Oregon Spirit Straight American Wheat Whiskey

Produced by Oregon Spirit Distillers in Bend, Oregon, this is a "grain to glass" craft operation established in 2009. Grains are sourced locally, and the mash, fermentation, distillation, and aging in new, charred American oak barrels all happen on-site. I came across this bottle while traveling through the Northwest during the holidays and hadn't seen it before. Research afterward indicated that some of their products now have nationwide distribution. For this tasting, I'm comparing it with Heaven Hill's Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey. Mash Bill: Undisclosed, described as "100% locally sourced grain," primarily winter wheat with "hints of rye and malt barley." Age: 4 years. ABV: 45%. Price: $39.99. Nose: Sweet and gentle. Initially, it's like opening a sweet, peculiar bag of raisins. With some time and air, it reveals a surprising aroma of charred oak, toffee, anise, buttered bread, new leather, and an earthy, botanical funk. It certainly has more intensity (and funk) than the Bernheim Wheat Whiskey I'm tasting alongside. Palate: Sweet, smooth, and mildly spicy with a bit of heat. Lots of toffee, anise, fennel, yeasty bread, charred oak, and more earthy funk. The rounded, velvety mouthfeel remains light but is a bit more substantial and oily than the Bernheim. I suspect there's more rye in the blend than they're admitting (perhaps our definitions of "hints" differ). Finish: Medium in length, velvety, sweet, oily, and dominated by black licorice and barrel char. A soft, pleasant, mouth-coating astringency. I appreciate the balance of oak. While I was initially doubtful about 4 years of aging in the cooler Bend climate, I'd guess they use quality barrels and good barrel management techniques. It's neither weak nor overly oaked. Overall Impressions: To be frank, I had very low expectations going into this tasting. While this craft wheat whiskey won't blow you away, it's actually quite good, and I enjoy its uniqueness and funky notes. However, at its unfavorable price point, it faces stiff competition, so the value isn't great (but you do support an independent, craft "grain to glass" operation that supports local agriculture and organic ingredients if that appeals to you). I also bought a bottle of their bourbon and gin blindly, but I might have made the mistake of starting with the most approachable of the three. Regardless, I'm eager to compare the Oregon Spirit Gin with some of St. George's offerings and further explore the impact of Oregon Spirit's esteemed Cascadian water. I'm undecided between a 3.25 (Average) and 3.5 (Above Average) because I believe it's worth trying a pour if you can find it, but I don't think it's a bottle I'd keep regularly stocked. That said, single pot still Irish whiskey and single malt Scotch are my preferred styles, so I have a higher standard for keeping an American whiskey or bourbon on my shelf. I'm assigning Oregon Spirit Straight Wheat whiskey a 3.25, rating it one point above the Bernheim for its distinctiveness. 3.25 ~ 79 ~ Average

As far as I'm aware, there aren't many wheat whiskies available, and among those I know, this has the highest wheat content – the mash bill is 74% wheat, 18% rye (which some consider a high rye mash bill in bourbon), and 8% barley. Those proportions are similar to many bourbon mashbills, though bourbon naturally uses corn as the dominant grain. This whisky is 90 proof, five years old, and I paid $31.99 for a fifth at Total Wine. In the glass, it's a dark copper. NOSE: The first impression is a huge burst of caramel. This is by far the primary note. Then comes a little eucalyptus, butter, honey, something that might be coconut, and something that might be Dr Pepper. That sounds like a terrible mix, but it's a very pleasant nose in reality. MOUTHFEEL: Average – neither noticeably thick nor noticeably thin. TASTE: Honey, cinnamon, a hint of eucalyptus, and caramel. FINISH: Eucalyptus, red pepper, chocolate underneath, and a lingering pepper. The initial notes fade quite quickly, but that final pepper remains for a long time. SUMMARY: This whisky is completely unlike anything else I've ever had. The gentleness of the wheat allows the rye to come through, but the barley stops the rye from dominating. Thus, you get sweet and vegetal notes together in a unique and pleasant combination. This is good whiskey, and I will definitely buy it again. RATING: On my simple whiskey scale, which ranges from 1-8 from bottom to top, I give this a 6 - Fine. That's equivalent to 3.75 stars, 75/100, or 7.5/10.

Nose - Sun-Maid raisin, cherry, strawberry, apricot and other dried fruit, butterscotch, vanilla, cinnamon, cocoa, sweet oak, brown sugar, apple, leather, nutmeg, peanut, licorice, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - raisin, grape, cherry, tobacco, leather, strawberry, apple, caramel, vanilla, spearmint, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, allspice, barrel spice, chocolate, peanut, licorice, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing fast and hot with dried fruit, oak char, caramel flavors. This is the whiskey version of trail mix. There’s some chocolate, nuts, raisins, and other dried fruit all boldly thrown together without much elegance or finesse. It’s all just satisfactory, nothing exceptional. Compared to Oregon Spirit bourbon, the nose and arrival aren't as good, but the development and mid-palate are better, although there seems to be more youthful heat than in its counterpart. I’m placing this one notch lower than the bourbon because there’s nothing particularly noteworthy here, unlike the bourbon’s explosion of flavor on the arrival. It’s, well, just average, and that’s okay. But if I wanted to buy a bottle of just average whiskey, this wouldn’t be the one. There are better options for half the price available near me.

A delightful whiskey to sip. Despite its 50% ABV, I don't see it as ideal for cocktails. While it offers several pleasing flavors, they might be lost in a mixed drink. The tastes are delicate and sweet, featuring caramel, vanilla, and maple syrup. Its flavor profile is quite distinct from what I've encountered. I had anticipated it tasting like a wheated bourbon, and it does not. For those seeking a unique flavor profile at a fair price, this whiskey is a good option.

The aroma has a very faint hint of anise seed, which I personally don't care for, but it's not overly unpleasant here. It tastes sweet and somewhat vegetal. Not a dusty corn character, more like dry moss, perhaps. The finish has just a touch of spicy smokiness, otherwise it's long and reminiscent of fallen leaves.

A creamy wheat whiskey from Oregon with an aromatic beginning featuring notes of grain, wood, herbs & spices; while a rich & full body adds notes of wheat & butterscotch, cinnamon & kettle corn; leading to a balanced medium-length finish. April / July 2017 / July 2019 / August 2022