Stranahan’s Sherry Cask Brings Craft Beer’s Innovation to Single Malt Whiskey

Stranahan's Sherry Cask Finished Whiskey

This is a sponsored post as the Sherry Cask Finished Whiskey experience was provided by Stranahan’s Whiskey

Illuminated by a blood red, iron oxide composition, with a pair of monoliths bursting forth from Colorado soil extending to the sky, Red Rocks Amphitheater, which is nestled between these two 300-foot tall geological wonders, has easily ensconced itself as one of the preeminent music experience venues in the world and will reach the milestone of hosting 180 shows in 2018.

Over the past 76 years, Red Rocks’ has played host to scores of historic musical performances and recently served as the setting to another iconic Colorado staple. Stranahan’s Whiskey, which for the past 13 years has become a leader in the Colorado spirits industry tapped the Red Rocks magic to debut the release of its new Sherry Cask Single Malt Whiskey.

Stranahan’s may have taken a page from their craft beer brethren with their innovative spin on barrel-aging, by adding their classic single malt whiskey to 500 liter oak Sherry Oloroso barrels that previously aged Sherry wine for upward of 40 years. The result is a brilliant exhibition of nuance and innovation with notes of vanilla, ripe cherry, and figs that benefits from 4 years of barrel-aging finished with a solera-style aging in used-Sherry barrels for several months. Those rich cherry, fig and even raisin flavors draw from the Sherry barrels also helped to parallel the crimson hues that flanked our dinner during the Sherry Cask release at Red Rocks.

Master Distiller Rob Dietrich was first inspired to utilize Sherry cask finished whiskey as a component of a previous take on Snowflake, Stranahan’s yearly rarity release that blends multiple expressions of their Single Malt Whiskey that has been aged in barrels which previously held other wines and spirits. After employing the Sherry cask finished whiskey for Snowflake Dietrich realized that this variation could stand up mightily on its own.

“We tested the Oloroso Sherry cask-finished whiskey last year at our first annual Cask Thief festival and our fans and family loved it,” says Rob Dietrich. “That’s when we knew we had to bring it to the national market. I’m really excited to add this expression to our lineup of whiskeys and help expand and showcase just how special American Single Malt whiskey is and what it can bring to the world stage.”

Stranahan’s Master Distiller Rob Dietrich

Channeling the majesty and mystique of Red Rocks, the debut of Stranahan’s new Sherry cask-finished whiskey included a private tour of the historic hallways and green rooms that have housed legendary artists that have include The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, John Denver, U2 and The Grateful Dead. To cap it all off Dietrich guided through a dazzling dinner pairing from the stage where this titans once played as part of the first dining event that has taken place in this setting in over 20 years.

Stranahan’s Sherry Cask-Finished Whiskey is now available in stores throughout the country and makes for the perfect holiday gift to the refined whiskey fan in your life.