Sonoma Distilling Co. Cherrywood Rye Whiskey, Sonoma County, USA

Situated in the heart of northern California, the Sonoma County Distilling Company was founded in 2010 by California native Adam Spiegel. "Our goal is to produce whiskey the way it was meant to be made," says Spiegel. "We use traditional methods and equipment for distillation whose quality has withstood the passage of time, and we produce damn good whiskey in-house, from grain to glass." Sonoma County Distilling Co.'s Cherrywood Rye whiskey is made from a mash of rye, wheat, and malted barley. Once the grains arrive at the distillery, they are mashed and fermented before being twice distilled through a copper-pot still. The still, which is heated by a direct flame, requires a great degree more attention and skill than modern, steam-heated stills. In addition, the uneven heat produced by the central flame source produces a more unique and more textured whiskey. Following distillation, the bourbon is matured in small, new American oak casks for no less than a year and then aged further in full sized, used bourbon barrels. The smaller barrel-size results in greater surface contact between the oak and results in a faster maturation process. This blend is rounded out with notes of dried figs, toasted almonds, brandied cherries and new leather. Pick up your bottle today!