WILLOW CREEK DISTILLERY RELEASES INAUGURAL STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY
Ultra-Limited Spirit Aged for Two Years in Charred American Oak Barrels
Paso Robles, CA—Willow Creek Distillery today released its inaugural Straight Bourbon Whiskey—an ultra-limited artisanal spirit aged for two years in new charred American oak barrels.
The initial allocation of 28 cases is now available at the distillery tasting room in Paso Robles, with another 50 cases to follow later this fall. The price is $65 per bottle.
“Straight Bourbon is an American original, making it a natural addition to our family of spirits,” said Kevin Coulton, Willow Creek’s head distiller. “It’s something we’ve long wanted to offer and that moment has finally come.”
The Straight Bourbon becomes the second whiskey in Willow Creek’s portfolio, joining the distillery’s signature Malt ‘n Oats whiskey.
“Bourbon is beholden to its own requirements and traditions, which we carefully followed,” Coulton said. “These requirements included using a mash composed of at least 51 percent corn, and aging the whiskey for at least two years in new charred American oak barrels to achieve the ‘straight bourbon’ designation.”
A New Sensation
The Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the latest spirit to come from Willow Creek Distillery, which was established by sister winery Opolo Vineyards in 2013. Located in the coastal mountains of the Willow Creek District AVA of Paso Robles, the distillery specializes in various traditional fruit brandies, whiskeys and liqueurs made with locally grown ingredients.
Willow Creek Distillery’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey was distilled from a mash of corn, barley and rye. After mashing and fermentation, it was matured for two years in new heavily charred American oak barrels. “When exposed to high heat during the charring process, the hemicellulose present in the wood breaks down into wood sugars, imparting caramelization on the inside of the barrel,” Coulton explained.
The resulting bourbon is approachable, smooth and sophisticated, balancing a clean whiskey bite with robust flavor and sweet undertones.
“We plan to ramp up our bourbon production in the years ahead based on the success of these early batches,” Coulton said. “We’ve always prided ourselves on the quality of our brandies, and we are now becoming known for our whiskies as well.”
Straight Bourbon Whiskey is now available to ship within CA!