Review #244 - Colkegan Cask Strength Single Malt

Written By Me, My Wife & Whisky

Crafted by Santa Fe Spirits, this Colkegan-branded American single malt uses mesquite wood smoked barley in its mashbill. We get a hefty cask strength of 118 proof (59% ABV) along with that mesquite smoke, so we're expecting this to pack quite a lot of flavor.

Founded in 2010, Santa Fe Spirits is the brainchild of owner Colin Keegan, an Englishman now residing in the United States. Along with their single malt whiskies, they also produce brandy (using apples grown on their farm), gin, and other spirits.

The distillery is located in the desert, where temperatures can be extreme; they utilize climate-controlled warehouses to maintain consistency in the product. While they do employ other types of casks in their spirit maturation, this cask strength single malt uses the standard newly-charred American white oak barrels, the foundation of American whisky.

Colkegan Cask Strength Single Malt

USA - Single Malt

Current Locally Available Price: USD 80 (2024)

Age Statement: NAS

Strength: 59% ABV

Cask Makeup: New charred American white oak barrels

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 1 month from a sample. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes

Nose: Strong wood smoke and char, lots of barbecued mesquite wood - this is all about wood smoke notes. With more time, there are subtle flavors in the background: charred orange rind, milk chocolate, malt balls, bruleed sugar, and a hint of tangy barbecue sauce.

Palate: A medium-thick mouthfeel; tons of barbecued wood and charred oranges, a hint of ethanol, and subtle sweetness of brown sugar and chai spices. Rich, and the mesquite smoke is overwhelming.

Finish: Medium-long, woody and peppery, with lots of smoky flavor lingering. There are hints of wood spice and cayenne, along with a mild bitterness in the aftertaste.

Final Note: Great mesquite smoke flavor, but it's so overpowering that all of the other flavors in the spirit really struggle to get through. With a lot of resting time, we found subtle hints of spices and sweetness throughout the experience, but it was a lot of work to find them. A solid smoky sipping whisky, if a bit of a one trick pony.

Our Average Rating: 6.3 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 5.80

Me, My Wife & Whisky
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