Sonoma County Distilling Co. West of Kentucky No.2 Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

95 Proof Craft Bourbon, below cost in a once-off importer clearance.

California native, Adam Spiegel has been making whiskey since 2010 using direct fire copper pot stills. The uneven heat produced by a central flame results in a more distinctive and more textured whiskey, but unlike modern steam-heated stills, they're labor intensive and require more care in order to avoid burning the mash. Handled well, they can also add some interesting 'toasty' notes. It's a dedicated craft approach reflected in other aspects at Sonoma County Distilling, which Spiegal rightfully considers a grain-to-glass operation where milling, mashing, fermentation - and even bottling - are all done in house.

There are at least two versions of 'West of Kentucky' that have been released. This blend was specially created for the Australian importers 'Californian Dreamers' and was aged in small, charred new American oak casks then finished in used barrels before it was hand bottled with zero chill filtration. The smaller barrels help to speed the maturation while old wood aging ensures the spirit is not over-oaked and given extra time to integrate and oxidize. 

You could think of 'West of Kentucky' as California's take on traditional Bourbon: it's a wheated style that starts with 70% un-malted yellow corn from the Midwest, followed by un-malted Canadian Winter wheat as the secondary grain (25%). The other 5% is malted barley from Wyoming. The high corn content references the forerunner and kissing cousin to Bourbon, 'Straight Corn Whiskey' (defined as having a recipe or mash bill with a minimum of 81% corn). The aromas are drier and fresher than most Bourbons with cherry infused dark chocolate, oak shavings and hints of muddled mint, building richness with time in the glass. The sweetness picks up on the palate where toasted grain and nutty, oak flavours come through followed by cocoa, vanilla malt, honey and more wood spice. A little prickle from the alcohol is evident until your mouth adjusts, but uncut it's very palatable, and even though there's no rye in the mash bill, it tastes like there is. Young and perky, this is good Bourbon on its way to becoming very good Bourbon and it gets better with every sip. That, besides the giveaway price, plus the added bonus of a higher than normal alcohol and 750ml bottle add up to what will be remembered as one of the American whiskey buys of the year. Don't miss it. One parcel only at this extraordinary discount. Bottled in 2016 with an outturn of 350 cases. 47.5% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.