Review: Branch and Barrel Bourbon 5 Years Old

Colorado has quickly become a powerhouse in the American whiskey landscape, home to a growing roster of acclaimed distilleries. While some have become household names, many others are quietly putting out exceptional spirits with bold character and humble beginnings. Branch and Barrel Distilling is an unconventional operation located just south of Denver in Centennial, Colorado.

Founded in 2016 by a group of friends with a shared dream, Branch and Barrel began in the most grassroots way imaginable: distilling in a garage using a turkey fryer and a hot water heater, with aging done in mason jars filled with charred tree trimmings from the backyard. The name “Branch and Barrel” is a nod to those early “barrels”—literal branches charred by hand.

Today, the distillery continues to embrace its inventive spirit. Its equipment is hand-built from upcycled stainless steel originally used by Campbell’s Soup, soda factories, and various other sources. True to their analog roots, everything is done by hand—no automation.

Led by master distiller Ted Smith and master blender Mitchell Nester, Branch and Barrel reached a new milestone in the summer of 2025 with the release of Batch 32 of their Colorado Straight Bourbon—a maturation upgrade for their flagship expression, aged for a minimum of five years.

Made from a Colorado-grain mashbill of 80% corn and 20% malted barley—grown in Wiggins and Monte Vista, respectively—the bourbon undergoes a five-day fermentation before being distilled to approximately 150 proof. It’s then barreled at a notably low 104 proof in #3 char, medium toast barrels from Adirondack Cooperage in Glenville, New York. After aging for at least five years in nearby Elizabeth, Colorado, it’s bottled at 92 proof without chill filtration.

Branch and Barrel Bourbon 5 Years Old Review

The nose kicks off with a flash of strawberry ice cream—the kind scooped from the Neapolitan tubs my grandmother always had in the freezer. After that initial wave, the aroma shifts to something grainy and sweet, much like Frosted Mini Wheats. Let the glass sit a bit, and notes of green tea and elderflower enter the picture, adding complexity without veering into anything too perfumed or cloying. It’s an engaging aromatic profile that may surprise those skeptical of the distillery’s humble origins.

On the palate, flavors echo buttercream frosting, followed by a candy-shop combo that recalls the caramel and chocolate core of a Rolo. The midsection offers a restrained cherry Jolly Rancher character that’s balanced by the buttery crunch of shortbread cookies. The texture lands somewhere just under medium in weight—enough to provide some structure without feeling heavy.

The finish, however, is where things get a little uneven. It begins with star anise and the slightly burnt edge of toasted bread crust, then shifts into a drying black tea note that lingers longer than it should. There’s a hint of bitterness here that doesn’t quite resolve cleanly.

Even so, Batch 32 of Branch and Barrel’s Colorado Straight Bourbon delivers a rewarding tasting experience—particularly given its simple two-grain mashbill. It’s an expression with promise, and it’ll be interesting to see how additional time in oak might polish the rough edges on the back end.

92 proof.

B / $55

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