Sonoma California Bourbon

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

For this California Bourbon, Sonoma Distilling Company brings together wheat-forward and rye-forward bourbon styles. Its mash contains corn, wheat, rye and malted barley. The whiskey ages for at least three years and is bottled at 46%. Toasted vanilla, almond, toffee brittle and coffee shape its aromas, while spices and fruit complement the sweet, roasted notes.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose opens with corn, pastry and fresh oak. With air, ginger, clove and nutmeg emerge, followed later by apricot and peach. Vanilla and liquorice bring the impressions together, and toasted almonds are also present.
• Palate: On the palate, the bourbon starts with honey before clove comes forward. Herbs and menthol bring freshness. At the mid-palate, caramelised roasted notes, coffee and mocha mingle with eucalyptus and fresh oak; pear, apple and lily blossom add to the flavour. Toffee and a hint of vanilla are also present.
• Finish: The finish is long and silky. Strawberry, blackberry and cherry meet cinnamon and saffron, while toffee and nougat linger. Candied orange and incense emerge in the lingering aroma, alongside a slightly astringent note. The empty glass offers a final reminder of corn.

Distillery/Bottler:

Adam Spiegel founded Sonoma Distilling Company in 2010 in Rohnert Park, Sonoma County, California. The distillery is among the state's early craft whiskey producers. It sources grain from the region and handles milling, mashing and fermentation itself. It then distils twice in direct-fired copper pot stills, ages the whiskey in American oak casks and bottles it on site.

Facts: