Chattanooga Whiskey announced the newest release in their Barrel Finishing Series: Russian River Pinot Cask Finished. This marks their fifth release in the limited Finishing Series  which celebrates the union of Tennessee High Malt with a variety of finishing casks. 

For their fifth finish, the distilling team revisited California wine – this time selecting Pinot Noir casks from the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. Known for its foggy, cool, coastal climate, this small growing region of the North Coast yields wines with vibrant fruit and subtle spice characteristics – boasting notes of cherry, berry, and kola nut. 

“If there was one word to describe our finishing series, it’d be ‘focus.’ ‘Focus’ on barrel origin, and ‘focus’ on whiskey recipe,” Grant McCracken, Chief Product Officer, said in a news release. “This particular finishing release focused on one of the world’s best known pinot noir growing regions: California’s Russian River Valley. To these barrels, our distillers introduced a variety of mash bills which  collectively spoke to the complex yet delicate fruit flavors of this region.”

To highlight and enhance the qualities of these finishing barrels, the team brought together a custom blend of five bourbon mash bills, including their classic wheated and roasted mash bills; along with a one-off version of their signature Barrel 91 recipe, which was distilled at higher proofs – producing a more delicate and lively  fruit character. 

“These classic California pinot noir casks brought a dynamic balance of fruit forward top notes and earthy, barrel  driven base notes,” Tiana Saul, Head Distiller, said. “To complement this wide range of flavor, we specifically chose a a blend of whiskeys that spoke to  both sides – resulting in a bright, juicy nose of fresh picked blackberries and cherry pie, followed by dark chocolate  icing and brown sugar. This is a robust whiskey with a full mouthfeel, a punchy palate, and lightly tannic finish. Add a couple drops of water to enjoy the full evolution of flavor.”

Aged for over four years – including six months in the pinot noir casks – the result showcases a dynamic balance  between the flavors of roasted malt and bright fruit – highlighting the best of both whiskey and wine. 

Russian River Pinot Cask Finished will be available at the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery and on shelves in select states (AL, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, SC, TN, TX, and WI) at $59.99 for a 750ml bottle. Limited  quantities will also be available online for shipping to select states on Seelbachs.com.  

Read more: Chattanooga Whiskey Announces Batch 039 Harvest Bourbon

About Chattanooga Whiskey

Starting in 2011, Chattanooga Whiskey challenged the laws and won the right to distill whiskey in Chattanooga for  the first time in 100 years. The Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery hosts over 50,000 visitors per year and serves as a hub of innovation and creativity to  push the boundaries of craft whiskey. The Riverfront Distillery is the production home to Chattanooga Whiskey’s signature expressions, Chattanooga  Whiskey 91, Cask 111, and 99 Rye, as well as their Bottled in Bond Vintage Series and Barrel Finishing Series. 

For more information, visit http://www.chattanoogawhiskey.com .