Must Try

Woodinville Founder’s Find

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

Woodinville Founder’s Find
12 Year Old Whiskey from a Bourbon Mash

53.5% ABV
$130
Website
Woodinville Whiskey Founders Find
We would like to thank Woodinville Whiskey for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Woodinville, WA – This fall, as part of its annual Harvest Release, Woodinville Whiskey will introduce its first sourced whiskey, Woodinville Founder’s Find, a discovery too exceptional not to share.

“Working on new whiskey innovation projects with Moët Hennessy, our parent company, introduced me to the world of sourced whiskey,” says Woodinville Whiskey Co-founder and CEO, Orlin Sorensen. “One bourbon I encountered really called out to me and, when Brett and I tasted it together, we knew it was something special.” At that moment, Woodinville’s new Founder’s Find collection was born.

The first bottling in this exciting line of rare and unusual whiskeys is a 12-year-old whiskey from Tennessee, blended six years into aging with a small dose (4%) of 15-year-old Indiana bourbon. Its viscous body, incredible depth, and mile-long finish comes not only from the liquid but from the uncommon way it’s been aged: in a reconditioned barrel, a process by which used barrels are scraped clean and freshly toasted and charred. Years ago, a group of renowned distillers proposed the use of these barrels and began experimenting, only to be rebuffed by lawmakers. Which is how Orlin uncovered this forgotten barrel in the back corner of a legendary rickhouse, patiently waiting for someone to notice and appreciate it.

Confident they’d happened upon something extraordinary, Orlin and Brett entered Woodinville Founder’s Find in the 2024 San Francisco Spirit Awards Competition, where it earned Double Gold medals. The esteemed judges also selected it as one of four finalists for “Best in Class” in the American Blended Whiskey category. The judges’ tasting notes were: “this whiskey boasts an aromatic nose with notes of dried fruit, spice, and a hint of caramel. The palate is smooth and well-rounded with flavors of rye spice, vanilla, and a touch of oak.”

Woodinville Founder’s Find earned Double Platinum in Fred Minnick’s 2024 ASCOT Awards, and it was propelled to the top in a blind tasting by a panel of judges. Out of 900 entries it was a finalist for “Best in Show” and, while not the ultimate winner, Fred selected it as his personal vote for #1 Best in Show Whiskey. Judges gave it these tasting notes: “Aromas of caramel, vanilla and baking spices on the nose while dark cherry and mint shine through on the palate, concluding with a truly incredible finish.”

The first 500 numbered bottles of Founder’s Find (107 proof) will be released exclusively at the distillery’s Harvest Release on October 19 at $129.99 per bottle. The Harvest Release will also feature Woodinville Bourbon Sauternes Finish, a grain to glass offering, priced at $69.99 per bottle. Woodinville Bourbon Sauternes Finish also earned Double Platinum in the ASCOT competition and the judges gave these tasting notes for it: “Fresh and cooked orchard fruit on the nose hangs around on the palate where it’s met with gentle oak and hints of freshly brewed coffee notes and a lingering finish.” The first 500 numbered bottles of this bourbon will also be available that day, when Brett and Orlin will be joined by Fred Minnick to taste the whiskeys and sign bottles. Both Harvest Release whiskeys will be available online at a later date.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, dried orchard fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, freshly toasted oak, walnuts, cocoa, crème brûlée and Flintstones™ Vitamins.
Palate:  Creamy, sweet with caramel, cherry, honey, nougat, milk chocolate, cinnamon, mint and a bit of pepper spice.
Finish:  Long with caramel apple, milk chocolate and a bit of pepper.
Comments:  The mineral note on the nose is a hallmark of Dickel, but don’t mistake that this is simply Dickel with a different label. It is absolutely unique. The oak on the nose reminds me of fresh wood shavings from taking wood shop as a kid. The reconditioned barrel as well as the blending of an older bourbon definitely adds to the complexity on both the nose and palate. I really enjoyed this one, and coaxing the notes out over time. Shame that this experiment didn’t get more traction (thanks Tennessee lawmakers), but glad that Woodinville is bringing this to market so we can enjoy it!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Woodinville Bourbon Sauternes Finish

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Woodinville Bourbon Sauternes Finish
Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Sauternes Casks

52.5% ABV
$70
Website
Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Sauternes Casks
We would like to thank Woodinville Whiskey for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Woodinville, WA – This fall, as part of its annual Harvest Release, Woodinville Whiskey will introduce Woodinville Bourbon Sauternes Finish, a grain to glass offering, priced at $69.99 per bottle. Woodinville co-founder and distiller Brett Carlile describes it as having “notes of raisins and ripe plum on the nose that give way to vanilla-soaked pears and kiwi on the palate, with a creamy toffee finish, complimenting the traditional Bourbon characteristics.”

This spring, Woodinville Bourbon Sauternes Finish earned Double Platinum in Fred Minnick’s 2024 ASCOT competition. This truly small-batch spirit starts with traditionally grown corn, rye and malted barley. All of Woodinville’s staple grains are cultivated exclusively on the Omlin Family farm in Quincy, Washington. The grains are mashed and distilled in the Woodinville, WA distillery, then trucked back over the Cascade Mountains for barreling and aging in their private barrel houses, where Central Washington’s extreme temperature cycles promote the extraction of natural flavors from the oak. Prior to being coopered, the barrel wood is seasoned in open air, rain, wind, sun, and snow for eighteen months, softening the wood’s harsh tannins. The barrels are then slowly toasted and heavily charred to further enrich the wood’s desirable flavors. After the whiskey was fully mature, it was transferred into freshly emptied Sauternes casks.

The first 500 numbered bottles of Woodinville Bourbon Sauternes Finish will be released exclusively at the distillery’s Harvest Release on October 19 at $69.99 per bottle (105 proof). The Harvest Release will also feature Woodinville Whiskey’s Founder’s Find, priced at $129.99 per bottle (107 proof). The first 500 numbered bottles of this whiskey will also be available that day, when Brett and Orlin will be joined by Fred Minnick to taste the whiskeys and sign bottles. Both Harvest Release whiskeys will be available online at a later date.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fruity, apples and pears with caramel drizzle, vanilla, raisins, soft oak, honey with a hint of green grapes.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, caramel, vanilla, fruit salad with pears and cherries dusted with cinnamon, brown sugar, and a hint of cloves.
Finish:  Moderate to long finish with toffee, pepper spice and a bit of coconut.
Comments:  This is really lovely whiskey! I had tried Woodinville previously, and honestly wasn’t impressed. Now I’m second guessing if the sample I had was just off, or if my palate was off. This is just a stellar bourbon. It doesn’t need water, but rewards you if you give it just a couple of drops, thickening up even more with notes of chocolate fudge, as well as bring out a bit of cherries on the nose. Don’t see a lot of Sauternes finished bourbon, so hard to compare it to something else – but this is a whiskey that is delicious to just sit back and sip on, or if you want to ponder the nuance it can go there as well. Very well done!

Rating: Must Try

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Compass Box Flaming Heart 2022

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Compass Box Flaming Heart 2022
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

48.9% ABV
$160-200
Website
Compass Box Flaming Heart 2022 Blended Scotch Whisky

What the Blender Says

The whisky inspired by a rock song – remixed​
This is our seventh edition of Flaming Heart, the whisky that revels in the harmonies between heavy peat and toasted French oak. Imagine Metallica with a backing orchestra, and you’re getting close.
With the best bands, each album is an opportunity to explore and experiment; every record is an evolution from the one before. For fans of Flaming Heart, we always seek to evolve the ‘sound’ and have introduced a deep fruitiness to the arrangement for the 2022 version.
The smoke machine is powered by a combination of malts from the Laphroaig, Caol Ila and Talisker distilleries, while our Highland Malt Blend has spent more than five years in richly toasted virgin French oak custom casks to deliver round, booming spicy richness.
FLAVOUR PROFILE: A high-energy nose with smouldering peat embers, cigar wrapper and candied ginger. The palate is oily, smoky, rich and savoury.
SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS: A whisky for friends, great music, and not taking life too seriously.
TECHNICAL DETAILS: Bottled at 48.9%. Natural colour. Not chill filtered. Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. A limited edition of 9,606 bottles. August 2022.
LEAD WHISKYMAKER: James Saxon.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Smoke and peat with wisps of salty sea air, bit of tar, smoked pork lightly brushed with barbecue sauce, grilled peaches, pears, raisins, mineral notes and leather.
Palate:  Thick and creamy mouthfeel, sweet with smoky caramel, peat, berries, apples, raisins, cherries, and nutmeg.
Finish:  Long and syrupy with apricot jam and peat smoke.
Comments:  I’ve been a fan of Flaming Heart ever since I first tried one (which was the 2012 edition). The 2015 edition I was such a fan of, I stocked up and over a couple of years bought 6 or 7 bottles (hard to tell as some were drank over that period of time!) The SRP back then was around $130 so this wasn’t an inexpensive endeavor – but worth it to me. Fast forward to 2024 when I sat down with a sample of the 2022 Flaming Heart (which I didn’t buy as the SRP was closer to $200 when I saw it on the shelf). Knowing how much I have loved past releases, I wanted to do a blind side-by-side tasting with the 2015. I have to admit – kinda wishing I had picked up a bottle now! This is a marvelous whisky! By comparison, I found this to be thicker on the nose, with more darker fruit notes, and with a bit of water got notes of tropical fruits. The 2015 was a bit lighter in color, with less red and gold – and with a bit of water tended towards more citrusy notes. Also found the nose on the 2015 brighter but a bit thinner. I found the 2015 pretty similar to the 2012 when I did a similar blind side-by-side back in the day. Just another magnificent offering from the folks at Compass Box, who I’ve been fans of for many years while not loving everything they’ve put out.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary
8-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50.5% ABV
$50
Website
Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell's 70th Anniversary 8 Year Old Bourbon
We would like to thank Campari Group and Allison Worldwide PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Commemorative bourbon release honoring Master Distiller Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary with Wild Turkey making him the longest-tenured spirits Master Distiller in the world.

To honor Jimmy’s incredible impact on the bourbon world, Wild Turkey is proud to present the limited-edition Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon.

This collector-worthy release is an 8-Year-Old, 101-proof bourbon, with an additional blend of 8- to 9-year-old whiskeys, hand-selected from a few of Jimmy’s favorite Rickhouses. Best enjoyed neat or over ice, this bourbon is a true tribute to Jimmy’s legacy.

A LIFETIME OF PASSION

From his earliest days at the distillery sweeping the floors at age 18 to rising through the ranks to become Master Distiller, Jimmy has remained committed to crafting bourbon one way, the right way, even when it wasn’t popular. In the 1970’s and 80’s when the bourbon industry was close to collapse, Jimmy stayed the course.

When many began favoring lighter spirits, Jimmy refused to dilute his bourbon or change the distilling process at all. Embracing the pre-prohibition style that he learned from his mentor and predecessor Bill Hughes, Jimmy “didn’t change a damn thing.” This approach helped propel the popularity of many of the distillery’s classic bourbons, including Jimmy’s favorite, Wild Turkey 101. He knew bold Kentucky bourbon would always have a place on the bar, a legacy that endures today.

“In my eyes, I’ve never worked a day in my life. The day I do, I’ll retire,” jokes Master Distiller Jimmy Russell. “Until then, I’m going to continue making the bourbon I love.”

TASTING NOTES
AROMA: Vanilla, oak, and honey with notes of cinnamon, brown sugar, tobacco, and orange peel.
TASTE: Sweet cream, vanilla, butterscotch, stone fruit (dates), pecans, and black tea.
FINISH: Warming with notes of caramel, dark cherry with a long lingering finish of oak, burnt sugar, and bitter chocolate.

PROCESS: 101 proof, 8-Year-Old bourbon with additional blend of 8-9YO whiskeys from Jimmy’s favorite rickhouses.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Turtle brownies (caramel, chocolate, slightly nutty), vanilla, a bit of cinnamon, honey, slightly sour oak note, and orange zest.
Palate:  Round mouthfeel with caramel, toffee, hazelnut, cinnamon, nutmeg, oak, pepper spice with black cherries and a hint of orange marmalade.
Finish:  Long and wet with vanilla, cocoa, honey, leather, and oak.
Comments:  Damn, this is just delicious. I can see why this is how Jimmy Russell likes his Wild Turkey! Comparing this to Wild Turkey 101, this is more refined, nuanced, and complex. It is (dare I say) a bit softer than Wild Turkey 101 – but that is NOT “smooth”. Don’t go thinking that they tamed the Turkey, because Jimmy wouldn’t be having that – but this trades that biting edge for a more viscous mouthfeel and depth of taste that is just scrumptious. A bit of water doesn’t hurt it, but it absolutely doesn’t need it either – this sips beautifully neat. The whiskey is just lovely, and I appreciate Wild Turkey putting this out at an accessible price point and enough volume to allow their fans the chance to get one.

Rating: Must Try

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Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength
Single Malt Whisky

50-59.9%
$220 – $300
Website
Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Cask Strength Whisky

What the Distillery Says

Vinho is fully matured in used American oak wine barrels that have been toasted and recharred in a way that brings out fruity vanilla notes from the wood into the whisky overlaid on a delicate background of complex fruitiness.
It has a complex and multi-dimensional background of pepper, spice, dates and other fruits, such as ripe melon and mango together with kiwi and a delicate blend of bursting citrus fruits.
ABV: 50-59.9%
Colour: Deep autumn gold
Flavour: A rich fusion of vanilla and caramelized sugars with dark chocolate on top. Ripe melon and mango together with kiwi and a delicate blend of citrus fruits burst. Pepper is also present in the background waiting to be noticed.
Palate: The taste ends with clean and complex flavours embodying all that is best in the finest malt whiskies enjoying a long aftertaste.
Tasting: We suggest drinking Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask neat.

What Gary Says

Nose: Raisins, berries, leather, toffee, charred oak, smoked brisket with brown sugar glaze, subtle baking spices, balsamic drizzled over mango.
Palate: Rich and thick mouthfeel, fruity with cherries, strawberries and raspberries, fudge toffee, plums, dates, honey and vanilla.
Finish: Long and syrupy with dark fruit, honey and allspice.
Comments: Wow – this is just a lovely dram! Apologies that I don’t know the exact ABV of this sample, but damn – I need more of this in my life. Incredibly intense and complex – the kind of dram I could just sit and nose for hours (except it’s so damn tasty on the palate!) I don’t often get strawberries and raspberries in whisky, and really enjoyed those peeking in. A bit of water brings more citrus to the party, but despite the cask strength I enjoyed it immensely neat. I haven’t had much Kavalan before, but this is definitely going on my watch list.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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