This is a 100% rye from California’s Sonoma County Distilling Co., and won a silver medal in the American Rye Whiskey category in Whisky Magazine’s 2015 World Whiskies Awards. It is initially matured in new charred American Oak, then finished off in used oak barrels.

The nose has good clean spices with notes of clove, cardamom, and ginger balanced by honey and vanilla. The taste is spicy and intense with cinnamon, clove, touches of vanilla, and notes of oak, honey, and dark chocolate that come out as the spices start to fade. The finish is dry and lingers nicely with fading spices. No age statement on this one, but would love to try it again after a few more years in the cask. (February, 2015)