Canyonlands Confluence Single Malt
It’s no secret we like to travel. Our most anticipated day of the week is when we get to hook up our trailer and set out to go camping. Once at our destination, we are on the lookout for trails, flowing water, and of course breweries and distilleries to check out. It is how we stumbled upon Canyonlands Confluence Single Malt Whiskey made by Moab Distilling.
The beauty and diverse environment of the western U.S. is something you can only get in this region. The same beauty and diversity of the landscape applies to the spirits developed by small distilleries speckling the west. They use mountain water, grains that are unique to the environment, and age their whiskeys in less than ideal climate conditions, at least by Kentucky standards.
Our love of adventure is fueled by discovery. We want to discover new places, new activities, new beauty, and new experiences. Although we may have hiked along a river inside a canyon many times before, each canyon offers us its own unique character, smell, sounds, and memories. Whiskey discovery is a similar experience.
Generally speaking, I know what I am going to get if I purchase a big brand whiskey. A quick check on Google leads me to dozens of pages with detailed tasting notes and information about the whiskey. That’s not always the case when you find a small, local distillery. On the day I set out to draft this review, the Moab Distillery webpage wouldn’t load. The only information I have is what my senses and label tell me about the whiskey.
Moab Distillery
Moab Distillery is located in Moab, Utah. The distillery itself is not open to the public, but you can sample and purchase its spirits from the adjoining Moab Brewery. This brewery is like if a bike shop merged with a late ’90s pizza joint that offers pub fare: outdoor gear is suspended from the ceiling above the carpeted floor and the whole place smells like beer pretzels. Whenever we stumble into places like this, we know we’re about to have some fun. Or get murdered. This time, it turned out in our favor.
Given my previous experiences with alcohol service in Utah, I was pleasantly surprised by our tasting experience. We were able to enjoy a flight and a straight pour of our favorite spirit without any restrictions. It differed from our Montana experience in which we were limited to a single flight only.
When visiting a new distillery, we suggest ordering a flight. After all, you are there to try the spirits. Sure, you could order a cocktail or a neat pour but you might miss something great. We’ve found the more we sample, the more likely we are to find an exceptional spirit. Although we are on the lookout for good whiskey, that hasn’t stopped us from enjoying vodka, gin, or rum. On several occasions, we’ve even opted to buy a non-whiskey bottle.
At the Moab Distillery, we selected two bottles to bring home after our samples. One was a bottle of their Spot On Gin. The other was the bottle of Canyonlands Confluence Single Malt Whiskey.
Canyonlands Confluence Single Malt Whiskey
Canyonlands Confluence Single Malt Whiskey is made with 100% malted barley and Colorado Plateau water. The spirit is distilled in a mixture of new and used, charred, American Oak barrels for a minimum of two years. Moab Distillery then selects the best barrels from their stock to create Canyonlands Confluence. It is a simple whiskey that packs a lot of flavors.
Canyonlands Confluence Single Malt Whiskey is bottled at a respectable 94 proof. The higher alcohol content gives their whiskey a more robust flavor and a bit of kick.
Tasting Notes
On our first sampling of Canyonlands Confluence Single Malt Whiskey, Alie picked out the aroma of malt and pears. I noticed barley and a hint of tobacco on the nose. I noticed a hint of sweetness, that was a little fruity, but I didn’t have the same olfactory response to the whiskey that Alie had.
Alie noted the first sip hit pretty hard, but subsequent sips were more palatable in terms of the intensity. I noticed the quick flash of intensity as well, which quickly faded into a nice tingling warmth on my tongue. On the 2nd sip, the warmth and tingle stuck around but the heat wasn’t as intense as the first sip.
Alie noted the barley on the palate, along with the tingle of warmth. It reminded her of the tingle you get from a carbonated beverage. As odd as it sounds, I had the same experience and found it to be a very relatable explanation.
For me, Canyonlands Confluence started sweet with notes of fruit, followed by the slight bitterness of tobacco. The finish was warm, long, and very enjoyable. It is a nice whiskey you can sip slowly and let the warmth linger. With Canyonlands Confluence, you aren’t rushing back for another sip too quickly.
We came back to Canyonlands Confluence a few days after we opened it initially. I noticed a more floral aroma on the nose than I did on my first go around. I still picked up some of that tobacco aroma, but I noticed it less on the palate. Alie went the opposite, noting the tobacco flavor hit her more on the second go around. The tingly finish was still prevalent, which was positive since it was something we both enjoyed about this pour.
Overall, Canyonlands Confluence Single Malt Whiskey is light-bodied and easy to sip. Although the first sip hit a little hard, the intensity levels off into a long lingering, warm and tingly finish. With a splash of water, we were able to pick out more fruity flavors than we did with a neat pour. If you want to enjoy Canyonlands Confluence in a cocktail, we recommend our Bourbon Peared Cooler, which will really bring out the floral notes to complement the pear.
Our Ratings
Drinkability: 3.8
Personal Preference: 3.5
Intensity: 3.5
Beginner Friendly: 3.7
Availability: 1
Overall: 3.7/5
Final Thoughts:
Canyonlands Confluence Single Malt Whiskey is a decent American single malt whiskey. It has an interesting flavor profile and it drinks like an older whiskey than the “minimum age” of two years would suggest.
If you want to grab a bottle, you’ll have to visit Moab Brewing in Moab, Utah. It appears they don’t distribute outside of their retail location. At the distillery, it will run about $70.
Moab might seem pretty out of the way, and for many people it absolutely is. However, if you like hiking, biking, rafting, or OHV exploration, you really should visit the area. Although I wouldn’t make a special trip to pick up Canyonlands Confluence Single Malt Whiskey, I wouldn’t hesitate to grab another bottle or two if I found myself visiting the area again.
Happy Exploring!
