Agave | Caramel | Burnt sugar | Browned butter

Light brown sugar | Sugar cane | Honey | Sweet tea | Toasted oak

Barrel char | Malty crispness | Cinnamon | Lingering light roasted barley

After finding success in the beer scene with Dale’s Pale Ale, Craig Engelhorn turned his attention to spirit making. He quickly found like-minded individuals in the Lyons, Colorado area that had the same dream in mind. Priding themselves with craftsmanship, they are a hands-on distillery, even building their pot still themselves. Like many before them, they dabbled in all forms of spirits (14 and counting), but single malt whiskeys were what they were patiently waiting to come of age.

Cask strength single malts are still relatively scarce in the marketplace compared to their bourbon and rye counterparts. That provides Spirit Hound with a built-in opportunity to stand out. Fresh from the barrel at 2 years old, the single malt does not show any signs of it from its nose. Big agave and caramel notes transform into burnt sugar and butter. The palate shows its relative youth only in its limited range of flavors, but the flavors that are present, are potent and impactful. Sweet light brown sugar is swept up with sugar cane, honey, and toasted oak. The finish presents barrel char upfront, before the whiskey’s maltiness comes out in full force. Cinnamon also makes itself known along with a lingering light roasted barley note.

The whiskey sports a brilliant rich color for its age, and the only complaint is its young age holds back the whiskey’s ultimate potential. Its flavors are well constructed and complementary, however, it needs more time to fully blossom. But with that, the single malt’s high proof lovingly amplifies the entire drinking experience adding a bit more punch than you’d expect from a single malt, and the results are satisfying.

The bottle in review is from barrel no. 345.