Eucalyptus | Mint | Browned butter | Toasted oak

Brown sugar | Rye spice | Spearmint | Floral essence

Rye spice | Baking spice | Seared mint | Light barrel char

Oregon Spirit Distillers was established in 2009 by Brad and Kathy Irwin. Located in Bend, Oregon, the company is family owned and sources 95% of their grains from Oregon farmers, with the remaining 5% sourced from Idaho and Washington. The company distills everything they bottle, producing 600 barrels of whiskey annually, which according to the company, makes them the largest producer of bourbon, and the second largest producer of American whiskey in the state of Oregon. The company produces bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskey in addition to a range of other non-whiskey spirits. Oregon Spirit Distillers Bottled in Bond Rye is a single barrel product, complementing the distillery’s other rye which is a small batch whiskey made from the same mashbill and aged for the same amount of time.

Once again Oregon Spirits is full of surprises when it comes to their whiskey’s aroma. Oregon Spirit Bottled in Bond Rye opens with an unmistakable and potent shot of eucalyptus, which I can say is the first time I’ve ever gotten that note from a whiskey. As unusual as it sounds, it works for the company’s brand of rye. It’s backed by mint, brown butter, and toasted oak, which results in a very effective aroma. The palate doesn’t stray far, changing brown butter for brown sugar, mint for a sharper spearmint note, and layering in a floral essence. The finish goes all in on the whiskey’s 100% rye mashbill with a big spicy rye note and baking spices. Seared mint and barrel char help round out an overall interesting sip.

Being a single barrel product, flavor variations will occur, but based on our review of their small batch rye, their ryes are well on their way. Unique and memorable are two of the best qualities any whiskey maker can strive for and Oregon Spirit are already making a statement.