While Napa Valley is best known for a robust wine culture, Savage & Cooke Distillery is making its name known amongst the locals on the historic Mare Island. Established in 2018 by Napa Valley winemaker Dave Phinney, Savage & Cooke Distillery distills, ages, finishes, and bottles all their expressions, with Master Distiller Jordan Via utilizing a deft palate while choosing the mature spirits. “We have paid attention to every detail in creating these whiskies,” says Via in a prepared statement. “Good whiskey is all about the craftsmanship.”

Savage & Cooke American Whiskey is a Cask Strength release coming in at 100 Proof, benefiting from a rich wine influence with a finish of around two years in Phinney’s Zinfandel barrels. The whiskey is aged onsite and slowly in ex-Bourbon barrels for a maximum of four years, enjoying the unique California climate to develop a smooth and tasty whiskey. The S&C American Whiskey has a mash bill of 66% Corn, 30% Rye, and 4% Malted Barley, and was released in tandem with two others, a Rye finished in Grenache barrels (read my quick recommendation here) and Straight Bourbon finished in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, all from Phinney’s wine barrel supply.

I found this release to greatly highlight the Zinfandel elements from the barrels, and I really love the elegant bottle and rustic birch wood label, as design elements seem to be more and more focused on in our social media-soaked world. It’s important to highlight those craft distilleries that offer something different and new, and though finishing in wine barrels isn’t necessarily groundbreaking, the output is delicious and fresh, with a spice and balance that I am looking forward to sharing in upcoming roundtable tastings. Savage & Cooke American Whiskey retails for $49, a perfectly accessible price point for a whiskey that really delivers.

Aesthetic:

The color of amber, an oaky sap, with thick legs.

Nose:

On the nose I gathered the aroma of cinnamon and cereal grain, huckleberry, and apple – notably I was reminded of Applejacks cereal.

Palate:

There’s a smoothness with an oily mouthfeel. Green apple and coriander seed, a bit of bite or bitterness that complements a spicy mid-palate and pleasing nuttiness combined with a rich, dark cherry.

Rating: 🥃 🥃 🥃 🥃/5

**This whiskey was provided as a review sample by those who created and released it. My reviews are my own, and I tell it how I taste it.**