Slight mint | Light baking chocolate | Heavy charred oak | Rye grain | Leather

Brown sugar caramel | Dry oak | Rye spice | Baking spices | Proof makes itself known

Rye spice | Dry oak | Leather | Hints of brown sugar | Tingling heat | Lingering dryness

Started by Michael Myers, a former New York City fashion and beauty photographer, 291 Whiskey is based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. 291 XII Colorado Whiskey, more commonly referred to as “Twelve,” is a batch of 3 year old rye barrels that were marked for the distillery’s anniversary release. Like the brand's other whiskey products, this whiskey is also finished with Aspen wood staves.

The influence of the Aspen staves, which can come through in more than just the dark colored whiskeys that Distillery 291 produces, is noticeable but not overwhelming initially. “Twelve” opens on intriguing notes of slight mint and baking chocolate and is joined with heavy aged notes of oak and leather, which is the highlight of the sip. The midpoint brings about a nice mix of traditional rye notes along with sweetness in the form of brown sugar caramel. Not to be forgotten, the whiskey’s high proof makes a strong showing here. The whiskey finishes on a soiree of bold rye spice along with dense drier notes of oak and leather. It’s these drier notes that ultimately hold the whiskey back from finding better balance throughout the entirety of the sip. Overall, this is a nice release from Distillery 291.

The total number of bottles produced for this release was 399.