Fresh baked bread | White grape | Dough | Nougat | White peppercorn | Light melted caramel | Approachable

Light rye spice | White peppercorn spice | Fresh dough | Honey bread | Balanced sweet & spicy

Oak | White peppercorn spice | Fresh baked dinner rolls | Slightly dry

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. For their bottled in bond whiskeys, the company bottles them all as single barrels, which is a rarity in today’s marketplace.

Wheat whiskeys tend to be a little softer in nature than bourbons and even more so compared to ryes, and this single barrel from Oregon Spirit Distillers is no exception. It starts by highlighting easygoing scents of fresh baked bread, white peppercorn, and dough, along with a white grape note, which adds a touch of intrigue. Light spices along with fresh dough and honey bread, bring forth a balanced sweet and spicy combination at the midpoint. A simple, slightly dry finish rounds things out with accents of oak, white peppercorn spice, and fresh baked dinner rolls. Easy-drinking in nature, this whiskey is light overall and while it offers a pleasant flavor profile, it leaves you wishing for a little more. I’d be curious to see how other single barrels deliver from the brand, but in the meantime, I’m happy to see a bottled in bond wheat whiskey on the market since it’s a category that is often overlooked and still underrepresented in the marketplace.

The bottle in review comes from barrel 180921#11.