Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 6 Years
Woodinville Whiskey: From Washington Startup to American Whiskey Standout
Let's get one thing out of the way right from the start: Woodinville Whiskey isn't trying to be Kentucky bourbon. That's probably one of the biggest reasons it has become one of the most respected craft whiskey producers in America.
For decades, bourbon drinkers have been conditioned to believe that the best whiskey comes from Kentucky. While there's certainly plenty of truth behind that reputation, distilleries like Woodinville have shown that exceptional bourbon can come from places most enthusiasts never expected. In this case, the Pacific Northwest.
Founded in 2010 by longtime friends Brett Carlile and Orlin Sorensen, Woodinville Whiskey began with a simple but ambitious goal: create world-class whiskey using local ingredients and traditional methods without taking shortcuts. Rather than sourcing whiskey from elsewhere and putting their name on it, they committed themselves to building something authentic from the ground up.
That journey included working alongside legendary Master Distiller David Pickerell, whose influence helped shape the distillery's early vision. It also included a commitment to sourcing grain from Washington's Omlin Family Farm, a relationship that remains a cornerstone of the brand today. The result is a true grain-to-glass operation that has grown from a small craft startup into one of the most recognizable whiskey brands in the country.
One of the first things longtime fans will notice this year is that Woodinville looks a little different on the shelf. In 2026, the distillery introduced its first major bottle redesign in more than a decade. Thankfully, they didn't reinvent the wheel. Instead, they refined it.
The new bottle feels more premium without losing the identity that made Woodinville recognizable in the first place. The updated design highlights the whiskey's age statement more prominently and tells a visual story about the journey from grain to glass. It's clean, modern, and honestly one of the best redesigns we've seen in the whiskey space recently.
If you've never tried Woodinville before, the 6-Year Straight Bourbon is probably the best place to start. At 90 proof, it doesn't try to overwhelm you with barrel strength intensity or prove anything through sheer alcohol content. Instead, it focuses on balance, drinkability, and flavor.
Coloring of freshly brewed sun tea in the glass. Ginger ale, caramel, green tea and vanilla on the nose. The flavors are immediately satifsying and include Boston Cream Pie, rich & buttery caramel, leading to a soft but memorable finish of butterscotch and wet walnuts.
Final Thoughts on the Bourbon
We have tasted our share of craft bourbons over the years that felt like they were trying too hard to stand out. Woodinville isn't one of them. Instead of chasing trends, it simply focuses on making good whiskey. That's a surprisingly rare thing these days. The six-year age statement adds maturity, the grain quality shines through, and the overall experience feels polished from start to finish.
This is the kind of bottle that earns a permanent place on your shelf because it's easy to reach for whether you're sharing a pour with friends or simply winding down after a long day. It seems cliché to call a bottle a "daily sipper" because the phrase is an overused marketing buzzword. But, we're genuinely struggling to fine another way to describe this bottle, because it completely fits the bill!
ABV: 45.0% (90 proof)
Distillery: Woodinville Whiskey Co.
Suggested retail price: $39.99
Drink The Bottles score: 92/100
The Woodinville Book
As if launching a new bottle design wasn't enough, Woodinville also recently released a beautifully produced book that tells the story of the distillery and the people behind it. Written by Adam Erace, Woodinville is part company history, part whiskey journey, and part celebration of what can happen when passion and patience intersect.
What we are enjoying most about the book is that it isn't simply a marketing piece. It provides insight into the challenges of building a whiskey brand from scratch, the relationships that helped shape the distillery, and the philosophy that continues to guide Woodinville today.
For fans of the brand, it's an opportunity to better understand the people behind the whiskey. For whiskey enthusiasts in general, it's a fascinating look at how one of America's most successful craft distilleries found its footing in an industry dominated by legacy brands. It also serves as a reminder that every great bottle has a story behind it. Sometimes those stories are every bit as interesting as the whiskey itself. And kudos for the tasting notes section!
Final Thoughts
Woodinville Whiskey has spent the last fifteen years proving that great bourbon isn't limited by geography. Through a commitment to local ingredients, thoughtful production methods, and an unwavering focus on quality, Brett Carlile and Orlin Sorensen have built one of the most respected whiskey brands in the country.
The new bottle design signals an exciting new chapter for the distillery, while the six-year bourbon demonstrates exactly why Woodinville continues to earn loyal fans across the nation. Pair that with Adam Erace's new book, and there's never been a better time to explore everything this Washington whiskey producer has to offer.
If you've never ventured beyond Kentucky when it comes to bourbon, Woodinville may be the bottle that changes your mind.
