“Outstanding & Innovative” (Forbes) — 8 Yr. Grain-to-Glass Rye!

WOODINVILLE 8 YEAR STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY

 

WHY BUY:
Woodinville, the grain-to-glass distiller that Forbes hailed for its "outstanding and innovative” whiskeys, prioritizes taking their time and nailing the details, and the results, well — just get a load of this superlative 8-year rye, the oldest they've ever released: a numbered, limited-edition bottling that brims with care and craft. Woodinville sources its grain from a single supplier (a nearby, third-generation family farm), draws its water from the Cascade Mountains, employs 18-month open-air barrel seasoning, and ages every expression in central Washington's highly variable climate. Taking the slow way, the hard way is their proud m.o. … and the payoff shows up in every rich and layered sip.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
The American Spirits Council of Tasters named it a Platinum Award winner this year, 2025 — the latest honor for a company that has enjoyed a long and sustained run of critical success this past decade, including their being awarded “Craft Whiskey of the Year” and “Craft Rye Whiskey of the Year” two years in a row (2016 and 2017) by the American Distilling Institute and being named “Best Straight Bourbon Whiskey of 2020” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
That first whiff tells you what patience has wrought, as dark molasses, clove, and brown sugar stride forward with confidence and authority. But that boldness and assurance modulates into something softer and more intricate on the palate, as cinnamon and vanilla do a little dance, followed by a wave of dark, deep honey and — surprise — a hint of dried cranberry that brings an edge and brightness to all that richness. The finish is where Washington's extreme weather really shows its work — it’s long, and warm, and peppery, with a dry, oaky grip that holds on just enough to be interesting. A triumph. 

THE STORY:
There's something almost absurd about Woodinville's approach when you really think about it. Most distilleries buy grain from wherever it's cheapest, age in climate-controlled warehouses, and optimize every step for maximum efficiency. Woodinville eschews that approach, and proudly. The philosophy was born when founders Orlin Sorensen and Brett Carlile worked under the mentorship of David Pickerell, the legendary former Master Distiller for Maker's Mark, and when they struck out on their own, they committed to a process that reads like a case study in what not to do, if you want to run a profitable business. The rye starts its life planted in fall, lying dormant under Washington snow all winter. Come summer, it's hand-irrigated on the Omlin family farm during scorching heat. Nearly a year after planting, Arnie and son Joel Omlin harvest the grain, truck it across mountains for distillation, then truck the whiskey back to age in those same farm barrelhouses. The barrels themselves get 18 months of open-air seasoning through Washington's dramatic seasonal changes, followed by slow toasting and deep charring. Then comes the real magic: aging in Central Washington's extreme climate (furnace-hot summers, bone-cold winters) that engenders a deeper interplay between spirit and wood than any climate-controlled facility could achieve. 

ABV:
50% (100 proof).

FUN FACT:
How artisanal is Woodinville? From distillation to bottling, every step of their process is done entirely by hand.

OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only buy and source directly from the distiller, so rest assured: your bottle will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Secure this exceptional craft rye today!