• Nose is predominately spicy and medicinal, with minty notes, leather and cedar box. The palate showcases big rye character, along with cloves and baking spices. It’s astringent and drying on the cheeks. More medicinal and spice character on a fairly big, warm finish. Let it open for a few moments or add some water to showcase more vanilla and brown sugar, along with a musky earthiness. Great character; would love to see it at four years.
  

Founders Timo and Ashby Marshall lead an all-female team at Spirit Works Distillery, a Sonoma County producer of grain-to-glass spirits. Their portfolio includes vodka, gin, sloe gin (a nod to Timo’s English heritage), and whiskey. Spirit Works Straight Rye Whiskey is made from a mashbill of mostly rye, and all the grains used are milled, mashed, fermented, and distilled on site. It ages for at least 2 years in 53-gallon new, charred American oak barrels before being bottled at 45% ABV without chill-filtration. Review from barrel 13-0020.