Washington state’s Dry Fly Distilling recently launched a line of specialty whiskeys (and an aged gin) called the Creel Collection. These exotic spirits offer no age statements and are available only in half-size bottles. We sampled two of the five offerings. Thoughts follow.

Dry Fly Distilling Straight Triticale Whiskey – Triticale isn’t a very sexy name that rolls off the tongue, but this rye/wheat hybrid developed in Scotland in the 1800s is as unique a whiskey as you’re likely to find. The nose is young — grainy and rustic, but far from rough. Those grain notes evolve in the glass to release some fruit flavors on the body — cherry notes, some apple — plus a touch of wood. All the while that graininess hangs on, leaving a bit of cereal on the finish and just a touch of spice, sweetening up as you sip on. 88 proof. B+ / $36 (375ml) [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS]

Dry Fly Distilling Port Finish Wheat Whiskey – Mind you, the Port in question is Huckleberry Port, the former barrels of which are used to finish off this wheat whiskey before bottling. Extremely dark in color, this whiskey is exotic from front to back. Wood, cigar box, and incense-touched notes on the nose don’t give you much warning about what’s beneath. On the body, the impression is distinctly one of chocolate-covered blueberries. Lightly spicy up front, those candylike dessert notes are enticing and keep calling out to you for another encounter. The finish is long and warming, exotic — as a huckleberry isn’t quite a blueberry — but easy as pie. Huckleberry pie, I presume. 86 proof. A / $36 (375ml)  

dryflydistilling.com

Dry Fly Distilling Port Finish Wheat Whiskey

$36

9.5

Rating

9.5/10

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