Stranahan’s Diamond Peak isn’t “just” any ordinary American Single Malt—it’s a constantly evolving limited edition American Single Malt whiskey, which makes it a collector’s gem and one of the most highly sought-after bottlings in the Stranahan’s portfolio.
Each year, Diamond Peak is finished in a different cask type and every release is hotly anticipated by whiskey aficionados nationwide. It’s a must-have for anyone who appreciates small-batch craftsmanship and a way to discover the taste of unique barrel aging and finishes.
This year’s installment of Diamond Peak is Brewer’s Cask, honoring both innovation and tradition through a special collaboration with some of Colorado’s most respected breweries. To finish our 6-year-old American Single Malt, we selected barrels that once held Coffee Stouts, Barley Wines, Belgian Quads, and other robust craft brews—each chosen for its depth, character, and complexity. The result is a layered and flavor-rich whiskey that nods to our origins, including the very first batch Jess Graber distilled using a beer mash from George Stranahan’s Flying Dog Brewery. Bottled at 90 proof, Local Brewer’s Cask offers balanced sweetness with roasted malt, dark fruit, spice, and a finish that lingers long after the last sip.
Cask Finished Whiskey: Diamond Peak Through the Years
As any whiskey lover knows, discovery is part of the journey. Unique whiskey expressions, the stories behind each bottle, and the craft and passion of the people behind them enrich the experience, inviting you to immerse yourself in the tradition we love so much.
Stranahan’s first Diamond Peak, Batch 1, was matured in new American oak barrels for four years and finished in Bushmills® Irish Single Malt Whiskey casks for an additional three years. This cask finished whiskey, bottled at 45% ABV, presents an earthy malt with a nose of well-oiled leather, a buttery palate, and a long finish.
Diamond Peak Batch 2 was blended from five-to-eight-year-old Stranahan’s American Single Malt Whiskeys and finished in José Cuervo Reserva de Familia® Extra Añejo casks for an additional two years. The result is peppery and floral on the nose with herbal notes over a salted caramel palate, finishing with a creamy texture that fades into light agave sugar.
Diamond Peak Batch 3 blends six to nine-year-old Stranahan’s single malts, finished for six months to two years in Caribbean Rum casks sourced from across the Antilles—including prized rum barrels from the Dominican Republic, Barbados, and Martinique. This finishing process develops a distinctly tropical profile: on the nose, you’ll find notes of dried apricot, pineapple, and crème brûlée, followed by tropical fruit flavors on the palate and a finish that combines brown sugar reduction with a hint of cola spice.
Diamond Peak Batch 4 is a collaboration with four local breweries in the Denver area and an homage to our roots, as Jess Graber used George Stranahan’s beer mash to distill his first batch of American Single Malt. We provided each of our brewery partners with a cask previously filled with Stranahan’s whiskey, and they proceeded to work their magic, aging their specialty beers, including imperial and coffee stouts, peach ale, and Belgian-style ale. When the barrels were returned to the distillery, they were filled with four-to-six-year-old Stranahan’s American Single Malt and aged for an additional one to 1.5 years.
This latest installment of Diamond Peak showcases espresso, raisins, figs, and chocolate-covered orange on the nose, followed by chocolate malt and orange slices on the palate, and finishing dry with a mouth-coating texture replete with notes of pomegranate, citrus, and chocolate malt.
The Vision Behind Diamond Peak, Our Limited Edition American Single Malt Whiskey
Every whiskey has a story to tell, and Diamond Peak is no exception. Named to reflect its rarity and prestige, this limited edition whiskey shines like a true gem, premium, distinctive, and among the most sought-after American Single Malt whiskey expressions available today.
Each year, we craft an exceptional American Single Malt whiskey that explores the art of cask finishing—bringing Stran-a-fans exclusive access to bold new flavor profiles shaped by barrels like Irish Single Malt, Extra Añejo Tequila, Caribbean Rum, and now, Colorado craft beer.
Like any great whiskey, time and patience are essential in the whiskey-making process.
Barrel Selection and Curation: The Distiller’s Art Defined
Diamond Peak begins as part of Stranahan’s Experimental Series, a limited run of trial-sized expressions sold only at our Denver Distillery. These small batches of American Single Malt whiskey, crafted from one or two barrels, serve as testing grounds for innovation and allow our team to gather feedback directly from the Stran-a-fan community.
If a trial release resonates, we scale it up to a 750ml Distillery Exclusive—available only in Denver or the Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge in Aspen. From there, one exceptional expression earns its place as the next Diamond Peak, blended at scale into a 60–90 barrel release and distributed more widely.
This thoughtful approach—starting small, listening to our fans, and scaling with intention—ensures every Diamond Peak release lives up to its name.
Behind every bottle of Diamond Peak is a story told through barrels. The cask isn’t just a finishing vessel and a creative partner in shaping flavor.
For Head Blender Justin Aden, selecting casks is a highly intentional process, combining the rigor of experience with the excitement of exploration. Working with oak sourced from some of the world’s most storied spirits—Irish whiskey, tequila, rum, and even craft beer—Justin chooses barrels based on how they’ll complement and elevate Stranahan’s malt-forward foundation.
As Justin Aden explains in Forbes, “Stranahan’s Diamond Peak series is an annual release of limited-edition, cask-finished whiskey that showcases our innovation. By leveraging our network within the Proximo family, we can source casks worldwide to bring fans a premium American Single Malt with a different flavor profile each year.”
Each batch of Diamond Peak reflects years of maturation, sensory evaluation, and blending artistry. It’s not about chasing trends—it’s about crafting whiskey that captures a moment, a memory, or a place, and bottling it for fans to savor and share.
A Whiskey for Collectors: Order Your Bottle of Diamond Peak Today
Whether you’re adding to your collection or trying Stranahan’s for the first time, you owe it to yourself to try the latest edition of Diamond Peak. Order online today or book a distillery tour if you’re in the Denver area.
