One Of Oregon’s Biggest Wineries Jumps Into The Craft Whiskey Space

One of Oregon’s largest wineries, Willamette Valley Vineyards, has decided to enter the craft whiskey market, partnering with a local distillery for its first offering.

The new Willamette Whiskey, according to those behind it, was produced for Willamette Valley Vineyards by Portland-based Rose City Distillery. It is a small batch rye expression that was aged in new American oak for six years before being blended down to a bottle strength of 100 proof.

An initial batch of the whiskey that was released quickly sold out, winery founder Jim Bernau noted in a prepared statement. “The first release was snatched up in less than a few hours. We encourage Oregon  Rye Whiskey lovers to contact the winery as soon as possible to get on the waiting list for future  batches of this special craft spirit.”

A second release is scheduled to debut soon. Beyond this whiskey, plans are in the works for using the winery’s barrels for special finishing in the future.

It is said this whiskey “pays tribute to the people of Carlton, Oregon, who for 91 years enjoyed the  building first known as W.A. Howe’s General Merchandise store.” The winery today owns the lot where the building once stood, and they plan to eventually rebuild the Carlton property with a brick clad Willamette winery and distillery facility.