Colkegan Cask Strength

American Whiskey Review : Colkegan Cask Strength

Distillery: Santa Fe Spirits.

Region: New Mexico.

Age: NAS.

ABV: 59.0%. Cask Strength.

Cask Number: .

Cask Type: Refill cask.

Price: Courtesy of /u/dustbunna.

Color: 1.1, Burnished.

This whisky was reviewed blind courtesy of /u/dustbunna as part of a Twelve Fourteen Days of Christmas set. The note on this dram was “VII (Seven) Swans-a-Singing”.

This is the sixth installment of this year’s Christmas Countdown. You can find previous installments here.

Nose: This smells like it is either lightly peated or was aged in some kind of port cask, maybe even both. It’s savory with a bit of something stinky and medicinal. It is more aromatic than most peaty whiskies I’ve had, more akin to incense burning than aggressive smoke. You certainly can feel alcohol biting at your nose smelling this.

Palate: It’s a touch on the strong side at full strength with a bit of bite. Adding some water calms things down. It seems like it’s peated with a nice, medicinal and incense-esque set of flavors. A touch of mineral water, something savory, and some caramel go along with those medicinal/incense flavors.

Finish: Medium in length. Mineral water and a bith of ethanol.

Guess: Scotland. Island. Highland Park. 15-19 years of age. Refill sherry cask. 50-55% ABV.

Reveal: Colkegan Cask Strength from Santa Fe, NM. 59% ABV. Refill cask (formerly holding other Colkegan).

Conclusion: The moment I first tasted those mineral water notes, my mind went instantly to Highland Park. After all, I’ve been blind poured Highland Park on multiple occasions by multiple people who want may have different opinions on that distillery than I do (I do not care for it). I had though to myself that I enjoyed this more than most from that distillery, mainly due to how those mineral water notes were tucked away and not front and center. Imagine my surprise when I saw the repeal, I wasn’t even familiar with the brand name much less knowing about any distillery in New Mexico. Overall, this is quite nice. The medicinal / incense notes are certainly unique and make this live long the memory.

SMWS name: “I can’t believe it’s not Orkney!”

Rating: 79.

American Whiskey Review , New Mexico , American Single Malt Review , Whisky Network Review

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

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