Woodinville Whiskey Company is a young distillery that only released its original straight bourbon in 2015. Since then, the brand has grown its catalog, earning much recognition and accolades. I had the good fortune of sampling two of Woodinville’s newest bottlings, its Straight Bourbon finished in Sauternes wine casks and its ultra-special 12-year-old “Founder’s Find” release.

Sauternes is a sweet white wine native to France’s Bordeaux region. Woodinville’s founder, Brett Carlile, personally sourced the barrels, conducting regular tastings during the maturation process to monitor its progress. It spent eight months aging in those casks before bottling.

The Founder’s Find expression is among Woodinville’s rarest offerings yet. While on a separate project in Tennessee, Carlile came across a batch of whiskey left behind in an old rick house. It was something of a “Holy Grail” that resulted in the brand’s first “sourced” whiskey.

Tasting Notes

Straight Bourbon Sauternes Cask:

Most bourbons finished in wine barrels use ex-fill Port casks or some other rich red wine. This is the first expression I’ve seen finished in white wine casks, and while I’ve never had a Sauternes wine before, the bourbon was something I thoroughly enjoyed. The dark-coppery, almost rust-colored bourbon possesses a viscous body, creating strong, oily legs that cling to the glass. Deeply, fruity aromas of raisin and berry compote are well balanced by its burly 105 proof (55% ABV). The palate reveals more tropical fruit, nutty toffee, and sweet vanilla, emphasizing classic oak, dry wine grape accents, and sharp lemon from the Sauternes casks. The finish is warm with a delectable creamy milk chocolate note cut to a dry and cleansing end.

Founder’s Find 12-Year

This special limited-release whiskey has a rich mahogany color but is surprisingly thinner in texture than the Sauternes cask. However, it’s still a very rounded, full-bodied pour by typical whiskey standards. The nose offers more standard bourbon aromas than the Sauternes finish. The 107 proof works superbly with its notes of cherries, wood varnish, leather, and baking spices.

However, it’s on the palate where this pour expands into the exceptional noteworthyness. Herbal notes of bright mint and fresh-cut grass pair with earthy, spicy anise and cinnamon. A faint but lingering smoky cigar quality was a pleasant surprise, which also fits nicely with the bold proof. The finish is long and comforting, with rich and warm baking spice and dark fruit, toasted oak, and walnut notes.

Final Thoughts

Each of these whiskeys is individualistic and complex. The Sauternes cask bourbon offered something especially unique, with characteristics I haven’t previously encountered in a whiskey. However, my preference of the two lies with the 12-Year Founder’s Find. Given its background, it’s an inherently unique pour and offers an element of mystery that makes it much more appealing. Luckily, Woodinville is selling these remarkable expressions in tandem, releasing both this month and making a choice simple- try both!