Whisk[e]y

Distiller Notes: For years we’ve released a bold, heavily-smoked American Single Malt inspired by the super-smoky single malts of Islay (ai – luh). Formerly known as Winter Release, we’ve renamed this classic expression “Ode to Islay.” This expression is our way to raise a glass to tradition and pave our way with Southwestern ingredients – Ode to Islay is heavily mesquited. Not peated. It also joins the Global Cask Collection as a limited annual release like Frontera and Normandie.

This year’s Ode to Islay is our mesquited-not-peated American Single Malt finished in a mix of ex-rye, bourbon, and second-use Whiskey Del Bac Dorado casks.

The final result is a beautiful love letter to both inspirations. The last Ode to Islay expression earned a 9/10 from Malt Review Magazine and secured 91 points from Whisky Advocate.

On the Nose: 

You may find cocoa nibs, cinnamon, charred mesquite, and earth. On the palate, you may find soft vanilla up front, blossoming into plumes of mesquite smoke and white pepper, tapering off into soft cinnamon and candied toffee.

On the Rocks: 

You may find the mesquite moves to the forefront, contrasting against new notes of vanilla and dried stone fruit. The pepper spice recedes, replaced by notes of honey and butterscotch.

Our recommendation is to serve Ode To Islay with one large ice cube.

Michter’s Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey is a limited, overproof, straight-from-the-barrel version of Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey. Although proof varies slightly by barrel, most bottles of Michter’s Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey are somewhere between 107 and 112 proof.

As a result, the whiskey a bold aroma of butterscotch, golden raisins and vanilla, which leads to a palate bursting with morning toast, maple syrup and fresh fruit. The finish is spicy, with noticeable touches of mint, cinnamon and honey which linger on the tongue.

Crafted from hand-selected barrels, this bourbon is bottled directly from the barrel; uncut and unfiltered at more than 125 proof. It reflects the way whiskey was produced in the days before Prohibition, when Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. was the owner of Buffalo Trace Distillery. Drawn from barrels aged in warehouses constructed over a century ago under Taylor's watchful eye, the taste is smooth, yet powerful and uncompromising, just like its namesake.

Batch 12 - 131.1 Proof

A blend of 11- and 12-year-old Maker's Mark

From Maker's Mark: Aging our whisky for over 10 years wasn't something we ever did. Not because we didn't believe in it but because we hadn't found our way of doing it. Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged defines an older whisky that’s distinctly Maker’s. By embracing both the unique impact that our warehouse and cellar maturation have on flavor, we've created an older expression that is richer and more complex whilst staying true to the founder's taste vision of bourbon without the bite.

Our cask-strength bourbon is a special blend of our unproofed flagship bourbon and a five-year wheated bourbon. made with organic grains in Sebastopol, CA. Like all our whiskies, it’s carefully blended and non-chill filtered.

Specifically crafted for the high-proof whiskey lover, this bourbon is blended to be enjoyed neat, over ice, or in a very strong cocktail.

Blend of: 70% un-proofed Home Base Bourbon:
60% organic corn grown in Sacramento, CA at Adams Grains; 30% malted barley malted grown and malted at Mecca Grade Estate Malt; 10% organic wheat grown in CA, malted at Admiral Maltings, Alameda, CA; Distilled, barreled at 115 proof at Corbin Cash Distillery, Atwater, CA in new American oak 30 gallon barrels from from Barrels Unlimited, Medium Char #3; Aged over 4 years in Atwater and Berkeley, CA at Home Base Spirits

And 30% barrel strength wheated bourbon:
60% organic corn grown in Sacramento, CA at Adams Grains; 30% organic wheat grown in Sacramento, CA at Adams Grains; 10% organic malted barley; Distilled, barreled at 120 proof at Spirit Works Distillery, Sebastopol, CA in new charred oak 53 gallon barrels; Aged over 5 years in Sebastopol and Berkeley, CA

Home Base Single Malt is a unique Californian spirit capturing the terroir of the West Coast. It’s made from 100% estate malted barley and aged in ex-Home Base Bourbon barrels to let the grain flavor shine. In 2023, it received a Good Food Award in the Spirits category.

We recommended you enjoy it neat, over ice, or in a favorite Scotchy cocktail to experience the earthy, grassy nose with flavor notes of maple, cream soda, caramel, and honey nut.

Whiskey Advocate's #1 Rye in the World (2023)

A blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys finished in rum-seasoned Oloroso Sherry Casks

90% — 6 year old Indiana Straight Rye Whiskey (95/5)
10% — 4 year old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (95/5)

Nose: Ryegrass, vanilla, raspberry raisins, baking spices and oak wood.

Palate: Big bold notes of orange and
other assorted dark fruits balanced perfectly with hints of chocolate and caramel all balanced perfectly with plenty of spices like clove and nutmeg.

