Woodinville Straight Bourbon Ginja Finished (2023 Harvest Release)

This is indeed the Cask Strength version at 53.96% Nose - Sweet and sour tannic cherries, grape skins with a tannic quality, funky sour fruit, dark berries, caramel, damp oak Taste - Blackberries, caramel, fruity honey, sweet and sour cherries, reminiscent of a sour cherry Lambic beer, a touch of clove/spice bitterness/funk, cherry pits, a sweet meaty sensation, like candied salmon or pork jerky Finish - Lingering damp oak sweetness, honey, bright sour berries, slightly tannic, caramel, dark chocolate, oaky vanilla Score - 92/100 Final Thoughts - Woodinville excelled with this bottling. It strikes a perfect balance between unusual and intriguing, while remaining engaging and enjoyable. I must say it's truly distinctive and won't appeal to everyone, but I genuinely appreciate the flavor combination in this release. It's a bourbon, yet it possesses enough unique character to stand out from others. The ginja cask finish imparts an interesting (in a very positive way) funky sweet and sour fruit profile while maintaining the robust foundation of a quality bourbon. I can envision enjoying this neat or in a well-made cocktail that highlights its fruity funk. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Yes NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

Nose: Sour cherries, red wine tannins, mashed red grapes, caramel, dried tart cherries, almost like balsamic. Taste: Fruity caramel, fruity honey, sweet, sour, and tart cherries, caramel, bitterness from clove/fennel seed, angostura bitters, plum bitters, dark chocolate, and lightly acidic coffee. Finish: Lingering fruity honey, caramel, tart cherries, damp oak, tart dried cherries, and cacao nibs. Score: 91/100 Final Thoughts: This is a well-finished bourbon. The Portuguese Ginja cask finish imparts a pleasant tart/sour cherry flavor that complements the base Woodinville Bourbon effectively. This "standard" version is quite similar to the cask strength iteration, based on my notes. It's a highly distinctive finished bourbon that significantly enhances the appeal of a bourbon while retaining most of the original spirit's qualities. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Yes NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

More complex on the nose than anticipated. Spicy, woody, and has the cherry element but much more subtle than expected. This tastes like a high-end single barrel, not a cherry liqueur finish. Not overly sweet or one-dimensional. Fantastic. It's just the slightest bit too much bitter/tannin flavor on the finish, but it's almost perfect.