Rye spice | Bright summer fruits | Floral undertone | Enticing

Brown sugar | Rye spice | Caramel | Butterscotch | Full-flavored

Rye spice | Brown sugar | Honey | Light lingering spice

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 Straight Rye is a small batch product, complementing the distillery’s other rye which is a single barrel bottled in bond made from the same mashbill and aged for the same amount of time.

On the nose, rye spice is up front, but doesn’t dominate, instead allowing bright summer fruits to come through with a floral undertone. Brown sugar leads the full-flavored sip, with rye spice not far behind, followed by sweet caramel and butterscotch. The rye spice continues to develop intensity as it moves into the finish, and is joined by brown sugar and honey. The spice lingers as the sweeter flavors fade.

The whiskey is surprisingly well developed for its age, and delivers a ton of flavor for being only 90 proof. It’s a bright sip overall, and while rye spice is present throughout, it marries nicely with a range of delicious sweet flavors. It’s very well done and definitely worth the asking price.

The bottle in review comes from barrel series 191026.