Stranahan’s opens whiskey lodge

Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey has opened a whiskey lodge in Aspen, complete with an exclusive bottling.

The company described the lodge, located at 307 S Mill St, Aspen, as a ‘return to its Aspen Roots’ – with founders Jess Graber and George Stranahan having created the brand in a ski resort town more than 20 years ago, before going on to open a distillery in Denver.

Graber said: “We’re coming back to Aspen, where I began the American single malt journey two decades ago. Opening the doors to our Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge is a thank you to our friends, family and fans who helped us get here, but it is also a long-awaited return home.

“We’ve come a long way since opening the first whiskey distillery in Colorado since Prohibition, down in Denver. Returning to the Rockies to open the Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge is a testament to the country’s thirst for home-grown single malts.

“For all single malt whiskey fans, I want to invite them to Aspen to taste America’s finest and most unique range of American single malts out there.”

The lodge will offer alpine-inspired food designed by chef Nick Ragazzo (think Colorado lamb flatbread and whiskey-smoked Wagyu brisket), après ski-themed and classic cocktails, and views of the mountain.

After hitting the slopes all day, visitors can also lean into drams from the brand’s full line-up of whiskeys, including its Original, Blue Peak, Sherry Cask, Diamond Peak, and Mountain Angel 10 expressions.

In addition, to celebrate the opening, Stranahan’s has also bottled a whiskey exclusively for the lodge – named Calvados Cask.

Comprising six-cask blend of the brand’s American single malts, the whiskey was matured for eight years with the final two years of ageing in casks that previously held Calvados, the apple brandy produced in Normandy, France.

The expression has notes of notes of dandelion, wild honey, marsala wine on the nose, and yellow pear, white tea and apple strudel on the palate.

It can be picked up from the lodge for US$140, with part of the sales being donated to the Aspen Fire Protection District to honour its role in Stranahan’s founding.

Justin Aden, head blender at Stranahan’s, said: “The opportunity to custom build exceptional limited edition whiskey blends for our Whiskey Lodge guests is a special treat.

“The fruitiness of our single malt paired with the richness of Calvados cask finishing could not fit Stranahan’s taste profile better. It’s the perfect union of our 100% barley malt, Eldorado Spring water, and a nuanced depth that only exceptionally aged Calvados could give you.”

Aden was named the inaugural head blender for Stranahan’s last October.