Woodinville Whiskey Port Finished Bourbon 750ML

Woodinville Whiskey Port Finished Bourbon 750ML is a 90-proof Washington State straight bourbon finished in Portuguese port casks, bottled at 45% ABV in a 750ml format. It earned Double Gold and "Best Straight Bourbon Whiskey" at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, alongside a 93-point rating from Whisky Advocate — accolades that put this Pacific Northwest distillery squarely on the national bourbon map.

Quick Facts: ABV: 45% (90 proof)  |  Origin: Washington State, USA  |  5-Year Straight Bourbon, 6-Month Port Finish  |  Distillery: Woodinville Whiskey Company

Production & Heritage

Woodinville Whiskey Company distills in Washington State using a mashbill of 72% corn, 22% rye, and 7% malted barley. The base spirit matures for five years as a straight bourbon before spending an additional six months finishing in port barrels sourced from Portugal's Douro Valley — one of the world's most storied fortified wine regions. A less-discussed but significant detail: the barrel wood used throughout production is open-air seasoned for eighteen months before coopering, a step the distillery credits for smoothing tannins and deepening flavor complexity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Candied cherry and dried plums lead immediately, followed by layers of brown sugar, vanilla, and a subtle thread of fresh-cut oak. A second pass reveals darker notes of baking spice — nutmeg and clove hovering beneath the fruit.

Taste: The entry is rich and slightly sticky, with baked plums and chocolate-covered cherries dominating the front palate. At mid-palate, caramel and red fruit intertwine with blueberry and raspberry tones, while the rye content provides enough backbone to keep the sweetness structured. Dark chocolate emerges toward the peak, balanced by warm oak and a pleasant mouthfeel that leans viscous without turning heavy.

Finish: Medium-long, with lingering dried fruit, clove spice, and a trailing note of cocoa. The port influence remains present but never overwhelms the bourbon's grain character, fading into a clean, gently tannic close.

How to Drink Woodinville Port Finished

Neat or with a single cube of ice is the ideal starting point — the 90-proof strength opens up beautifully with just a touch of dilution, revealing more of the port cask's fruit layers. For cocktails, three options stand out: a Manhattan, where the port finish's berry and chocolate notes amplify sweet vermouth's richness; a Boulevardier, where the dark fruit backbone holds its own against Campari's bitterness; and a Kentucky Mule, where the candied cherry character adds depth against ginger beer's spice.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who already owns the classics and wants something with award-winning distinction
• After-dinner sipping alongside a dessert course of dark chocolate or berry tart
• Exploring cask-finished bourbons beyond Kentucky's traditional offerings
• Building a curated whiskey flight showcasing different finishing cask influences

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Woodinville Port Finished taste like? It delivers a rich, fruit-forward profile dominated by candied cherry, baked plum, and dark chocolate, supported by caramel, vanilla, and warm baking spices from the bourbon base. The port cask finish adds a berry-laden sweetness without masking the underlying grain and oak character.

How does Woodinville Port Finished compare to Angel's Envy Port Finished Bourbon? Both are straight bourbons finished in port casks, but Woodinville uses a higher-rye mashbill (22% rye versus Angel's Envy's approximately 18%) and finishes for roughly six months compared to Angel's Envy's reported three to six months. Woodinville also bottles at a slightly higher 90 proof, which tends to deliver more structure and spice alongside the port-driven fruit.

Is Woodinville Port Finished good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the 45% ABV sits in a sweet spot that delivers full flavor without excessive heat, and the port finish adds enough complexity and layered fruit to reward slow, contemplative sipping. Its 93-point Whisky Advocate score reflects its strength as a neat-pour bourbon.

Where is Woodinville Port Finished made? It is distilled and aged by Woodinville Whiskey Company in Washington State. The port barrels used for finishing are sourced from the Douro Valley in Portugal, one of the oldest and most respected port wine regions in the world.

What foods pair well with Woodinville Port Finished? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and cherry notes directly. Aged Gouda or Manchego cheese echoes the caramel and nutty undertones. A charcuterie board with dried figs and prosciutto bridges the fruit and spice elements. Berry-based desserts like blackberry cobbler mirror the port cask's red-fruit influence. Smoked duck breast works well against the bourbon's oak and baking-spice backbone.

What sizes does Woodinville Port Finished come in? The standard and most widely available size is the 750ml bottle.

Is Woodinville Port Finished worth the price? It positions as a premium craft bourbon, and the combination of a five-year age statement, six-month port cask finish using Douro Valley barrels, and major competition accolades — including Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition — delivers strong value relative to other cask-finished bourbons in its tier.

Why Woodinville Port Finished?

The Double Gold medal and "Best Straight Bourbon Whiskey" designation at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, combined with a 93-point Whisky Advocate score, establish this as one of the most critically recognized port-finished bourbons available. The sourcing of finishing casks from Portugal's Douro Valley — rather than generic port-style barrels — gives the wine influence genuine provenance and depth. The eighteen-month open-air seasoning of barrel wood before coopering is a production commitment that few craft distilleries undertake, and it contributes to the refined tannin profile that separates this expression from rougher cask-finished competitors. For drinkers exploring beyond Kentucky, Woodinville's Port Finished Bourbon is a serious benchmark for what Washington State whiskey can achieve.