Colorado has shortly develop into a powerhouse within the American whiskey panorama, dwelling to a rising roster of acclaimed distilleries. Whereas some have develop into family names, many others are quietly placing out distinctive spirits with daring character and humble beginnings. Department and Barrel Distilling is an unconventional operation positioned simply south of Denver in Centennial, Colorado.
Based in 2016 by a bunch of pals with a shared dream, Department and Barrel started in probably the most grassroots manner conceivable: distilling in a storage utilizing a turkey fryer and a sizzling water heater, with growing old achieved in mason jars full of charred tree trimmings from the yard. The identify “Department and Barrel” is a nod to these early “barrels”—literal branches charred by hand.
Right now, the distillery continues to embrace its creative spirit. Its gear is hand-built from upcycled stainless-steel initially utilized by Campbell’s Soup, soda factories, and varied different sources. True to their analog roots, every part is finished by hand—no automation.
Led by grasp distiller Ted Smith and grasp blender Mitchell Nester, Department and Barrel reached a brand new milestone in the summertime of 2025 with the discharge of Batch 32 of their Colorado Straight Bourbon—a maturation improve for his or her flagship expression, aged for at least 5 years.
Comprised of a Colorado-grain mashbill of 80% corn and 20% malted barley—grown in Wiggins and Monte Vista, respectively—the bourbon undergoes a five-day fermentation earlier than being distilled to roughly 150 proof. It’s then barreled at a notably low 104 proof in #3 char, medium toast barrels from Adirondack Cooperage in Glenville, New York. After growing old for at the least 5 years in close by Elizabeth, Colorado, it’s bottled at 92 proof with out chill filtration.
Department and Barrel Bourbon 5 Years Previous Overview
The nostril kicks off with a flash of strawberry ice cream—the type scooped from the Neapolitan tubs my grandmother all the time had within the freezer. After that preliminary wave, the aroma shifts to one thing grainy and candy, very similar to Frosted Mini Wheats. Let the glass sit a bit, and notes of inexperienced tea and elderflower enter the image, including complexity with out veering into something too perfumed or cloying. It’s an enticing fragrant profile which will shock these skeptical of the distillery’s humble origins.
On the palate, flavors echo buttercream frosting, adopted by a candy-shop combo that remembers the caramel and chocolate core of a Rolo. The midsection affords a restrained cherry Jolly Rancher character that’s balanced by the buttery crunch of shortbread cookies. The feel lands someplace slightly below medium in weight—sufficient to offer some construction with out feeling heavy.
The end, nevertheless, is the place issues get somewhat uneven. It begins with star anise and the marginally burnt fringe of toasted bread crust, then shifts right into a drying black tea be aware that lingers longer than it ought to. There’s a touch of bitterness right here that doesn’t fairly resolve cleanly.
Even so, Batch 32 of Department and Barrel’s Colorado Straight Bourbon delivers a rewarding tasting expertise—significantly given its easy two-grain mashbill. It’s an expression with promise, and it’ll be fascinating to see how further time in oak may polish the tough edges on the again finish.
92 proof.
B / $55
Department and Barrel Bourbon 5 Years Previous
USD55
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