History

Woodinville Whiskey Co. was founded in 2010 in the state of Washington by two friends, Orlin Sorensen and Brett Carlile, who wanted to prove that the best whiskey can be made outside Kentucky or Scotland. Their approach is based on 100% grain-to-glass and close collaboration with local ingredients and craft in small batches, supported by mentorship from Dave Pickerell. In 2015 they launched their flagship Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and since then their whiskey has been honored with awards such as Craft Whiskey of the Year and Craft Rye Whiskey of the Year by the American Distilling Institute, as well as a Double Gold at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Today Woodinville is available nationwide in the US with plans for global expansion.

Production / Manufacturing

Woodinville operates with 100% grain-to-glass. The grain is estate-grown and cultivated on the Omlin family farm in Quincy, Washington, ensuring high-quality raw materials. The mashing starts with 2.5 tons of locally grown non-GMO corn and rye, milled to flour and cooked with water to form sugar. Fermentation takes place in eight 9,000-gallon fermenters, where yeast is added and the mash rests for about four days. Distillation occurs in Woodinville's handcrafted copper stills of 1,320 gallons, with eight 'superaromator' trays in the column, and only the 'hearts' of the distillate become whiskey. After distillation, the whiskey is diluted to 55% ABV with purified Cascade Mountain water. The wooden cask used for aging is prepared by seasoning the wood for 18 months before cooperage. All whiskies age at least five years in private barrel houses in Central Washington's extreme temperature cycles, which draw vanilla, caramel and spicy notes from the wood over time. Bottling typically occurs biweekly after decanting, filtration and cooling. Woodinville emphasizes small-batch and craft — an approach clearly reflected in their grain-to-glass philosophy.

Products / Whisky Series

• Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Mashbill approx. 72% corn, 22% rye and 6% malted barley. Nose notes of crème brûlée and spice; palate of caramel, dark chocolate and vanilla; finish sweet and long. Aged at least five years in specially maintained storage rooms.
• Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Barrels: Finished in Portuguese Douro port casks, which add structure and notes of caramel, berries and dark chocolate.
• Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Ginja Barrels: Finished in Ginjinha barrels from Portugal; notes of blackberry jam, honey, dark cherry and spices; finish with warmth of cinnamon and cloves.
• Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Tequila Barrels: Finished in tequila barrels, which yields a unique flavor profile (described in the product text).
• Straight 100% Rye Whiskey: 100% rye; nose with cinnamon, clove and fruit leather; palate of caramel, wood-spices and honey; finish long and memorable.
• Straight 100% Rye, Aged 8 Years: Limited Release – 8-year release with notes of dark molasses, cloves, brown sugar, vanilla and dried berries; finish warm and peppery with dry oak.
• Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Aged 9 Years: Nine years of aging; one of Woodinville's older, limited-release bourbons; bottled with a unique number set and high complexity.
• Port-to-Port and other bundles: Several bundles pairing bourbon/rye with finish variants and accessories, e.g., Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup and Woodinville gear bundles.

Visit / Experiences

Woodinville Distillery offers full barrel tastings and tastings by reservation. The distillery tasting room in Woodinville is open daily from 11:00 to 18:00 without advance reservation. The Quincy Production Facility also offers tastings and tours by reservation (address provided on the site).

Philosophy

Woodinville's approach rests on three foundations: - The best grain: The core is estate-grown grain from the Omlin family farm to ensure the best ingredients. - The best distillation process: The whiskey is pot-distilled in small batches to preserve maximum flavor. - The best barrels: The barrels are long-seasoned, pre-toasted and deeply charred, giving characterful notes and depth. Over more than five years of maturation in Central Washington and a focused craft philosophy have given Woodinville a range of award-winning, 100% grain-to-glass whiskeys with a growing national and international presence.