By Kenrick Thurston-Wilcox
Rating: B
Inspired by the bootstrap ambitions of Western frontier settlers, Deerhammer strives to put it’s own mark on the whiskey world, having started with a single malt when most of their peers were making bourbon. They have since moved on to make other whiskeys, including a rye, a four-grain bourbon and even a 100% hickory-smoked corn whiskey. Also, founder Lenny Eckstein introduced the Progeny Series; a series of collaborations with Colorado-based companies, in an effort to create unique, one of a kind Colorado whiskies. Honeycomber is the third such collaboration, finished in ex-mead barrels.
This Progeny follows pattern of the full circle barrel collaboration. Deerhammer sent their casks, used to make straight American Single Malt, to Redstone Meadery in Boulder, who have been around since 2006. After the malt whiskey barrels were used to age mead, they went back to Deerhammer. The ex-malt, ex-mead casks were used to put a two year finish on yet more single malt, for a total of four years of aging. This release saw only 1,225 bottles released (for this review we acquired bottle no. 592) and is bottled as 102 proof.
The Whiskey
The liquid is a mixture of amber and yellow in the glass. On the nose was lemon, herbal notes such as rosemary and a hint of mint. Chocolate is there as well, melons, some grassy notes and honey (not surprising as these casks previously held mead). Overall it’s herbal, light and fresh, yet has a good amount of aromas packed in.
The taste follows suit being grassy, with lemon notes once again. Chocolate comes in as well. The liquid feels thin and watery. The finish is smoky, with a slight red apple note, and staying around for a long time. A few drops of water didn’t do much other than to make the finish more harsh, and hiding the smoky flavor.
The Price
The Honeycomber can be picked up for around $70. The catch is it can only be found in certain liquor stores, which I’m assuming are only in Colorado as Deerhammers website does not specify which states carry this release.