Woodinville Bourbon Finished In Port Casks

It’s interesting to see a young craft distillery doing so many things to their bourbon, first a double-barreled offering and now this: Woodinville Bourbon Finished In Port Casks. I like that it’s a bit a-typical of an approach, though,. I’m not exactly sure how to perceive this “covering” of their whiskey.

Woodinville Bourbon Finished In Port Casks Review

In one light it can be seen as early innovation attempts, which should mean that they’re going to keep doing more and pushing the direction and diversity of their products. In another light, it could be seen as a lack of confidence or not having things fully dialed in and using the double barrel and port finishes as a way to cover up flaws in whiskey not fit to be in their Straight releases.

I don’t know their true intentions, only what their marketing copy says, but what I do know is that this whiskey is… interesting.

 

Woodinville Bourbon Finished In Port Casks – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Region: Washington, USA

Distiller: Woodinville
Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 22% Rye, 6 % Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak and Used Oak
Age: 5 Years
ABV: 45%

Price: $45

White background tasting shot with the Woodinville Bourbon Finished In Port Casks bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“We take our fully matured 5-year straight bourbon and transfer it into Ruby Port barrels for 6 additional months. The Port finishing process adds a viscous mouthfeel with notes of candied cherry, dried plums, berries and chocolate on top of the traditional bourbon flavor characteristics. Very limited availability in our tasting room and select retailers in Washington state.” – Woodinville Whiskey Co

Tasting Notes

EYE
Ruddy caramel

NOSE
Oak, grapey port sweetness, taffy, vanilla, spice, sweet toffee and a touch of olde candy.

PALATE
Grapey port sweetness, taffy, oak, vanilla, spice, sweet toffee and a touch of olde candy.

FINISH
Med-Long -> Port, oak, and vanilla frosting fade to smoke.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Not fully balanced, medium body and a touch syrupy feel.

Woodinville Bourbon Finished In Port Casks – Overall
Aroma is port is dominant making it super sweet but the oak attempts to balance it out, and almost manages to do it, but it ends up needing help from the candy and spice notes… but still falls just shy; Palate runs the same trail but pulls up some touches of roasted nuts and citrus, however, here the port is even more dominating and the whiskey borders one noted; Finish starts cloying but the fade-out to oak and smoke ends up making it not terrible.

There is just too much port for me here, it’s so sweet and cloying it just does me in and I can’t find anything that resembles their bourbon in this. Just oaky port.


Woodinville Bourbon Finished In Port Casks – Final Thoughts and Score

This is not a balanced or deep whiskey and ends up coming across topical, sweet, cloying and darn near one-noted. The port has eviscerated anything that reminds me of the bourbon and tasting it side-by-side with the Woodinville Cask Strength Bourbon (watered down) I’m struggling to find the thread that connects them.

With the Woodinville Double Barrel Whiskey, I’m a bit on the fence about it being a way to cover up flaws in bourbon that didn’t make the Straight cut. I’m not on the fence about this one. I feel that’s exactly what this is and why something as heavy as port was chosen.

It’s heavy, it’s obstructive and can coverup a lot of flaws with its dense sweetness. But, on the flip side, if you enjoy super sweet whiskeys or drinks, then this Woodinville Bourbon Finished In Port Casks is perfect for you.

SCORE: 1.5/5

Woodinville Bourbon Finished In Port Casks Back Label

Woodinville Bourbon Finished In Port Casks Review
$45

Summary

This is so sweet and cloying that it’s all but obliterated the essence of the bourbon, only the woody character remains and it ends up coming through like a port enhanced by a bourbon barrel rather than a bourbon enhanced by a port barrel.

Overall
1.5









  • Nose










    (2.5)

  • Palate










    (1)

  • Finish










    (1.5)

  • BBF










    (1)

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