American

Whiskey Review: Tualatin Valley Oregon Single Malt

Tualatin Valley Distilling's Oregon Single Malt showcases Oregon-bred, Oregon-grown, Oregon-malted, and Oregon-distilled barley, as we find in this review.

OVERALL RATING

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Tasting Notes

About:

Appearance:
Bright yellow-gold
Nose:
A meaty, almost savory nose with earthy notes of mushroom, earth, and salt. Underneath, there are sweeter suggestions of peanut brittle, candied nuts, and a hint of red fruit.
Palate:
Sweet, toasty, and nutty, very reminiscent of toasted white bread. There’s a richness that reminds me, again, of peanuts, as well as a nice sweet-tart quality evoking lemon zest, apple skins, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Finish: On the short side, as to be expected from such a young whiskey, but pleasantly sweet and toasty. Conclusion Jason O’Donnell described Mecca Grade’s malt as “peanutty,” and I definitely agree. This is a surprisingly rich spirit for its young age. While it won’t fool you into thinking that it’s a 10-year-old Scotch, for fans of the American Single Malt category, this is an interesting release and a fascinating window into the new world of craft malting. At $29 for a 375ml bottle, it’s fairly priced, too. FINAL SCORE: 84/100
Finish:
On the short side, as to be expected from such a young whiskey, but pleasantly sweet and toasty.
Comments:

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Margarett Waterbury

Margarett Waterbury is the author of "Scotch: A Complete Introduction to Scotland's Whiskies" and a full-time freelance writer and editor specializing in the beverage industry. Her work has graced the pages of numerous publications, including Whisky Advocate, Food and Wine, Spirited Magazine, Artisan Spirit, Edible Seattle, Sip Northwest, Civil Eats, Travel Oregon, and many others. She also boasts editorial experience as the former managing editor of Edible Portland and as a co-founder and former managing editor of The Whiskey Wash. In recognition of her talent, Margarett received the Alan Lodge Young Drinks Writer of the Year award in 2017 and was awarded fellowships for the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in 2017 and 2019.

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