Back in 2017, Washington State’s Woodinville Distillery released a limited edition whiskey for its dedicated following of Bourbon fans; a 5 year old whiskey that had been finished for an additional period with toasted applewood staves.

Similar to how Maker’s Mark includes different stave types to shape the flavors of its Maker’s 46, Woodinville's addition of applewood brought out a fruity, nostalgic, and seasonal character in its beloved Bourbon, to the utter delight of its fanbase. The whiskey was so successful that it sold out immediately and has been something of a cult classic ever since.

This Fall season, Woodinville went back to the well and released another batch of its prized applewood Bourbon and we were lucky to snag an allocation here at Mission. If you’re unfamiliar with Woodinville's Bourbon, the whiskies are generally quite rich with caramel, dark chocolate, vanilla bean, and plenty of toasty oak on the palate. What the applewood staves add are a fruity, almost cider like element that gives just the slightest impression of Calvados on the finish.

What we love most about the whiskey at Mission is how the flavors of the applewood pair perfectly with the changing weather outside. As harvest time sets in here in California and the days get shorter, that robust whiskey flavor with just a tinge of apple and other orchard fruits seems to dial in the senses, reminding us of what a special time of year October is.

If you’ve never tasted anything from Woodinville, it’s a great time to dive in. The whiskey from this Washington distillery has never tasted better, and the return of a beloved fan favorite only makes that energy more contagious.