waiting about 15 minutes, I brought the glass beneath my nose and inhaled. I smelled dried figs, chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and baked apples. When I pulled the vapor through my lips, I discovered orange marmalade.

 

Palate: With my first sip, I encountered a buttery mouthfeel and a bold, peppery palate shock. The subsequent sip featured coffee, chocolate, and roasted almonds on the front of my palate, and was far milder. My mid-palate discerned notes of hazelnuts, grapefruit, and orange zest. The back included oak tannins, black pepper, and herbal tea.  

 

Finish: The finish featured black pepper, herbal tea, grapefruit, chocolate, and coffee. It started relatively level, and then, about 30 seconds in, it spiked quickly to a spicy crescendo, with the grapefruit lasting the longest, strangely. The entire duration ran 1:28, making it medium-long. It also left the roof of my mouth tingly.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Hmmm. Yeah, I know that sounds ominous. KUDOS to Stranahan’s for creating something very unique. As I stated earlier, I’ve had several beer-finished whiskeys, and while there are some similarities, the influence of several different types of specialty beers doesn’t allow you to concentrate on any one component.

 

It takes a lot to stump me. Diamond Peak Local Brewer’s Cask #4 took me for a wild and crazy ride. There was nothing off-putting about it; it just had its own flow. Is it an interesting pour? Oh, there’s no doubt about that. Will it have mass appeal? Honestly, I have no clue. Did I enjoy it? Parts of it, yes. The only thing that I’m confident about is that Diamond Peak Local Brewer’s Cask #4 is precisely why my Bar rating exists. 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.