The wine cask finished Stanahan's–called Snowflakes, because each one is unique–are available to the public. But since each batch is small–say 300 or so bottles–they don't make it into distibution, and therefore are not in your liquor stores. Alas, the only way to get them is at the distillery–and, they sell out quick. In fact, as of this writing they are out.

But rest assured, more are aging. You can keep a watch for them at the Stranahan's website (obvious URL).

Charlie

When a distillery releases a whisk(e)y with an age statement, unless the whisk(e)y is a single-barrel release, all of the whisk(e)y in the bottle is not necessarily the age of the age statement–that is only a statement of the youngest whisk(e)y in the bottle.

This is certainly the case with Stranahan's. I've had the privilege of tasting Stranahan's at 6 months of age, 1 year, 1 year 6 months, 2 years and so on until about 6 years old. Young Strannie's is delicious: like an orange creamsicle. But it's very simple. We whisk(e)y snobs want a complex dram, do we not?

5 year old Stranahan's is extremely complex; very mature for 5 years. This is because the whiskey is matured in new oak–as is bourbon–but also because it is matured in a special environment. They're small enough to be able to control the environment the barrels are aging in.

But 5 year old Stanahan's is very woody. While it's complex, it's also astringent and very intense. They could choose a happy middle–say, 3 years, 6 months–but they'd sacrifice some of the creaminess of the young, and some of the complexity of the very old.

So, brilliantly I think, they marry together a batch of Stranahan's of varying ages using 12-24 barrels ages 2 years to 5 years using their noses and experience to make up a batch that has both the creaminess of the young, and the complexity of the old.

So some of the whiskey is 2 years old–but not all. Stanahan's is, in my not so humble opinion, a beaultifully thought out triumph, using brains and innovation to add to the long and distinguished tradition of making whisk(e)y.

–Charlie