Woodinville Straight Bourbon Toasted Applewood Staves Finish

Straight Cuts & Straight Bourbon Review Bottle: Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Toasted Applewood Finish Proof: 100 Setting: First pour came after a full day in the shop—tools racked, layout table cleared, and plans for the next dust collection run scratched out. Texas dusk creeping in, this pour marked the wrap. Nose: Soft and welcoming. Notes of caramel and vanilla drift up first, followed by a layer of baked apple and cinnamon bark—like walking past a pie cooling on a windowsill in a pine cabin. That applewood finish announces itself without shouting. Palate: This one rides lighter than you’d expect from its proof. Smooth entry with a touch of sweetness, reminiscent of apple butter or lightly spiced honey. I usually lean into deeper oak or toasted grain, but this has a quiet balance—refined without being dull. Like a clean dovetail that fits without glue, it’s subtle craftsmanship. Finish: Moderate length, tapering off with hints of clove, cocoa, and apple peel. Leaves the palate like a hand-sanded edge—clean, no burn, just enough warmth to invite another sip. Craftsman’s Verdict: For a guy who’s drawn to bolder bourbons with structure, this one surprised me. It’s not a big mallet swing—it’s a precision cut, clean and intentional. Wouldn’t hesitate to pour it again after a long day in the woodshop, especially during cooler months when a touch of warmth and familiarity goes a long way.

Tasted neat. Brown copper and average coating legs in the glass. Nose is full of floral vanilla oak, sweet crisp apple, caramel, and grain. In the mouth, vanilla oak and tart apple, chocolate caramel, and a little grassy spice. Coating mouthfeel, little tannic dryness, slight ethanol burst. Finish has a little mint and pepper tingle surrounded by that soft fruit sweetness. Turns a little "sweet n' sour" in a long lingering finish. Very pleasant. An ice cube softens this, maybe too much and not necessarily for the better, taking the oak and tingling finish down a notch and letting the sour through. I've been a fan of the Woodinville whiskies, particularly the port-finished cask strength bourbon. Their Rye is ok too. I like their story and approach to terroir. This shows some innovative toasted stave finishing--especially using applewood. That's a welcome addition to the line. The price, though, is steep at $100. That's a bummer because this is a nice drink, but... premium priced??? Finally, over the years, I've become less thrilled with their signature chunky bottles--fit on a shelf nicely, but heavy, hard to pour and handle. Will revisit this as the bottle drops if I think it warrants.

Duke’s Seafood Pick Nose: Caramel drizzled apple blossoms, doughiness, brown butter, oats, vanilla, brown sugar, oak, and the Twinkie-like nose that I get with Woodinville bourbon. Excellent nose! Palate: Caramel drizzled apple blossom with a nice scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, cinnamon sugar, toasted barrel spice, and a hint of chocolate. This is a very nice treat. Fall in a glass!

The smokey, slightly sweet and fruity scents are pleasant on the nose to start. The toasted, sweet apple comes through really nice and doesn't overtake the vanilla and caramel flavor within the Bourbon. Remarkably smooth, clean taste with a pleasant toasted fruit finish. Perfect pairing for a cool autumn evening on the porch.

Another one of those licking the inside of a barrel whiskies. Huge wood dominance, poweful and enjoyable. Classic woodinville bourbon flavors lingering underneath, but they just support the star of the show. Medium rich, wouldve loved a touch more.

Weirdly, the applewood finish on this mainly makes it taste like sweet and sour cherry pie (the toasted staves even get some buttery crust flavor!). If you’re in the mood for that, this is the perfect pour. If not, it’s good but not great.