Ransom Bourbon 750ML

Ransom Bourbon 750ML is a four-grain Oregon bourbon bottled at 44% ABV (88 proof) that blends 2-, 3-, and 12-year-old stocks for uncommon depth at its age range. Rated B+ by Drinkhacker, this release from Ransom Spirits stands out for its use of a hand-hammered, direct-fired French alembic pot still — a rarity in American whiskey production that lends genuine old-world character to each batch.

Quick Facts: ABV: 44% (88 Proof)  |  Origin: Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA  |  Blend of 2-, 3-, and 12-Year-Old Bourbons  |  Distillery: Ransom Spirits

Production & Heritage

Ransom Spirits was founded by Tad Seestedt in 1997 and operates from a 40-acre organic farm in Sheridan, Oregon, deep in the Willamette Valley. The bourbon's mashbill — 66% corn, 23% rye, 6% wheat, and 4% malted barley — is sourced from grains grown on the distillery's own organic farmland. Younger stocks (two and three years old) are sourced from Indiana, while the 12-year-old component is distilled on-site using Ransom's signature hand-hammered French alembic copper pot still over direct fire, with each distillation run lasting up to sixteen hours. The blend is aged in charred American oak barrels, and each batch involves hand-selecting cuts — a labor-intensive step that distinguishes Ransom from most craft producers. The distillery has stated its intention to transition entirely to house-distilled bourbon over time, making the current blended expression a transitional release with evolving character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Cinnamon and nutmeg arrive first, followed by cedar, sandalwood, and a layer of spiced fruitcake. Orange oil and lemon verbena sit quietly beneath the spice, adding brightness to an otherwise grain-forward opening of corn husk and hay.

Taste: The entry is light and honeyed, immediately approachable with gentle warmth rather than heat. Mid-palate, flavors of hot cocoa, oatmeal cookie, and cinnamon sugar develop, supported by soft oak and cereal grain. A deeper layer of cocoa powder, anise, and rich honey emerges as the liquid opens up, revealing the mature elegance contributed by the 12-year-old component.

Finish: Generous in length, with brown sugar sweetness giving way to peppery rye spice and a lively flash of orange zest. A malty depth lingers at the very end, adding substance to what is otherwise a clean, well-mannered close.

How to Drink Ransom Bourbon

Neat or with a few drops of water is the best way to appreciate the interplay between the younger and older stocks; the alembic pot still character reveals itself most clearly without dilution. For cocktails, this bourbon's soft spice and honeyed texture make it a natural fit in several classics:

• Old Fashioned: The cinnamon-sugar sweetness and orange zest notes align perfectly with bitters and a citrus peel garnish.
• Bourbon Smash: The lemon verbena and light honey body shine alongside muddled lemon and fresh mint.
• Paper Plane: The cocoa and anise undertones add complexity against Aperol and amaro without overpowering the balance.

Best For

• Introducing a craft-curious drinker to Oregon distilling
• Adding a distinctive pot-still bourbon to a home whiskey collection
• Gifting someone who appreciates farm-to-bottle transparency
• Exploring four-grain mashbill bourbons alongside more common two- or three-grain expressions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ransom Bourbon taste like? Ransom Bourbon leads with honeyed warmth, cinnamon sugar, and hot cocoa, followed by soft oak and cereal grain. The finish brings brown sugar sweetness, peppery rye spice, and a lingering malty depth.

How does Ransom Bourbon compare to Maker's Mark? Both share a wheat-inclusive, approachable profile with soft spice and minimal bite, making them easy to compare at a similar price tier. Ransom distinguishes itself with a four-grain mashbill (adding rye alongside wheat) and pot-still-distilled older stock that contributes more cocoa and malty complexity than Maker's Mark's sweeter, red-winter-wheat-driven flavor.

Is Ransom Bourbon good for sipping neat? Yes — at 88 proof, it drinks gently with enough complexity from its blended age stocks to reward slow, attentive sipping without requiring water or ice.

Where is Ransom Bourbon made? Ransom Bourbon is produced by Ransom Spirits in Sheridan, Oregon, located in the Willamette Valley. The older stock is distilled on-site at the distillery's 40-acre organic farm, while younger stocks are sourced from Indiana.

What foods pair well with Ransom Bourbon? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and anise notes. Smoked pork belly matches the bourbon's brown sugar sweetness. Sharp aged cheddar plays against the rye spice. Pecan pie echoes the malty, honeyed finish. Cinnamon-dusted churros mirror the warm baking-spice aromatics.

What sizes does Ransom Bourbon come in? The standard release is available in the 750ml bottle format.

Is Ransom Bourbon worth the price? Ransom Bourbon positions as a premium craft bourbon, priced above mass-market labels but justified by its organic grain sourcing, hand-operated alembic pot still, and blended age profile that includes 12-year-old stock — details uncommon at this tier.

Why Ransom Bourbon?

What earns Ransom Bourbon its place in the craft bourbon conversation is the production chain behind it: organic grains grown on-site, distillation on a hand-hammered French alembic pot still fired directly — not by steam — with each run taking up to sixteen hours. The decision to blend 2-, 3-, and 12-year-old stocks rather than bottling a single age statement gives the distillery a tool for balancing youthful grain sweetness with mature oak and cocoa depth. As Ransom transitions toward an entirely house-distilled product, the current expression represents a snapshot of a distillery actively evolving — a genuinely limited window into an Oregon operation that prioritizes process over volume.