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Fireside Bourbon Whiskey
About Fireside Bourbon Whiskey
When I think about the states in America that produce bourbon, Colorado definitely isn’t top of mind. But, Mile High Spirits have been producing bourbon, alongside with a whole bunch of other spirits, in their Denver-based distillery since 2011. And they were generous enough to send us a bottle of their flagship Fireside Bourbon Whiskey along with their Fireside Old Fashioned.
Mile High Spirits primarily uses local ingredients, including locally grown corn, barley, and rye, when producing Fireside Bourbon. After the spirit is distilled in copper stills and aged for a minimum of 2 years, the whiskey is diluted to 40% ABV with filtered rocky mountain water.
Bottle Specs
❖ Spirit: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
❖ Distillery: Mile High Spirits
❖ ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
❖ Aged Minimum of 2 years
❖ Lower Moderate
Tasting Notes
❖ Color: Gold
❖ Nose: Caramel, Vanilla, Fruit, Grass
❖ Taste: Cherry, Caramel, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Toffee, Mint
❖ Finish: Long, Coffee, Caramel
Cocktail
Revolver
2 oz bourbon
1/2 oz coffee liqueur
2 dashes orange bitters
Flamed orange peel of garnish
❖ Add ingredients to a mixing glass, fill with ice and stir until chilled
❖ Strain into a cocktail glass
❖ Flame an orange peel over the top to express its oils and garnish with the peel.
Since I’m always on the the look out for new and interesting cocktails, I’ve curated quite a long list of drinks I want to try. I’ve been holding on to this Revolver recipe from Liquor.com for a while, waiting for the perfect bourbon to pair with coffee liqueur. And, I was pretty confident Fireside Bourbon Whiskey would work well with both the coffee and the orange bitters.
The first thing that stood out to me about this cocktail was the heavy mouthfeel. The combination of fireside bourbon and Mr Black coffee liqueur coated the inside of my mouth and lengthened the finish. Typical bourbon notes like oak, vanilla, caramel, and maple syrup are initially the more prominent flavors, but the coffee notes eventually take over on the finish. The orange bitters and garnish provide a hint of citrus on the nose and finish, but the majority of the palate is dominated by bourbon. Mr Black is much more coffee-forward than other coffee liqueurs, so I debated adding a little bit of simple syrup, but I think this was sweet enough for those with a taste for spirit-forward cocktails.
Bottom Line
RATING: 4/5
I’ve mostly been sampling more affordable or mixing spirits this summer, so Fireside Bourbon Whiskey was like a breath of fresh air. The flavor is full of complexity, and I felt I could taste something new with each sip. I’m not sure of the exact mash bill ratios, but I felt Fireside had a lot in common with rye whiskey, like floral and mint notes. And while this adds depth to the the complexity, it also adds a harsh, bitter edge to some of the sweeter bourbon notes, which may not be to everyone’s liking. Personally, I didn’t love how it balanced with the cherry notes.
But overall, I was happy with the flavor, and would still definitely recommend Fireside Bourbon Whiskey, particularly if you are looking for a bourbon that leans towards rye whiskey. And, the moderate price point makes it an even more attractive option. It sits at the lower end of the moderate price range, so I don’t feel too bad about using it in cocktails. I especially liked using it in spirit forward cocktails like the Revolver.
Thanks again to Mile High Spirits for sending this bottle to us, and I’m looking forward to trying some more of their spirits.
As always, drink responsibly.
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