Stranahan’s Distiller’s Experimental Batch 005

Stranahan’s is one of the oldest distileries in the United States. While they have kept a solid core offering over the years, they have also featured annual releases, single casks and limited series. The Distiller’s Experiemental Batch is only available at the distillery itself or the connected Aspen Whiskey Lodge. This series is, as the name connotes, made up of experiments concocted by head blender Justin Aden. Regulations surrounding whiskey allow much more freedom to experiment than some other places, which allows this series to really stretch into all kinds of finishes, grains and other territories not even seen in major releases. The Stranahan’s Distiller’s Experimental Batch 005 was released in 2022. This single malt was aged for six years and two months, and finished for a gin cask that had formely held a single malt scotch. The distillery has not disclosed what specific scotch or American gin the cask previously held, or the exact length of the finish.

Distillery: Stranahan’s
Country: United States
Age: 6 years, 2 months
Strength: 51.5%
Price: $49.99
Maturation: Matured in new American oak and finished in a gin cask
Barrel: 00-0053, bottle 54 out of 480
Location: Denver, CO
Nose: Pine, bergamot, fig, juniper, vanilla, clove, peppermint
Palate: Bergamot, frankincense, cinnamon, juniper, strawberry, anise, cardamom, clove, black pepper, orange
Finish: Sandalwood, white pepper, apricot, vanilla

Comments: This bottle – and many in this series – are sold only in 375ml bottles. 

Adam – Stranahan’s Batch 005 is what I love about American whiskey, the sheer adventure and exploration. Not all of these experiments will work but even something not strictly on target might have hidden treasures contained therein. The gin cask influence takes the foundational whiskey, fusing to create something iridescent. An array of herbs and spices greet you on the nose and, instead of narrowing on the palate like many whiskies, this one seems to expand into even greater complexity. Even the finish, though somewhat quieter, is alive with wood and pepper.

Kate – The Batch 005 is spicy, with anise, cardamom, clove, black pepper, and orange on the palate, like it is steeped in wine. I’m with Evelyn, it’s like a gluhwein. It finishes warm and spicy with a hint of stone fruits then vanilla blooms and mixes with the spicy notes, which lingers.

Henry – A heady nose of bergamot and fresh pine sap with undertones of stewed Smyrna fig, vanilla, and toasted oak. On the palate, one is quickly reminded that this is cask strength. Palate introduces sandalwood, more pine and bergamot resin, frankincense, and kaffir lime leaf, with a tannic oak backbone which lingers on the finish. Any more oak on the finish would disappoint, but this is dialed in perfectly.

Ben – The Batch 005 is a street fight in my mouth. I got those big flavors at the beginning and it turned from starlight mint into peppermint. It’s such a great texture. The gin and whiskey is happening at the same time. That’s where the fight is, and then the second nose turns that peppermint into wintergreen.

Bill – Holidays on ice. Wintergreen, baking spices, bergamot, clove, etc.  on the nose, such a departure from the norm. This is nice and lovely, my tongue is dancing. The gin is pronounced with heavy juniper and the bergamot really shines through here. There’s a nice white pepper, apricot finish and the mouthfeel is a little oily, but the juniper cuts it short and helps it finish dry, with a bit of white pepper. Like Luden’s Cough Drops.

Mike – There’s a bit right at the end of things that reminded of my diabetic grandfather’s sugar-free hard candies.

Evelyn – The Batch 005 smells a little bit like a Gluwine. It has all the fruits and all the spices.

Sam – On the tongue there’s orange and juniper coming through, with a pronounced bitterness and astringency that I do not like. Over all pleasant, but the bitter kills it for me.