Woodinville 9 Year Bourbon

WOODINVILLE 9 YEAR BOURBON
Limited Edition (2025)

MASH BILL – 55% corn, 35% rye, 10% malted barley

PROOF – 100

AGE – 9 years

DISTILLERY – Woodinville Whiskey Co.

PRICE – free sample (msrp is $130)

WORTH BUYING? – If you’re a big Woodinville fan, and you liked the 8 Year, then yes…

In 2024, Woodinville released their first ever 8 Year Bourbon. In addition to its unique age among their offerings, the mash bill differed significantly from their standard release bourbon, and the barrels in the blend featured a range of char levels and open-air seasoning times. More of that same stock has been allowed to age another year, and the resulting 2025 9 Year Bourbon is offered as another Limited Edition. A 10 Year Bourbon has already been announced for 2026.

I’m a Woodinville fan generally, especially their bourbons more so than their ryes—although their 8 Year Rye released earlier this year was exceptional. I liked the 8 Year Bourbon release. It was a dense, spicy, sweet bourbon. But I didn’t find it worth the hefty msrp, which in that instance I’d paid. So I’ve been curious what another year would do to this stuff. Will the characteristic Woodinville oak spiciness go too far as the bourbon continues to age? Reveal new layers of their sweet fruit and grain notes? Both?

Here we are, nearing three weeks after uncorking and four pours into the bottle. These brief notes were taken using both a simple brandy glass and traditional Glencairn.

COLOR – vibrant russet oranges with fiery and tarnished gold highlights

NOSE – plentiful oak and rye spice balanced with rustic fruity and caramel notes; more parsing brings out pie crust, wood lacquer, baked cherry, thick dry caramel fudge, fresh walnut bread

TASTE – very like the nose, with a syrupy texture speckled with a mild peppery prickle, coffee, thick caramel and chocolate fudge, a subtle dark cherry note

FINISH – mildly peppery warmth, black cherry, fruit pie crust, caramel fudge, coffee, a touch of the wood lacquer

OVERALL – a dark, vibrant, broody bourbon

Looking back at my notes on last year’s 8 Year release, this 9 Year shares its overall dryness and oak emphasis. But there is a darker, deeper fruit note at work here that comes across like variations on cherries.

There’s also that wood lacquer note, most evident on the nose and finish. And it’s less evident in a simple brandy glass than a Glencairn. Notes like lacquer or varnish always risk off-putting for me, if they don’t put me off entirely. Here it’s subtle, almost lost amidst the variety of wood and rye spices. But it pops just enough to ping my attention a bit more than I’d prefer. So while those rich, intriguing cherry notes elevate this bourbon for me, the lacquer then pulls it back just a bit.

Worth it? Had I paid the msrp, as I did with the 8 Year, I’d say maybe—with the caveat that you have to not mind a bit of wood lacquer swirling among your whiskey’s aromas. I didn’t pay in this instance, however, so the weight of the expense will be alleviated as I make my way through the bottle, and I expect I’ll enjoy it.

I will say that between this and the 8 Year, though I remain curious about the 10 Year—and, knowing myself, will likely succumb to buying a bottle in the end—I will be hesitant. I’ve enjoyed many excellent Woodinville bourbon variations aged around 5 to 6 years. Their 2021 Moscatel release, for example, was outstanding. This 9 Year is enjoyable, for sure. It’s a thinker, not a casual drinker. But $130 isn’t pocket change.

It’s also worth noting this bourbon was not distilled from Woodinville’s standard mash bill. This release has a much higher rye component. What I’d really be excited to experience is their standard mash bill at these older ages. With more corn to add sweetness and less rye adding spice, maybe an 8 or 10-year Woodinville bourbon would offer more balance between the sweet and dry aspects…?

Something to cross our fingers for. In the meantime, if you’re a big Woodinville fan and you have the means, go for it. Otherwise I’d say, when you want that Woodinville rustic bourbon goodness in your glass and are hankering for something a step up in richness, stick to their standard Port Finished Bourbon release. It won’t make you think as much as this 9 Year does, but it always delivers.

Cheers!