Ampersand Aureus Cask Strength Colorado Straight Bourbon Finished in Vino de Naranja Casks (75cl, 60.9%)

Aureus is a cask strength Colorado straight bourbon from Ampersand, the American whiskey line developed by Chip Tate, founder of Balcones Distilling. The whiskey was distilled at Peach Street Distilling in Palisade, from a mash bill of 60% corn, 20% rye and 20% malted barley. It was finished for 18 months in Vino de Naranja casks selected in Spain. Vino de Naranja is a fortified Andalusian wine made by macerating orange peel in wine. It is bottled at 60.9% abv (121.8 proof) in a 75cl bottle. The notes describe dark wildflower honey, dried cherries and salted brown butter on the nose, blood orange marmalade, graham cracker and dark chocolate on the palate, and a long finish of wine poached fruit, brown bread and vanilla.