Featured at World Whisky Day 2021: Sonoma Distilling was founded in 2010 by Adam Spiegel and was the first located in a region of California more renowned for wine than spirits. As with many other distillers, Sonoma looks to local elements and promotes grain-to-glass production at their facility. Even the grains themselves are from the surrounding states. At least it is now. When the distillery was younger, some of the releases included grain from other locations, including this one with part of the rye content sourced from Canada. The Sonoma Cherrywood Rye is part of the distillery’s portfolio that takes their existing spirit – bourbon and rye so far – and smokes the malted barley that makes up a tenth of the mash bill with cherrywood.
Distillery: Sonoma Distilling
Region: Foreign
Age: NAS
Strength: 47.8%
Price: $49.99
Mashbill: 80% rye from California and Canada, 10% California wheat, 10% cherrywood smoked malted barley
Barrel: Bottle 602, Lot CR2X2
Location: Rohnert Park, CA
Nose: Cherrywood, smoke, resin, furniture polish, rye, wintergreen
Palate: Sweet, cherry cordial, wood, smoke, licorice
Finish: Cherrywood, smoke
Comments: Water cuts the little heat that’s there but mutes too much of the nose and doesn’t unlock any secrets on the palate.
Adam – It feels odd to say it but there is something decidedly “grown up” about the nose of this Cherrywood Rye. Three piece suits, polished shoes, a mortgage. I think it’s the wood and resin coupled with the softest whiff of smoke. It’s classy. Fancy. Mad Men, without the misogyny. The smoke deepens on the palate, hand-in-hand with a dark wood and flirtations of fruit sweetness, ephemeral though it is. Not sweet like candy or fruit, but something more subtle and richer. Yes, there is definite sweetness here, playing second or third fiddle to the dominant notes but persistent nevertheless. With a bigger mouthful, the smoke increases and is a delight. Wintergreen from the palate returns on the finish with the smoke, adding a nice crispness I really enjoy. For the price of a bottle, this whiskey has a lot to offer the curious. I can even forget it’s predominantly rye if I’m not paying attention. Against all odds, this is a well-balanced whiskey that has a lot to offer and leaves me feeling pleased, surprised and satisfied.
Kate – The Cherrywood Rye smells like walking into an expensive new furniture store. There’s a touch of licorice in the mouth too.
50% Cigar and 50% heaven.
Henry – This is a whiskey for pinot noir drinkers. 50% Cigar and 50% heaven. Very West Coast flavor. Wintergreen on the palate transmutes to fresh evergreen sap with smoke.
Ben – Oooh! There’s something minty in there. All of the individual components of the nose all land at the same time in the palate.
