Pendleton is a household name in Oregon. The city and rodeo where this bottle takes its name are only a couple of hours from my home. Pendleton Woolen Mills is also an integral part of Oregon culture. So this brand is well-known to me. It was started by Hood River Distilling before being purchased and is now owned by Proximo Spirits. Pendleton, launched in 2003, has matured a great deal from the early days and now has a flagship 20-year whisky in its stable.
The 20-year Directors Reserve is the crown jewel in the Pendleton portfolio, which includes a 10-year bourbon, 12-year rye, standard Pendleton Whisky, and Pendleton Midnight, which is aged in brandy barrels.
This 20-year whiskey is sourced from Canadian distilleries and brought to Oregon for bottling. They are proofed with glacier spring water (not certain if that’s just marketing) from Mt. Hood. For any readers in England, Mt. Hood was named after British Admiral Lord Samuel Hood, during the 1793 Captain George Vancouver Expedition. That is irrelevant to the whisky, but an interesting fact.
The Directors’ Reserve is aged in a variety of casks, including brandy and bourbon cask,s before being blended into the final product.
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.
Charles Steele, a Portland-based attorney, is a native of the Pacific Northwest. His legal background provides him with an analytical approach to understanding whiskey and other aged spirits. Primarily a legal writer, freelancing for The Whiskey Wash offers Charles a unique opportunity to showcase his versatility as a writer. Although his preference lies with whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails, he has a profound appreciation for all unique and unconventional liquors, from Malört to Ojen - if it's peculiar, he's intrigued.
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