Distiller overcomes flood damage to release whiskey

Colorado-based Spirit Hound Distillers has finally released the first batch of its Straight Malt Whisky after a flood in 2013 caused “significant problems”.

The spirit is made from an all-malt recipe composed of Colorado-grown malted barley and peat-smoked malted barley

Five 53-gallon barrels of Straight Malt Whisky that were filled prior to severe floods in September 2013 have now been bottled and released for sale at the Spirit Hound distillery and tasting room in Colorado.

The flood halted the distiller’s whisky production for about six months, and this has had a knock-on effect for the next release of aged whisky, which will now take place in early 2016.

Head distiller and co-founder, Craig Engelhorn, said:“Two years ago when our town got hit by the flood and our distillery was under three feet of water, I was worried this whole thing might go down the drain. To finally be releasing this whisky and have it turn out so well, it’s very satisfying for us.

The spirit is made from an all-malt recipe composed mainly of Colorado-grown malted barley with a small amount of peat-smoked malted barley, and was double distilled at Spirit Hound on two handmade stills built by Engelhorn and his team. The Straight Malt Whisky was then aged for more than two years in new fully-charred American oak barrels.

Engelhorn added: “From the start we’ve committed to doing things the right way. We’re not rushing things, we’re not bringing in other whisky to relabel or blend with ours. I hope the consumers appreciate the time and effort we’ve put into this.

“It reflects our small-batch nature, and it showcases the subtle differences between each barrel. The fact is they all turned out very well, even better than I had hoped.”

Spirit Hound’s Straight Malt Whisky features aromas of oak and toffee, and flavours of caramel, turbinado sugar and light smoke, with a “silky” body, and is bottled at 45% abv.

Spirit Hound’s portfolio also features Spirit Hound Gin, Richardo’s Decaf Coffee Liqueur, Mountain Bum Rum, and White Dog Moonshine.
Last year, emergency services rescued three workers at Diageo’s Strathmill Distillery when the site became flooded after the nearby River Isla burst its banks.