A rich and expressive whiskey with robust flavors of roasted corn, charred wood, and freshly crushed spices. The full and refined palate showcases notes of vanilla, apricot, and honey, which waver gracefully through the long, satisfying finish. An exquisite display of complexity and lingering sweetness.

A blend of two whiskeys: a high-rye bourbon and a whiskey made with 48% rye, 40% corn, and 12% malted barley. Dill, tarragon, spearmint, iced tea, cured tobacco leaf, roasted nuts, red apple, black cherry, and lemonade on the nose. A balanced and textured palate, with iced tea, dark fruit, roasted pecans, mild spice, and rich chocolate flavors. More richness on the finish, which is lengthy and lush, with dark chocolate, pecans, and iced tea. This is well-proofed, but a little water makes it sing. (3,462 bottles), Whisky Advocate

Nose - Thick caramel, subtle dry baking spices and lighter leather and barrel char. Medicinal cherry and raspberry, buttery toffee, and a growing chocolate with soft slightly herbal earthy sweetness.

Palate - More spice to the palate than on the nose. Cola-like sweetness with some cherry and raspberry red fruits, walnut, semi-sweet chocolate and slightly dry oak.

Distilled from a mash bill of 51% rye and 49% malted barley. Big, bold and unapologetically intense! The malted barley really shines through upfront, starting the Flavor journey off sweet and creamy with notes of caramel, cereal and what can only be described as..well...malt.

The rye kicks off the Finish with tons of cinnamon spice, big black pepper combined with smoky Flavor notes courtesy of the malted barley. being cask strength only adds to the beautiful intensity of the Finish.

Blending vintages of our high rye mash bill to achieve this flavor profile at 115-116 plus proof was a very rewarding challenge for us. There is a delicate balance between creamy mouthfeel, tannins and sugars that comes into play that makes the end result magical. Older vintages have more evaporation which means a higher concentration of fats and sugars per ounce which gives them a nice creamy mouthfeel as well as caramel and honey goodness. They also have more tannins because alcohol has been in contact with the wood for longer. A lot of what some perceive as alcohol burn is actually a harshness due to tannins. This can counterbalance the benefit gained by the high concentration of lipid esters insulating your pallet from alcohol heat. There needs to be enough of the older bourbon for the oak flavors and mouthfeel, but also some younger ones to cut back on the tannins and bring in some delicate fruit and caramel flavors.

2021, 2020 and 2017 San Francisco World Spirits

Double Gold Winner!

Initial sweet notes on the front of the tongue. Well balanced mouth feel with spicy notes including white pepper on the middle and back of the tongue from the younger vintage and high rye mash bill.

Good balance of sweet and oak flavors including hints of caramel (from the #4 charred barrels, caramelized wood sugar), fruit flavor and rye spice. Finishes smooth with no alcohol burn even at 100 proof.

Critic tasting note: "Resurrected after 23 years, this smooth, buttery American whiskey is worth the wait. It has mellow vanilla and oak flavors, with a faint cherry essence on the long finish that seems to urge, “stir up a few Manhattans already.”" - 93/100, Wine Enthusiast

A stunning 6 year old rye, finished in Cognac barrels which brings an undeniable complexity and beauty.

SOURCING
Distilled in Tennessee and aged at Savage & Cooke in Northern California.

BARRELS
Primary aging in new charred American oak barrels, finished in barrels that previously held Fine Champagne Cognac.

WATER
Proofed to 100 with pristine water from Dave’s high elevation property in Alexander Valley, 40 miles from the distillery.

MASH BILL
51% Rye, 45% Corn, 4% Malted Barley

Tasting Notes,
Brooding and intriguing on the nose with orange marmalade and spicy oak. Expansive palate with an array of baking spices, caramel and honey. Gorgeous from start to end.

A blend of whiskeys from Kentucky and Tennessee. Nuttiness pairs with jammy fruit on the nose in the form of peanut butter and jelly sandwich, blueberry pancake, and strawberry milkshake. The palate adds baking spice to the mix, with berries in syrup and cinnamon babka notes. Baking spice lingers on a satisfactory finish. Sweet and savory breakfast notes highlight a robust whiskey that is palatable neat and amenable to water. (42,000 bottles), Whisky Advocate

Shelter Distilling's Single Barrel Blue Corn Bourbon is a distinctive expression that celebrates the rich flavors of heirloom blue corn. Crafted from non-GMO heirloom blue corn, wheat, malted barley, and rye, this bourbon is aged for a minimum of two years before being individually selected and bottled from single barrels, ensuring each release offers a unique tasting experience. Bottled at 92 proof (46% ABV), it presents tasting notes of birthday cake, vanilla, and maple, delivering a sweet and smooth profile. The use of blue corn imparts a nuanced sweetness and depth, setting it apart from traditional bourbons. Whether enjoyed neat to appreciate its complexity or as the foundation for classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned or Manhattan, Shelter's Single Barrel Blue Corn Bourbon promises a memorable drinking experience.