Pendleton Directors’ Reserve Debuts As 20-Year-Old Canadian Whisky

September here in Oregon, where we are headquartered, brings the yearly major rodeo event known as the Pendleton Round-Up. Associated with this is the popular Canadian imported whisky known as Pendleton Whisky, handled by Hood River Distillers. For this year’s Round-Up they look to have a little extra something to offer fans, courtesy of a limited edition 20-year-old expression known as Directors’ Reserve.

The distillery puts out Pendleton Directors’ Reserve just once in a rare while. As far as we can tell, the last release was in 2010. The current version, as mentioned above, is a two decades old Canadian whisky imported by Hood River and cut with “glacier-fed spring water” from Mt. Hood, which is Oregon’s highest peak. It has been bottled at a mild 80 proof, making it a good sipping spirit.

As for pricing and availability, it is widely available here in Oregon already for around $125. It is starting to surface in other markets as well. One thing particularly neat about this is that the bottles are each “wrapped in a leather sleeve with tooling crafted by third-generation saddle maker Randy Severe, whose family has made custom saddles for nearly 70 years.” It also comes in a nice box.

“We’re excited to introduce Pendleton Directors’ Reserve Whisky as an ultra-premium product to the Pendleton Whisky family,” said Tia Bledsoe, Senior Brand Manager, Hood River Distillers, in a prepared statement provided to us. “We are proud of our rich Pendleton Whisky portfolio, and know that the new addition of Pendleton Directors’ Reserve serves as a premium enhancement to this already-exceptional class of Pendleton Whiskies.”

Official tasting notes for the Pendelton Directors’ Reserve, which was aged in American oak, are below for your consideration from the distillery.

• Color: The color mimics burnt orange, caramel, toasted almond, and the sun at dusk.
• Nose: Toasted coconut, freshly grated cinnamon, warm oak, vanilla, and orange zest all combine gracefully to form a balanced and refined aroma.
• Palette: A full-bodied and satiating finish with a lingering smolder of spices, pecans and walnuts.
• Finish: A long, mature and smooth finish.