Review: Woodinville Rye Toasted Applewood Finish
The Pacific Northwest has a burgeoning whiskey scene, much of it revolving around American single malt. However, just outside of Seattle in Woodinville, you’ll find one of the best distilleries in the country that doesn’t do single malt. Woodinville launched in 2010 under the mentorship of whiskey minstrel Dave Pickerell, and Woodinville’s Orlin Sorensen and Brett Carlile sought out Pickerell to set the distillery on the right path from the start. Pickerell’s mentorship seems to have paid high dividends as Woodinville was named “Craft Whiskey of the Year” by the American Distilling Institute in both 2014 and 2015. Following the early recognition by ADI, Woodinville has gone on to claim numerous other high accolades.
In June 2024, Woodinville released their newest batch of Woodinville 100% Rye Whiskey Finished With Toasted Applewood Staves. The newest applewood release is aged for at least 5 years in heavily charred Cooper’s Select barrels from Independent Stave Co. before finishing. The applewood staves were open-air dried for 18 months. The distillate comes off the still at 140 proof and enters the barrel at 110 proof before bottling at 100 proof. Keeping it local, all of Woodinville’s rye grain is grown on the Omlin family farm in Quincy, Washington.
Woodinville has a reputation for quality rye whiskey, but will this newest batch of rye follow suit?
The first scent to waft from the Glencairn harkens to autumn with an inviting and warming pumpkin pie spice. The toasted staves create pleasing dry aromas of soft leather and pencil shavings. Transitioning away from drying scents, fruit arrives by way of dried cherry and juicy raspberries. The combination of spice, dryness, and fruit are incredibly enticing.
In sync with the nose, pumpkin pie spice is again the first sensation on the palate. Following spice is a rich English toffee note coupled with juicy pears fresh from the orchard. The midpalate brings a tangy fruitiness, matching the raspberry found on the nose, then an unmistakable root beer experience. It’s noteworthy that there is relatively no ethanol burn on the palate, and the body has a slightly syrupy mouthfeel.
The finish starts with a combination of cinnamon and cloves. The 100% rye influence is felt in the finish with a cooling pickled ginger note. As the finish fades away, there’s a touch of bitter dark chocolate. There still isn’t much ethanol burn, but the finish slowly simmers for a pleasing amount of time.
I thoroughly enjoy Woodinville’s standard rye whiskey, but this applewood finished expression takes a quality rye and bumps it to the next level. Bottled at 100 proof and easy to sip on, this is a highly enjoyable whiskey that can lead a tippler to consume greater quantities than anticipated before realizing the volume consumed. After enjoying 2 ounces, I immediately wanted to fill the Glencairn again.
Available exclusively at Woodinville’s online store and at the distillery.
100 proof.
A / $70 / woodinvillewhiskeyco.com
Woodinville Rye Toasted Applewood Finish
$70
