Great Whiskey, No Bull
Featured Story
Portland, Oregon's Bull Run Distillery was the brainchild of Lee Medoff, formerly the Master Distiller of House Spirits (you may be familiar with their gin, Aviation.) Medoff founded Bull Run in 2010, naming it after the Portland area river and watershed that provide most of the area's fresh water. Although they are still an incredibly small operation, they have fans all over the country thanks to their unique and unusual cask finishes. Pinot Noir casks sourced from local Oregon producers has become their signature finish, lending notes of silken raspberry, dark cherry, and earthy forest to their extremely well aged light whiskey from MGP (a bourbon mash bill, but distilled to a slightly higher proof and aged in used barrels.) They have also been a pioneer in non-traditional cask finishing, bringing together fantastic flavor combinations that other whiskey makers had never considered. The rich, nutty, and spiced flavors of Nocino are an incredible match for rye whiskey - coming together to create a bold and lush holiday sipper. This quarter features two all time great examples of Lee Medoff's unique touch with finishing casks, each bottling enhanced with its own custom label.
17 Year Oregon Pinot Noir Finish American Whiskey
Distilled by Ross and Squibb (MGP) in Indiana from a mash of 99% corn and 1% malted barley, this whiskey was initially aged for 17.5 years (!) before finishing for 32 months (!!) in a French Oak barrel that previously held Pinot Noir. After all that aging and finishing it was bottled without chill filtration at a cask strength of 123.64 proof. Jammy and rich, this whiskey is full of dark fruit notes, cocoa powder, woody spice, and plum compote. The palate has flavors of toasted brioche, cinnamon rolls, pistachio, and chocolate sauce with soft but lingering vanilla and berry character. The light whiskey base and long finishing period produce a barrel that is mature and robust while maintaining balance and drinkability.
7 Year Nocino Finish Rye Whiskey
Distilled by Ross and Squibb (MGP) in Indiana from their famous 95% rye and 5% malted barley mash bill, this whiskey was initially aged for six years and seven months before finishing for eight months in a barrel that previously held Nocino, an Italian walnut liqueur. It was bottled without chill filtration at a cask strength of 113.88 proof. Pure rye essence with a dark and mysterious boost of character from the finishing barrel. Walnuts and almonds and cinnamon sugar in a sea of barrel char. Nutmeg, praline, wisps of smoke, chocolate croissant, dark soy sauce. A sweet-savory tug-of-war, and we all win.
