Dry oats | Hints of rye spice | Light grain | Light baking spice | Dab of ethanol | More muted scents than expected for the proof

Honey | Syrup | Baking spices | Bold sharp spice | Hints of stout beer

Oatmeal | Oak | Muted honey | Dab of baking chocolate | Undulating spice that lingers

Breckenridge Whiskey Imperial Stout Cask, otherwise known as “Buddy Pass,” is a collaboration between Breckenridge Brewery and Breckenridge Distillery. This Colorado only release saw Breckenridge Brewery craft an Imperial Oatmeal Stout that was aged in used Breckenridge Distillery bourbon barrels. Once the beer was emptied from the barrels, Breckenridge Distillery refilled them with whiskey and let it age for 10-13 months. The two companies released a Buddy Pass beer and whiskey at the end of 2021 to celebrate the collaboration. More information can be found in the company’s press release.

The whiskey itself is interesting. It checks all the boxes on paper to get consumers excited: high proof, long barrel finishing time, accessible price for a limited edition, and an interesting backstory. In execution however, the whiskey is slightly perplexing. While the barrel finishing is noticeable it’s in no way as bold as the recent Old Dominick All the Cookies bourbon which I found to be delightful. Hints of oats and baking spice are noticeable throughout along with an overall spice that’s sharp throughout the majority of the sip. In the end the barrel finish seems to produce more of a beer drinker's whiskey, and one that would pair perfectly with a stout.