Stranahan's Unveils Mountain Angel 14 Year Old Single Malt
Most whiskeys with a finish get a few extra months in a second barrel. Stranahan's new Mountain Angel 14 Year Old went through three different casks, including rare Hungarian Tokaji wine barrels for the last stretch. It is the Denver distillery's oldest whiskey to date and the newest member of its Mountain Angel family. It debuts this month at a suggested price of $129.99 for a 750ml bottle.
Did You Know?
Stranahan's says aging a mile above sea level leads to a generous angel's share, which is the whiskey lost to evaporation while it sits in barrel.
The 14 years break down as 10 years in new charred American white oak, 3 years and 3 months in Cognac casks, and a final 9 months in Tokaji wine casks.
Stranahan's was Colorado's first legal distillery since Prohibition, and the first batch was distilled in 2004.
The Release
Mountain Angel 14 Year Old is an American single malt made from 100% malted barley. The whiskey starts with a decade in new charred American white oak, the classic bourbon-style barrel that adds vanilla, caramel and spice. It then moves into Cognac casks for 3 years and 3 months before getting a 9 month finish in Tokaji casks. Tokaji is a Hungarian wine region known for sweet wines, so those barrels add a distinctive layer. The whiskey is cut to strength with Eldorado Spring water from the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
This is the oldest bottle Stranahan's has ever released, and it pairs the brand's naturally fruity house style with a rare wine cask finish.
Head blender Justin Aden said the Tokaji casks "beautifully complement Stranahan's naturally fruity character." He added that they bring richness to the mouthfeel that balances the oak spice built up over 14 years.
According to the brand, the nose offers candied apricot, orange marmalade, prune and raisin. The palate brings baked apple and stone fruits with vanilla, caramel, tobacco and pepper. The finish carries tropical notes, chocolate and drying oak spice.
It joins the existing Mountain Angel 10 Year Old, which highlights new charred American white oak, and the 12 Year Old, which carries a Port cask finish. Each bottle in the family shows a different approach to long maturation.
The Story of Stranahan's
Stranahan's was founded in 2004 by Jess Graber and George Stranahan, and it is widely credited with kicking off the Colorado distilling craze. Graber was a volunteer firefighter who met Stranahan, the founder of Flying Dog Brewery, while fighting a fire at his barn. The two got talking about whiskey and soon went into business together.
The first batch was distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2006. Stranahan's was Colorado's first modern microdistillery and the state's first legal distillery since Prohibition. It was also an early craft whiskey distiller in the US.
The brand has been a leading voice for American single malt. The category gained a formal federal standard of identity in early 2025, which defines what can carry the name. Stranahan's describes itself as the number one and most-awarded American single malt whiskey producer.
Why It Stands Out
Fourteen years is a long time for any American single malt, and rarer still at this price point for a bottle with a three-cask story. The Cognac and Tokaji stages add something beyond the usual wine cask finishes. For collectors following American single malt as the category matures, an oldest-ever release from one of its pioneers is worth noting.
The Details
Style: American single malt whiskey
Age: 14 years (10 years new charred American white oak, 3 years 3 months Cognac casks, 9 months Tokaji finish)
ABV/Proof: 94.6 proof
Mash Bill: 100% malted barley
Cask/Finish: New charred American white oak, Cognac casks, Hungarian Tokaji wine casks
Price (SRP): $129.99 per 750ml bottle
Availability: Stranahan's Distillery in Denver, Stranahan's Whiskey Lodge in Aspen, and select retailers in Colorado, California, Texas and Florida
US Availability: US release, with a national rollout planned in the months after launch
Release Date: October 2026
Quick Answers
How much does Stranahan's Mountain Angel 14 Year Old cost? It has a suggested retail price of $129.99 for a 750ml bottle.
Where can you buy Mountain Angel 14 Year Old? It launches at the Denver distillery, the Aspen Whiskey Lodge and select retailers in Colorado, California, Texas and Florida. A national rollout follows in the coming months.
What proof is Mountain Angel 14 Year Old? It is bottled at 94.6 proof.
Tonights Poison Take
This one is about patience and a little surprise. A decade in new oak builds the backbone, Cognac smooths and sweetens it, and Tokaji adds a final dose of fruit. It is a strong pick for anyone building an American single malt shelf, and the Colorado, California, Texas and Florida launch gives plenty of people a shot at a bottle early.
Bar Talk: Stranahan's oldest whiskey spent 10 years in new oak, then Cognac, then Hungarian Tokaji wine casks.
Send this to the single malt fan who loves a good finish and wants to hear what you think of this one.
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About the author: Jas Sawhney (Tonights Poison) has spent 18 years in the beverage alcohol industry and shares new releases, tastings and spirits news as @tonightspoison on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Please enjoy responsibly.
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