The Stranahan’s story is quite literally the stuff of legends. Since its inception one fateful day in 2004, it has evolved into America’s #1 Single Malt whiskey.†
There is no question—this accolade is monumental in every way, but it’s Stranahan’s pioneering spirit and commitment to quality and tradition that took this brand to the top. Not only was Stranahan’s Colorado’s first Rocky Mountain single malt, Stranahan’s was the first distillery in Colorado since Prohibition, but also one of the first pure craft whiskey distilleries ever, honing the art of American Single Malt with undivided attention for 20 years.
The Stranahan’s Origin Story
Stranahan’s was founded by Jess Graber and George Stranahan.
Jess was a volunteer firefighter called to a barn fire at George Stranahan’s property near Aspen. George was a local brewery owner, and once the fire was out and the smoke cleared, they discovered they shared a passion for good whiskey.
As the story goes, it didn’t take long—just enough time to partake in a couple of glasses of fine single malt—for them to come up with the idea.
With George’s brewing and malting skills, access to the finest grains, and pure Rocky Mountain spring water against the backdrop of the majestic Colorado Rockies, Stranahan’s original recipe was born.
Since then, Jess and George have introduced many new recipes to evolve Stranahan’s product line, creating classics like Diamond Peak, Blue Peak, Mountain Angel 10 Year, and many distillery exclusive bottles lovers of fine American Single Malts won’t want to miss.
Making an Award-Winning American Single Malt
The recipe for Stranahan’s Original was inspired by the Rocky Mountains. Since the beginning, we’ve only used four simple ingredients: 100% malted barley, yeast, Rocky Mountain spring water, and time in barrel.
We craft our whiskey in small batches using only locally sourced grains. The barley is malted and mashed with pure spring water and yeast to create the wash, which we then distill and place in barrels.
Our American oak barrels are toasted to a #3 char; each batch is aged for at least four years. We blend our whiskey from barrels aged for a minimum 4 years in virgin American Oak. As barrels mature, their characteristics evolve, lending different flavors and textures to the whiskey. This provides us with unique base spirits that we blend into various styles, each with a distinct profile.
The process is born of tradition and has Scottish roots, but our commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and local ingredients makes our whiskey unique.
And you don’t have to take our word for it. Stranahan’s American Single Malt is recognized by some of the world’s most prestigious spirits competitions, including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Cigar and Spirits Magazine, the SIP Awards, and many more.
What Does it Take to Become an American Single Malt?
American Single Malt only recently became an official classification, fueled by distilleries like Stranahan’s, who petitioned the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for legal status.
The lobbying group is called the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, formed in 2016 to establish a standard of identity and quality to which its members must adhere.
What this means is that several requirements must be met before a whiskey can be labeled as an American Single Malt. These are:
- Distilled from 100% malted barley at a single distillery
- The entire production process must occur within the United States
- Oak maturation in casks no larger than 700 liters
- ABV no more than 160 proof at distillation
- Bottled at a minimum of 80 proof
With these guidelines as a foundation, American Single Malt joins the ranks of Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey as a distinct product with regulated production, providing consumers with a reliable mark of trust and quality.
Bringing Whiskey Lovers Together
Through the years, Stranahan’s has cultivated a community of whiskey enthusiasts through annual events like Cask Thief, Snowflake Festival, and the American Single Malt Society.
If you’re in the Denver area, we invite you to visit Stranahan’s Whiskey Distillery or the new Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge in Aspen. If you can’t come by, why not order a bottle online to see for yourself what America’s #1 Single Malt is all about?
