On our recent trip to visit the Woodinville Distillery in Woodinville, Washington, we picked up a bottle of their cask strength rye whiskey. I really enjoyed the taste of this rye whiskey in their tasting room and I knew I would want to take a bottle home with me. I am glad I did. Matt and I sat down to review this whiskey the other day and here are our tasting notes.

Woodinville Cask Strength 100% Rye Whiskey

Proof: 116.88

Age: No Age Statement

Nose:

  • Mike: Vanilla, citrus, peaches, baking spices and oak wood.
  • Matt: Caramel cream, burnt orange, oak wood.

Taste:

  • Mike: Vanilla, citrus and peaches, cinnamon, nutmeg and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the vanilla is enhanced and the spice becomes a black pepper. Tasted with a pecan and caramel comes out to join the vanilla and black pepper.
  • Matt: Caramel, vanilla, lemongrass, sarsaparilla and oak wood. The dried cranberry brought out some spicy cinnamon. The pecan enhanced the caramel and cinnamon.

Finish:

  • Mike: Medium long with oak wood and baking spices. The dried cranberry made the finish longer with oak, pepper and lingering vanilla. The pecan made the finish long and dry with oak and pepper.
  • Matt: Medium long with oak wood, vanilla and a hint of lemon zest. The dried cranberry made the finish sweeter with oak wood and lots of vanilla. The pecan made the finish longer with oak and sarsaparilla.

I would pair this fine Rye whiskey with a cigar that has vanilla and cedar spice in the smoke. I think I would reach for a RomaCraft CroMagnon cigar.

Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller