Stranahan's Founder's Release 12 Year

MSRP: $199.99

Mash: 100% CO Barley

Proof: 120

Age: 12yr

Nose: spiced poached apple with cinnamon immediately rushes the senses, followed by a bourbon vanilla, and a bit of sweet oak

Palate: a viscous apple strudel greets you, with a nice Madagascar vanilla bean and leathery note, followed by an almost peach grape juice fruitiness and a hint of oak and herbal tea with honey

Finish: medium finish with spiced apple and leather

Rating: Buy it (Out of Hoard, Buy, Try, Pass)

Thoughts: what this lacks in complexity and depth, it makes up for in vibrancy and flavor. When this first dropped, it was talked about a good bit, and then all but vanished on people's radar. It was odd how hot it came and went. It's on the higher end of the price point for a Stranahan's release, but it's also absolutely fantastic. Everyone mentioned it tasting like apple pie, and they aren't wrong. It's uncanny and a great profile. They did a really good job with this, and I'm shocked more people aren't talking about it still. This is a great way to introduce bourbon drinkers to single malt. I was very tempted to give this a Hoard it rating, but the only thing holding it back is the price. It's still very worth grabbing one. What's the Deal?: One of the oldest releases Stranahan's has ever released. Stranahan's Founder's Reserve 12 Year was a 20th Anniversary release American Single Malt with parts of the blend finished in Blonde Ale and ex-Bourbon casks for 1-4 years. The result is a wildly good bottling that will convince even the biggest ASM haters that there is great single malt being made in the states. This is a huge win of a release for Stranahan's, even if the price tag is a little bit steep. If you can't swing a bottle, you need to try and find a way to try a sample.