We’re just a blink away from the holidays. Halloween comes and goes and all of the sudden we’ll be hearing Christmas music non-stop in stores and on the radio.
With the holiday season comes stress. Whether it’s hosting Thanksgiving with the in-laws or surviving a visit home through Christmas to New Year… sometimes you need a good stiff drink.
Enter, Savage & Cooke whiskey. We recently discovered the brand at the 2024 Daytime Beauty Awards’ western themed show at the Autry Museum of the American West. Owned by Napa Valley winemaker Dave Phinney, Savage & Cooke opened in 2018. Their whiskey was produced, aged and bottled on Mare Island, California at the Savage & Cooke Distillery. Savage & Cooke distills, ages, finishes and bottles a range of brown spirits including bourbon, whiskey and rye.
“We spent tons of time on every aspect of our whiskey from the grain, to production to the bottle,” said Distillery Owner Dave Phinney.
For the holidays, you have a selection to choose from:
Savage & Cooke Rye Whiskey
This rye whiskey starts with grains grown within 50 miles of the distillery. All areas of production took place on Mare Island with five batches of distillate being blended for consistency prior to barreling. Aging took place in White American Oak barrels for a minimum of three years. Once deemed mature, a portion of the rye is transferred to Dave Phinney’s Grenache barrels for a period of about two months. This additional aging adds flavor, texture and character. The result is intriguing and inviting right from the start. Citrus, tropical and floral notes evolve to white pepper and toasty vanilla on the palate. This rye is rich, layered and complete. It weighs in at 100 proof.
Savage & Cooke Bourbon Whiskey
Like with the rye whiskey, this bourbon starts with grains grown within 50 miles of the distillery and all areas of production take place on Mare Island. Consistency is aways a top priority at Savage & Cooke. To achieve this in their bourbon, five batches of distillate were blended prior to barreling. Aging took place in White American Oak barrels for at least three years. Once deemed mature, a portion of the bourbon is transferred to Dave Phinney’s Cabernet Sauvignon barrels for about two months. This creates a mature yet lively and loaded bourbon with character. The result is aromas of orange peel and honey mingle with toasty oak and caramel notes that are consistent through the palate. Lush and complex, gorgeous start to finish. This offering checks in at 100 proof.
Savage & Cooke American Whiskey
Each barrel was hand-selected for its unique attributes. The barrels were purchased by S&C in their youth and aged at the S&C distillery which provided the desired climate for development. This whiskey starts the aging process in ex-bourbon barrels being slowly and steadily aged for a minimum of four years. Once deemed mature the American Whiskey is transferred to Dave Phinney’s Zinfandel barrels for a period of about two months. This additional aging adds flavor, texture and character. The result is a delicious and bold with aromas of maple wood, caramel and black cherries. Flavors are rich and dense with an impressive finish. This is a cask strength whiskey that weighs in at 113 proof.
They also offer a full hospitality experience complete with tours, tastings, a restaurant, a full bar and event space.
Stock up for the holidays here: https://savageandcooke.com/
