An award-winning, special release finished in select Oregon white oak barrels
Portland craft distillery, Eastside Distilling, announces the national release of the Burnside Black Barrel Strength Rye Whiskey, a Bourbon Casked Double Barrel Rye. It is the newest, premium product in the Burnside Whiskeys® lineup, and recently won gold at the New York International Spirits Competition.
As with the other expressions in the Burnside portfolio, Burnside Black was rested in select Oregon white oak (Quercus Garryana) barrels, but it is special because it was also Bourbon Cask-Matured, resulting in a very distinctive flavor profile. Notes of green grass, wildflower honey, toasted hazelnut, leather, and honey caramel with a mellow tannic finish makes the release a stunning representation of Burnside’s meticulously blended whiskeys. As with all the releases, the Burnside Black uses pure Mt. Hood, Oregon water for superior taste and quality.
According to Jason Ericson, Eastside’s Head Distiller, “Oregon oak imparts a deep vanilla and clove flavor that American white oak cannot match. Quercus Garryana has high tannin levels requiring a minimum three-year seasoning period to ensure the bitter and astringent qualities of tannins do not over-influence our whiskey. The longer the staves are seasoned, the more the tannins break down, creating a darker, sweeter, and fruitier flavor than whiskey aged in American oak barrels.”
Eastside has the largest collection of Oregon white oak barrels dedicated to whiskey in the world. Since Oregon oak is a species of conservation concern, Eastside only uses responsibly harvested oak trees to age its Burnside Whiskeys®, reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainability. They have recently partnered with American Forests, the nation’s oldest conservation organization, to help protect and restore the Oregon white oak habitat in the Willamette Valley. They will plant 5,000 oak trees as part of the restoration of the Oak Savannah in the Pacific Northwest. Furthermore, Eastside has joined the One Trillion Trees Initiative with the global goal of one trillion trees conserved, restored or grown by 2030.
“Oregon white oak trees have been an important part of the sustainability, values, and aesthetics of the state for hundreds of years and we are committed to helping Oregonians protect existing trees while growing the next generation of oaks,” says Janet Oak, Chief Brand Officer.
In addition to planting 5,000 Oregon white oak trees in the Willamette Valley, Eastside Distilling is also running an in-store promotion: for every bottle of Burnside Whiskey purchased, they will plant an Oregon white oak tree. Burnside Black Barrel Strength Rye Whiskey ($69) can be found in OR, WA, CA, ID, MT, WY, CO, AZ, and TX. The link to purchase here: https://shop.eastsidedistilling.com/ with nationwide shipping.