Disclosure: the sample for this review was provided at no cost. Our tasting notes and score are our own.
A little background
Breckenridge Distillers High Proof is a blended bourbon whiskey from Breckenridge Distillery, built on the same blend as the distillery’s flagship Breckenridge Bourbon but bottled at 105 proof (52.5% ABV). It is a blend of bourbon whiskeys aged for a minimum of two years in new charred oak barrels, cut with water from the Rocky Mountains, and produced and bottled in Breckenridge, Colorado. Breckenridge describes its bourbon as a high-rye mash, though the exact mash bill is undisclosed. Breckenridge Distillers High Proof retails for $59.99 per 750ml bottle, and the distillery suggests slowly adding water to open it up.
Founded in 2008, Breckenridge Distillery bills itself as the World’s Highest Distillery and released its first vodka and bourbon three years after coming online. Its blended bourbon is one of the most highly awarded craft bourbons in the U.S., and the distillery is a 3x Icons of Whisky winner, a 10x winner of Best American Blended at Whisky Magazine’s World Whiskies Awards, and a 4x Colorado Distillery of the Year at the New York International Spirits Competition. High Proof itself was named World’s Best Blended Whiskey at the 2023 World Whiskies Awards, and Breckenridge spirits have earned 6 Double Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)
Color
Gold
Nose
Caramel, vanilla, toffee, cinnamon, spearmint, orange citrus, and baking spice.
Palate
Vanilla, oak, white pepper, toasted oak, baking spice, brown sugar, and orange citrus.
Finish
Medium-long with cinnamon, caramel, spearmint, vanilla, cereal grain, almonds, and oak.
In closing
Breckenridge Distillers High Proof opens with caramel, vanilla, toffee, and cinnamon on the nose, brightened by spearmint, orange citrus, and baking spice. The palate has an oily mouthfeel and leads with vanilla and oak, followed by white pepper, toasted oak, baking spice, brown sugar, and a touch of orange citrus. The finish is medium-long, with cinnamon, caramel, and spearmint giving way to vanilla, cereal grain, almonds, and oak.
For a younger bourbon, this is a pleasantly enjoyable pour. It is not overly complex, but the flavor profile is approachable and well balanced at 105 proof, and the quality of the distillate clearly shows through. With some additional age, this could become something special. At $59.99 it asks a fair amount for a two-year minimum blend, but in a world of sourced whiskey, it is a lot of fun to try a bourbon that is both distilled and bottled by the producer, and that alone makes it worth a look.
NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Breckenridge Distillery. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.
Breckenridge Bourbon High Proof Bottle
105 Proof
