I have been looking forward to getting my hands on Stranahan’s Extra Añejo Tequila Cask American Single Malt. Bottled at 45% ABV, mash bill: 100% malted barley, SRP $69 and priced at $69.99/ 750ml bottle, it promises genuine character.
Nose
A blend of six- to nine-year-old whiskeys aged in new American oak barrels, char #3. 45% ABV, mash bill: 100% malted barley, SRP $69.99/ 750ml bottle. Batch 003. Bottle 1185. Colorado. At first sniff, the nose seems a little shut down and almost reductive. Its hard to discern much. With a few more sniffs, I start to pick up a whiff of tequila barrels, and flavors seem to suddenly explode from the glass. There are unusual fruit and spice notes like grilled cherries, cracked black pepper, and old lemons. On the chemical side of the spectrum, I pick up notes of nail polish remover, pool water, and oiled wood. Underneath are sweet vanilla base notes and a touch of burnt rubber. Its a musky whiskey that seems heavily influenced by its tequila-laced sleep.
Palate
This is golden yellow with a coppery undertone. As I sit here writing, the taste of the whiskey still lingers on my palate. I cant objectively say this is a bad whiskey. No. It has complexity, uniqueness, and length at a reasonable price. Can I objectively say this is a fantastic whiskey? No. It lacks hallmarks of being a whiskey. It want a lime wedge and some salt.rnrnPerhaps this whiskey an attempt to hold a mirror up to extra añejo, flaws and beauty both? Thats outside of the scope of a review for me to say. What I can say is that this whiskey has the same conundrum of extra añejo: how long is too long in a finishing cask? What is something that is all finish and no start?rnrnIt reaches for the stars but doesnt quite make it. Maybe the next attempt will be better. Heres hoping that its in the works.
Finish
Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by Whiskeyful or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
The Bottom Line
Stranahan’s Extra Añejo Tequila Cask American Single Malt delivers the goods. It is well-made, genuinely enjoyable, and at $69.99/ 750ml bottle represents solid value for what you are getting. I would happily buy this again.
