Every year, the folks at Anchor Distilling take the prior year’s Anchor Christmas Ale, distill it, and turn it into an unaged white whiskey. Last year it was known as Christmas Spirit, as it is again for 2015.

The 2015 Christmas Spirit is classic white whiskey, cut with notes of seasonally appropriate herbs and pine needles. Moderately rubbery — a commonality found in most white whiskeys — the body showcases milk chocolate notes, more evergreen, and a touch of citrus at times. The finish is heavy with both rubber and petrol notes, and it goes out on a surprisingly heavy bitter note.

This 2015 bottling is definitely the most white whiskey-like of the three renditions of this spirit I’ve sampled to date (which invariably veer in the direction of gin). And that is not necessarily a compliment.

90 proof. Available in California only until December 31.

B- / $55 / anchordistilling.com

Anchor Distilling Christmas Spirit White Whiskey 2015

$55

7

Rating

7.0/10