Orange | Cedar | Botanicals | Lemon zest | Unique & expressive with a swirl of the glass

Orange chocolate | Rye spice | Burnt caramel | Light vegetive notes | Seasoned oak

Thick oak | Robust vanilla | Rye spice | Mildly dry | Long lingering heat and a touch of bootstrap molasses

Based in Denver, Colorado, Mythology’s philosophy is that “we each form our own Mythology through travel, connecting with others and our experiences.” The company blends several different whiskeys, each labeled with a different man and animal on the front in the theme of the company encouraging everyone to “discover your spirit animal.” The company's Hell Bear Whiskey is a blend of straight rye and straight bourbons and in barrel proof form, increases its proof by 26 proof points from its standard release.

We found the 90 proof Hell Bear release to be muted and light, leaving you “wanting just a bit more every time you have a sip.” Mythology must have felt the same because in its cask strength form the majority of the standard release’s faults are wholeheartedly corrected.

The whiskey’s nose might be the biggest surprise, as its unique collection of orange, cedar, botanicals, and lemon zest scents work extremely well together. Orange chocolate opens the palate which slows transitions to rye spice, which is carried through to the end of the sip. It’s a bold pour that backs itself up with plenty of familiar flavors and other not-so-familiar ones. The sip concludes on a hot and slightly dry note and sheds most of its uniqueness by this point. Yet that’s OK since this whiskey takes the drinker on an enjoyable journey from the unfamiliar to the familiar. Despite this momentary dip in excitement during its finish, the whiskey is anything but boring.