Stepping out of my norm, this is a review of a bottle from a local Distillery in Colorado Springs, CO. Unfortunately, I have yet to dive into the Colorado Bourbon/Whiskey market and made a personal commitment to start this in 2022; so what better way to start than with the first distillery to follow my reviews on Instagram. Coming from the the Axe and The Oak Distillery, today’s review is of their First Stake Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (Batch 1).

From Axe and the Oak Distillery website: The First Stake Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey pays homage to the great history of Colorado Springs. The bottle’s image features General William Palmer, founder of Colorado Springs, as he surveyed and drove in the first stake of the land that would eventually become Colorado Springs. This bourbon is pulled straight from the barrel – no proofing needed. Its flavor profile is similar to our classic Axe and the Oak Bourbon but has more pronounced flavors and a warmer finish.

Disclaimer time, let me first start by stating this is not a sponsored review, nor did I receive this bottle. Maybe one day a distillery will send samples for review, but not this bottle. This was paid for by me, with our hard-earned monies, and picked up from a local NoCo store.

With that said, I will admit that I was hesitant to try this bottle at first. I have found that my taste preferences typically lean toward older-aged products, and this bottle is age-stated at 3 1/2 years. Yet, this bottle has changed my mind on age statements! I had a pour upon opening and then allowed the bottle to open for approximately two weeks before writing this review; I am glad I did so. This bottle definitely opened with time and has become an excellent pour that I look forward to sharing with friends and family. I will say that if Axe and the Oak is a prime example of Colorado Distilleries, I look forward to the journey of tasting more products like this one! And with that, let’s get our taste on!

• Nose: Citrus (Grapefruit), Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Butterscotch, and Slight Buttercream
• Palate: Butterscotch Foward with Vanilla, Buttercream, and Mild Spices
• Finish: Medium with A Wonderful Lovely Warming Hug on the Back of the Throat with hints of Spice ending in Pronounced Oak Barrel
• 2022 Local MSRP: $85
• My Rating: Drink It!

Please remember, drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman