Spirit.Ed: Woodinville Bourbon Sauternes Cask [Review]

Woodinville Whiskey recently landed on my list of favorite bourbons which proves that you can find good whiskey outside of Kentucky with all due respect to the Bluegrass State. Woodinville Whiskey, which operates in Washington, has a new limited-release whiskey finished in Sauternes casks that adds to the brand’s growing legacy of creating quality products.

I enjoyed my first pour of Woodinville’s straight bourbon whiskey about four years ago after a friend of mine pointed out the brand to me during a discussion on whiskies made outside of Kentucky and Tennessee. At the time, I never had whiskey from the state of Washington yet my curiosity, the whiskey’s price point, and taste got the better of me. I went right to the store and purchased three bottles of their straight bourbon and it became my go-to base for Old Fashioned cocktails, Boulevardier cocktails, and great as a neat pour.

Source: D.L. Chandler / D.L. Chandler

Because of my fondness for the brand, I had high hopes for the Sauternes cask finish. On a sunny and uncharacteristically warm fall day in the mid-Atlantic region, I decided to dive in and see how this offering measures up to the straight bourbon.

First, let’s explain what Sauternes wine is for the readers. Sauternes wine is made from sémillon, sauvignon blanc, and muscadelle grapes grown in the Sauternes region in the Graves section of Bordeaux wine country. These grapes are afflicted with a fungus known as noble rot, which dries the grapes into raisins and concentrates the sugar. The result is a sweet wine that pairs equally with savory dishes or desserts.

I’ve had whiskey (and whisky) finished in Sauternes casks before and it usually renders the final bottling into a sweet-leaning drink that lends itself to a nice pour after a hearty meal or a slow sipper on a day off. The proof points of some of these offerings were close to Woodinville’s drop, but that is where the comparisons end.

Source: D.L. Chandler / D.L. Chandler

After the bourbon reaches its desired maturity, which we can assume is at least five years although no age statement was given, it is finished for a time in the emptied Sauterne cask which imparts some of the sweetness from the barrel.

The nose gave me candied yams, which is hilarious because it’s not a favorite dish of mine, baked apples, oak, and even a hint of green grapes. Beautiful color inside the glass and my first sip hit me with a blast of vanilla, pecans, caramel, and a phantom hint of baked goods of some sort I couldn’t place.

After some chewing, this enhanced the spice elements of the bourbon and added to an already lengthy finish. I detected a bit of cinnamon sugar at the end of my chew and sip, so that lets me know that there must be significant rye in the mash bill although I’m not certain.

Source: D.L. Chandler / D.L. Chandler

Woodinville Bourbon Sauternes Cask won Double Platinum honors in Fred Minnick’s 2024 ASCOT competition this year, proving that the experts in the field are recognizing the greatness of this wonderful grain-to-glass experience.

I don’t do rankings or awards over here as of yet, but I can assure you that the high proof opens up more flavors and this whiskey drinks a lot less hot than its 105 proof point. I didn’t add water or pour this over a rock because I wanted to try it out truly unfettered. This is another home run by the Woodinville team and I can’t wait to share this pour with friends and family as the temps continue to cool. The whiskey is a warm hug in a glass and I can’t say enough good things about this release.

Learn more about Woodinville Whiskey, including their flagship and limited releases, by following this link and hitting the “shop” section.

—

Photo: Woodinville/D.L. Chandler