Butterscotch | Caramel corn | Honey | Nougat

Honey | Sweet corn | Floral | Green apple | Browed butter

Toffee | Graham cracker | Toasted cinnamon | Cherry | Sweet oak | Growing rye spice

Rooted in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Blackhat Distillery officially relaunched on September 19, 2019, after owner Joe Koscove acquired the former Bluefish Distillery. The craft operation produces a wide-ranging lineup of spirits, including a notable launch of their American agave spirit line. Its core whiskey portfolio features their signature expression bourbon blended from two distinct bourbons aged at least 4 years, which it sources from select distilleries (presumably in Colorado, as the state of distillation isn’t disclosed), blends, and proofs in-house using Rocky Mountain water. Blackhat owns a pot still and offers contract distilling, custom bottling, and private-label production for third-party brands.

As a blend of bourbons from multiple distilleries, aged 4 years, 6 months, the bourbon offers a decent range of flavors for its age. The bourbon’s aroma is the most straightforward, with gentle notes of butterscotch, caramel corn, honey, and nougat. The palate opens with honey, then gently contrasts it with sweet corn and a floral note, before green apple and browned butter add depth. The finish is toffee-forward, which nicely pairs with graham cracker and toasted cinnamon. A minor but noticeable cherry note appears mid-finish, with sweet oak and a slowly rising rye spice note carrying the bourbon to the end.

Compared with the company’s American agave spirit line, which features movie-like poster-style labels, Blackhat's label feels a bit too simplistic. As for the bourbon itself, it's mostly sweet, with minor pops of spice notes coming through its sip. Though it lacks maturity on the palate, the flavors are enjoyable and reveal themselves very matter-of-factly. The price is a bit higher than the sip warrants, but fans of sweet-tasting bourbon and distillery locals will likely be okay overlooking that part.