Sonoma Distilling Company D&M 8yr Bourbon 17-0136

D&M NOTES (03/2025):

OVERVIEW: (Barrel #17-0136)  This barrel  was the 136th of 2017, one of less than 30 they filled that year, with a mashbill of 70% Corn, 25% Winter Wheat, and 5% Malted Barley. It was first milled then mashed before allowing a quite slow fermentation to happen by modern standards – a full 96 hours in an open top fermenter. After the spirit was run in the still, it was proofed down from 70% ABV to 59% ABV when it entered the barrel and ultimately bottled in early March, 2025 at 61.7% ABV.

TASTING: The nose opens with honey, baking spices, golden raisin, baked earth, graham crackers, nougat, and cinnamon. On the palate this does benefit from a bit of water that brings notes of spearmint, honey, graham crackers and caramel corn to the front.

ABOUT THE DISTILLER:  Sonoma Distilling was founded by Adam Spiegel and is based in Rohnert Park, CA which is one of the few municipalities in the county that allows a direct fired alembic style still which is seen more in Cognac than in Kentucky. The alembic allowed him from the start to coax out additional flavors with the mash toasting on the bottom of the still in direct contact with the fire. Adam and his team source non-GMO grain entirely from California with water being supplied from Lake Sonoma.