Wonderful World of Spirits

Hello members and welcome to this month's “World of Spirits” article, featuring more unique spirits from our spirits list. Be sure to look through our complete list (available in all dining areas) for all the options you have at the club. Now, onto the good stuff.

Woodinville Straight Bourbon – Washington State, USA

I once lived on Orcas Island, Washington for the better part of 2 years. I grew to appreciate 3 things while living there, slow island life, oysters, and Woodinville Bourbon. It was on every shelf at all the local bars, as well as the resort where I was working.

Woodinville was started in 2010 by Orlin Sorensen & Brett Carlile. The company sources all of their staple grains exclusively from the Omlin Family farm in Quincy, Washington. The grains are mashed, distilled, and barreled at their Woodinville distillery, and then trucked back over the Cascade Mountains to the company’s private barrel houses. While the bottle states no age, the company has confirmed that they use 5-year-old bourbon in their straight bourbon product.

Tyler Whittico Food & Beverage Director

The palate delivers a sweet sip of creamy caramel, toasted oak, and sweet vanilla. While the palate isn’t complex, it does deliver an incredibly easy and enjoyable sip that makes you want to come back for more. Additionally, when the distillery was starting up, the founders were mentored by the late Dave Pickerell (Master Distiller for Makers Mark, Whistle Pig among others) who was able to help impart some of his decade’s old knowledge with the team. And after only 13 years in the market, it shows that they certainly took note.

Stranahans Blue Peak Single Malt Whiskey – Colorado, USA

When people read “Single Malt” most people think Scotch, but there is growing trend of single malt American Whiskeys. Stranahans is a company out of Colorado who has focused on one whiskey category and one whiskey category only since their launch, and that is the American single malt category. The brand was one of the first to really go after this category and has spent years educating consumers on what it means to be an American single malt whiskey.

The company states that Blue Peak is “named for a 13-thousand-foot peak in Aspen and inspired by the alpine scenery of the Rocky Mountains.” Additionally, Blue Peak utilizes a solera finish. According to Stranahan’s, the aged Blue Peak “is transferred into new American oak foeders for several months. Once the liquid is fully married, a portion of the mature whiskey is removed, cut to proof with pristine Rocky Mountain water and chill filtered. Meanwhile, newly harvested whiskey is added to the remnants to marry. Since the foeders is never emptied, the solera process allows for continuous marriage, maturation, and flavor development in the whiskey it holds.”

Stranahans is a unique whiskey from state that isn’t known for its whiskey, but you won’t want to pass on giving this a try. Best served neat or on the rocks.

Plymouth Gin – Plymouth, England

The only Gin to be a brand as well as its own unique style of gin. Bartenders in the last decade have made Plymouth Gin a common house pour. And this is simply because Plymouth Gin works in nearly every cocktail application. It makes one of the best Martinis but also has the softness and earthiness to work in more extreme applications.

Plymouth’s modern brand identity ties together several strands of English history. The Plymouth Gin Distillery was once a monastery and even a prison prior to becoming a distillery. The Plymouth Distillery’s proximity to the Royal William Victualling Yard in Plymouth made it an ideal location for supplying naval officers with gin. If you drank gin while in the British Royal Navy, it was probably Plymouth Gin. The brand dates back to at least the early nineteenth century and perhaps even further. It’s one of the oldest gin brands still being produced today, though it’s had a somewhat discontinuous history, meaning its ascent in the gin world is a surprisingly recent phenomenon.

The palate is where I think this gin shines. The early palate is softly earthy and gentle piney simultaneously brings together angelica, cardamom, lemon zest, sweet orange and juniper. The finish leads into a soft citrus and earthiness. Only moderate length, angelica and coriander seem to be the last two standing. Absolutely beautiful, Plymouth Gin is one of my favorites.

Thanks for reading, stay tuned for more next month. Cheers!

Tyler Whittico, Food & Beverage Director