Corn Pops cereal | Honey | Butter | Malt

Sweet bread | Honey | Nougat | Mild malt

Roasted barley | Toast | Light toasted oak

Oregon Spirit Straight American Malt Whiskey is the latest addition to Oregon Spirit Distillers’ brand portfolio. Based out of Bend, Oregon, the company sources their barley from their home state, and 30% of the barley that goes into Oregon Spirit Straight American Malt Whiskey is sourced a mere 43 miles away.

The malt opens with a nostalgic whiff of Corn Pops cereal. Though there’s no corn to be found in the malt’s mashbill, the sugar sweetness of the cereal comes across on the whiskey’s nose. It combines with honey, butter, and malt to form a cohesive aroma. Likewise, the palate is easy to enjoy thanks to layers of sweet notes in the form of sweet bread, honey, and nougat. The finish takes the malt in a different direction, introducing a roasted barley element that helps add some contrast and complexity to its sip.

At 4 years old, it hits in the age range many American malt whiskeys are currently at. As such, its maltiness is kept in check and should be approachable for most. It’s a straightforward sip overall, and some additional aging time or creative blending could help open up its flavor profile some more. In its current state, it seems that Oregon Spirit is crafting a malt that should be appealing to a wide range of whiskey drinkers - not just malt whiskey drinkers.