Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link in this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
While many distillers seem to come to the industry from other jobs and walks of life, I feel like the founders of District Made have the most interesting backgrounds. Sandy Wood and Alex Laufer met each other in college, and quickly became good friends. Their friendship has lasted for years, even when they were living on opposite sides of the country. From their college life, they both took very different paths before coming back together to start distilling. Laufer focused in biotechnology, working on automated DNA sequencing.
Wood, on the other hand, went into law, and worked on many non-profit associations, before deciding he wanted a career change.
Laufer had recently moved to Maryland, and when Wood approached him about distilling, the lab Laufer was working for at the time was downsizing, so he was in a good position to move onto a new line of work. After the two did some research, and testing different ideas, they formed One Eight Distilling, in the Ivy City neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Originally the name One Eight had several meanings. The main reason for it was due to Wood’s research into different laws and the Constitution. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution established Washington, D.C. as the United States capital. As they were distilling in the Ivy City neighborhood of D.C., he thought this was a perfect name. Also, Laufer is Jewish, and one-eight, or rather 18, means ‘to life’, so this gave a personal meaning. And finally, the 18th amendment was the establishment of prohibition in the United States, so it gave it an ironic twist to the name as well.
In 2018 they began District Made as a brand under One Eight. However, they later changed the company name from One Eight to District Made, moving all their products under that brand. The company focuses on sourcing all their ingredients as much as possible, including farms in Maryland and Virginia. The company also focuses on a ‘rye forward’ approach, using Abruzzi rye and malted rye in all their current products. Their main line of spirits includes bourbon whiskey, rye whiskey, gin, and vodka.
District Made has five core spirits. One of these is their Straight Rye Whiskey. This whiskey is made of a mashbill with Maryland rye, working to honor the agricultural history of the area.
Tasting Notes: District Made Straight Rye Whiskey
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Vital Stats: 94 proof(47% ABV), 57% Abruzzi rye, 14% corn, 29% malted rye, 750ml bottle, $50 msrp.
Appearance: This rye whiskey is a very dark red in color.
Nose: The scent of the rye is very forward and apparent. There is also a nice hint of licorice, and a touch of honey.
Palate: There is a touch of honey right at the start, with a cinnamon and pepper hit after. There is definitely a hint of cherry cola as an after effect.
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