Freeland Distillery’s All-Female Bourbon Experience
In the heart of artisanal distillation stands Freeland Distillery, a beacon of innovation, craftsmanship, and a celebration of femininity in the world of whiskey. Freeland bourbon markets being founded by all women. I would prefer to let it stand on the merits of their flavor profile as opposed to a politically charged origin story. To be fair, I really don’t care who makes my whiskey as long as it tastes great. So lets dive in.
The Allure of Freeland’s Bourbon
Based in Oregon, the distillers pride themselves on using fresh ingredients. Where most distillers choose to age their spirits in American Oak, or sometimes Port or Sherry casks, Freeland chooses to finish them in Pinot Noir Oak Barrels. This gives them a very unique flavor profile that adds subtleties not found elsewhere. As opposed to the vast majority of bourbons that can overpower the senses, this one is a delicate and pleasant deviation and a much needed detour from the norm.
Flavor Notes: Vanilla and Subtle Spice
The nuanced berries found on the back end are likely attributable to the Pinot Noir barrels chosen for the aging process. I would like to say “heavy on the vanilla” but its more of a gentle nudge in that direction. Not too sweet, and not too spicy. This is a phenomenally crafted spirit from quality ingredients. The part I find interesting is that the weather in Oregon isn’t particularly hot. As opposed to distilleries in Texas where the temperature requires custom made barrels to keep them from leaking and sometimes overheating the product, Freeland Bourbon ages slower. Anyone that says all great bourbons come from Kentucky are completely missing a valid part of the adventure.
I highly recommend grabbing a bottle of Freeland and putting it side by side with that of Balcones or Garrison Brothers to really see the difference the climate can have on the finished product.
Craftswomen’s Expertise
Led by a team of talented distillers, Freeland has earned their spot in a saturated market. The price point is in the $50 range but could easily outcompete much more expensive bourbons. These distillers have shown they know how to select quality ingredients as well as produce top notch bourbon while taking risks. They like to challenge the status quo and it shows in their flavor profile. Their choice of utilizing the Pinot barrel was an interesting move but one I think paid off in the end.
Conclusion
Freeland Distillery is a symbol of empowerment and they pride themselves on their politically charged origin story. I believe it is a good thing to be proud of where you come from but pushing a marketing campaign heavily influenced by political rhetoric can be off-putting to some. For example, just look at the $30 billion loss sustained by Bud Light. However, I think more bourbon makers should stop pandering to the masses and take a page out of Freelands book to start making whiskey out of the love of the craft and less about the greed of high volume sales.
