Washington whiskey tasting

I recently participated in a blind tasting of 4 Scotches and 4 Washington whiskeys with over twenty other reviewers. The Washington whiskeys we tried were Bainbridge Battle Point, Samish Bay, Dry Fly, and Headlong White Dog. You're probably thinking that it's unfair to be comparing newbie whiskeys with Scotch producers that have been around for decades, and for the most part the Washington whiskeys did present themselves as poorer second cousins (and in one case an illegitimate child). But the Dry Fly Wheat Whiskey showed surprisingly well. It wasn't a favorite of the peat-loving Scotch aficionados in the crowd, but a number of the reviewers liked its smooth and mellow flavor with a hint of toffee sweetness in the finish. Dry Fly is presenting itself as a early contender for best Washington distillery with its quality products.

And the worst Washington whiskey in this tasting? Samish Bay with its strong flavor of pears (?!) and muddled finish. It had reviewers scrambling for another taste of the winner of this particular tasting to clear their palates. The winner was, of course, the Highland Park 25-Year Single Malt Scotch. Pricey, but pure ambrosia.

The Dry Fly Wheat Whiskey can be found state-wide on a temporary basis while the Highland Park is found mostly in the Seattle area.