Woodinville Straight Rye Whiskey Review

by Evangelina Galyean

This 100% rye starts with pure, traditionally-grown rye cultivated exclusively for us on the Omlin family farm in Quincy, Washington. The grain is mashed, distilled & barreled in our Woodinville distillery – then trucked back over the Cascade Mountains to our 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. They are then slowly toasted and heavily charred to further enrich the wood’s desirable flavors. The result of this meticulous process yields a truly hand-crafted whiskey with aromas of cinnamon, clove, and fruit leather, and notes of caramel, wood spice, and honey on the palate with a long, memorable finish that will leave you anticipating your next sip.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Immediate smell of fresh tart green apples, almost reminiscent of a childhood candy favorite-jolly ranchers, then light hints of sweet honey, followed by the scent of warm oak that seems to perfectly balance the initial sour heavy fragrance. It is the oak that slowly follows the breath down into the throat for a nice pre-tasting experience.

Palate: Initial feel on the mouth is even and no surprises develop as you allow it to settle in. Although not prominent on the nose, the true flavors of the rye develop nicely on the palate and create an enjoyable spice under the tongue and follows down the throat. For a bottle that is 100% Rye, you may expect the grain’s flavor to be immediately at the forefront but it seems it takes a nice backseat which allows you to really isolate other unique flavors that complement the heat of the Rye.

Finish: Very smooth finish, which draws out the char and oak flavors, then gently warms as you again smell and taste the fruit and honey that made your first sip so enticing.

Rating: 8/10

Review & photography by Evangelina | @evangelina.ariel

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