Stranahan’s Diamond Peak Extra Anejo Tequila Cask at 45%ABV; limited release; 100% malted barley; 750mL — the question is whether it delivers on its promise. I sat down with a pour to find out.
Nose
Translucent, pure gold. Fast, scattered legs. Similar complexity to the nose, with the effect being more cumulative than bold notes popping up. A light sweetness flows through, with a vegetal note briefly coming through at first. Some creamy vanilla adds to the sweetness then mellows out. Black pepper on the mid-palate becomes white pepper on the finish, which is fairly short. The short finish is grounded in cereal grain notes coming through, closer to wheat cereal than a malt character.
Palate
Floral, lightly sweet. A touch of spicy pepper. After a few minutes theres an element of cherry. There are not a lot of particularly strong notes coming through, which adds to the complexity rather than detracts from it.
Finish
Sigh. This whiskey is good. Years of love for Stranahans are affirmed in this newer expression. Im always have a bit of trepidation about some of the more obscure cask finishes, but this one was pulled off well. The sweetness was inviting but by no means is this a sweet whiskey. I particularly enjoyed the complexity of this whiskey, blending together seamlessly.
The Bottom Line
Stranahan’s Diamond Peak Extra Anejo Tequila Cask delivers the goods. It is well-made, genuinely enjoyable, and represents solid value for what you are getting. I would happily buy this again.
