Woodinville Whiskey Toasted Applewood Finished Bourbon 750ML

Woodinville Whiskey Toasted Applewood Finished Bourbon 750ML is a 45% ABV (90 proof) straight bourbon from Washington State, finished in barrels toasted with applewood staves. This limited expression from Woodinville Whiskey Company showcases how Pacific Northwest orchardwood can reshape a classic bourbon profile, adding layers of fruit-tinged smoke and subtle sweetness that distinguish it from standard barrel-finished releases.

Quick Facts: ABV: 45% (90 Proof)  |  Origin: Washington, USA  |  Applewood-Toasted Barrel Finish  |  Distillery: Woodinville Whiskey Company

Production & Heritage

Woodinville Whiskey Company was founded in 2010 by Brett Carlile and Orlin Sorensen in Woodinville, Washington, with distilling operations based in Quincy, WA. The distillery was acquired by Moët Hennessy (LVMH) in 2017. Woodinville sources its grain from a single family farm in Washington's Columbia Valley, and their core bourbon uses a traditional corn-heavy mashbill with rye and malted barley, distilled in copper pot stills and aged in new charred American oak barrels. For this expression, fully matured bourbon undergoes a secondary finishing period in barrels fitted with applewood-toasted staves, wood sourced from the orchards of the Pacific Northwest. The applewood toasting imparts a character distinct from the standard charred oak, introducing orchard-fruit nuances and a gentler smoke signature.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Baked apple and warm vanilla rise first, followed by toasted marshmallow, light brown sugar, and a thread of orchard-wood smoke. A second pass reveals dried stone fruit and a gentle spice note from the rye component.

Taste: The entry is round and honeyed, with caramel and ripe apple coming through immediately. At mid-palate, baking spice and toasted oak assert themselves alongside a faint nuttiness. The applewood influence is most apparent here, adding a fruit-forward sweetness that stops well short of cloying.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering warmth, dried apple, and a soft vanillin fade. A wisp of woodsmoke and cinnamon bark carries through to the close.

How to Drink Woodinville Applewood Bourbon

Sipping neat or with a single large ice cube lets the applewood finish speak clearly without diluting the fruit-smoke interplay. A few drops of water can open up the sweeter orchard notes for those who prefer a gentler proof. For cocktails, try it in an Old Fashioned, where the applewood sweetness reduces the need for added sugar; a Brown Derby (with fresh grapefruit juice and honey), which highlights the bourbon's fruit character; or a Whiskey Sour, where the toasted-apple notes add an autumnal twist to the citrus backbone.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who already owns the standard lineup
• Autumn and holiday sipping sessions by the firepit
• Side-by-side tastings comparing barrel-finishing techniques
• Adding a Pacific Northwest accent to a home whiskey collection

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Woodinville Applewood Bourbon taste like? It delivers honeyed caramel and baked apple up front, transitioning to baking spice and toasted oak, with a medium finish of dried fruit and gentle woodsmoke. The applewood finishing adds a fruit-forward sweetness not found in the distillery's standard bourbon.

How does Woodinville Applewood Bourbon compare to Angel's Envy Bourbon? Both are finished bourbons, but they take very different paths, Angel's Envy uses port wine cask finishing at 43.3% ABV, yielding berry and dried-fruit sweetness, while Woodinville's applewood-toasted stave finish at 45% ABV leans toward orchard fruit and subtle smoke. The Woodinville expression tends toward a drier, more wood-driven profile compared to Angel's Envy's wine-influenced richness.

Is Woodinville Applewood Bourbon good for sipping neat? At 90 proof, it sits in a comfortable range for neat sipping, with enough structure to hold up without excessive heat. The applewood finish adds complexity that rewards slow, undiluted tasting.

Where is Woodinville Applewood Bourbon made? It is produced by Woodinville Whiskey Company, with distilling and aging operations in Quincy, Washington, in the Columbia Valley. The distillery sources its grain from a single local family farm and maintains a tasting room in Woodinville, Washington.

What foods pair well with Woodinville Applewood Bourbon? Smoked pork chops complement the applewood smoke character directly. Aged cheddar or Gruyère match the bourbon's caramel richness. Apple tarts and crisps echo the orchard-fruit finish. Pecan pie mirrors the nutty mid-palate, and charcuterie boards with dried fruits create a natural sweet-savory bridge.

What sizes does Woodinville Applewood Bourbon come in? The standard release is available in a 750ML bottle. Availability in other formats may vary by market and release.

Is Woodinville Applewood Bourbon worth the price? It positions as a premium craft bourbon, priced above Woodinville's core straight bourbon to reflect the additional finishing step and limited availability. For drinkers seeking a distinctive finishing technique beyond the usual port or sherry cask trend, it represents a genuinely differentiated option in the finished-bourbon category.

Why Woodinville Applewood Bourbon?

The applewood-toasted stave finish is a technique rarely seen in American whiskey, drawing directly from the Pacific Northwest's orchard traditions rather than borrowing from wine or fortified-wine cask conventions. Woodinville's commitment to single-source Washington grain gives the base bourbon a sense of terroir that carries through the finishing process. Backed by LVMH resources since 2017 while maintaining its craft-scale production approach, the distillery occupies an unusual position between boutique producer and globally distributed brand. This expression rewards drinkers who appreciate how a specific wood choice, not just a different barrel, can reshape a bourbon's identity.