Stein Distillery Small Batch Bourbon 750ML

Stein Distillery Small Batch Bourbon 750ML is a 40% ABV, 2-year-aged bourbon from Joseph, Oregon — recognized as the first bourbon ever made in the state. Produced entirely grain-to-glass on a family operation in eastern Oregon's Wallowa County, this hand-numbered expression represents one of the most genuinely small-scale bourbon programs on the West Coast.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 Proof)  |  Origin: Joseph, Eastern Oregon  |  Age: 2 Years  |  Distillery: Stein Distillery

Production & Heritage

Stein Distillery operates a true grain-to-glass model in the remote Wallowa Valley of eastern Oregon. The family farms its own wheat, rye, and barley on-site, while sourcing corn from a family member's farm in Hermiston, Oregon. Every step — from grain growth and harvest through fermenting, distilling, filtering, and bottling — is done by hand. The bourbon rests for a minimum of two years in brand-new, heavily charred American white oak casks, and each bottle is hand-numbered to reflect the distillery's artisanal scale. As the first distillery to release a made-in-Oregon bourbon, Stein holds a notable place in the state's spirits history.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Honey leads the nose immediately, offering a gentle sweetness that sets the tone. There is a clean, grain-forward quality beneath the honey, consistent with the distillery's farm-sourced ingredients.

Taste: The palate opens with soft orange notes, lending a mild citrus brightness at the entry. Mid-palate, the sweetness from the nose transitions into a rounded, accessible body without aggressive heat at 80 proof.

Finish: Toffee emerges on the close, bringing caramelized sweetness that lingers at moderate length. The charred oak influence stays in the background, adding a gentle warmth without overpowering the softer flavors.

How to Drink Stein Small Batch Bourbon

At 80 proof, this bourbon drinks comfortably neat at room temperature, where the honey and toffee notes come through most clearly. A single ice cube opens the citrus character slightly without diluting the body too quickly.

• Old Fashioned: The toffee sweetness pairs naturally with a sugar cube and Angostura bitters, letting the orange note echo the garnish.
• Whiskey Sour: The soft orange character on the palate harmonizes with fresh lemon juice for a balanced, approachable sour.
• Boulevardier: The honey-forward profile holds its own against sweet vermouth and Campari without getting lost in the mix.

Best For

• Supporting small-batch, family-operated American distilleries
• Introducing someone to craft bourbon outside Kentucky and Tennessee
• Building a collection of regional American whiskeys
• Mixing approachable, lower-proof cocktails at home

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Stein Small Batch Bourbon taste like? It delivers honey on the nose, a soft orange sweetness on the palate, and a toffee-driven finish. The profile is gentle and approachable at 80 proof, leaning toward caramel and citrus rather than heavy spice.

How does Stein Small Batch Bourbon compare to Jim Beam? Both are 80-proof bourbons, but Stein is produced grain-to-glass on a single family farm in Oregon, while Jim Beam is a mass-produced Kentucky bourbon from Beam Suntory's large-scale operation. Stein's flavor profile leans toward honey and toffee with a lighter body, whereas Jim Beam White Label carries more pronounced vanilla and oak grain character from its four-year age statement.

Is Stein Small Batch Bourbon good for sipping neat? Yes — the 80-proof strength and soft flavor profile make it an easy neat pour, particularly for drinkers who prefer less heat and more delicate sweetness in their bourbon.

Where is Stein Small Batch Bourbon made? It is made at Stein Distillery in Joseph, Oregon, a small town in the Wallowa Valley of the state's remote northeastern corner. The distillery farms most of its own grain on-site in eastern Oregon.

What foods pair well with Stein Small Batch Bourbon? Grilled peaches or stone fruit desserts complement the orange and toffee notes. Smoked salmon from the Pacific Northwest mirrors the bourbon's gentle sweetness. Aged cheddar draws out the caramel character, while roasted almonds or pecan pie align with the toffee finish. Cornbread with honey butter echoes the honey aroma directly.

What sizes does Stein Small Batch Bourbon come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is hand-numbered by the distillery.

Is Stein Small Batch Bourbon worth the price? It positions as a craft-tier bourbon at a moderate premium above mainstream 80-proof labels. The value proposition rests in its grain-to-glass provenance, hand-numbered bottles, and distinction as Oregon's first bourbon — factors that appeal to drinkers seeking regional authenticity over mass-market consistency.

Why Stein Small Batch Bourbon?

This is the first bourbon ever produced in Oregon, a distinction that gives it genuine historical significance within the state's growing spirits scene. The grain-to-glass model — where the distillery farms its own wheat, rye, and barley and sources corn from family in Hermiston — is a level of vertical integration few American craft distilleries achieve. Each hand-numbered bottle reflects a production scale measured in small batches rather than industrial runs. For drinkers interested in how terroir and regional farming translate into American whiskey, Stein's approach provides a concrete, traceable example from the high valleys of eastern Oregon.