• Quiz: How Does Wood Age Whiskey?

    Do you know how wood ages whiskey? Take our quiz to find out!

    Read more

  • Our Aging Climate and Environment

    When we first purchased the Farm, we knew it was special, but the vision for Wanderback didn’t come until much later. What we did realize immediately, however, was the natural beauty of the place. Rolling hills tucked between Cascade mountains, an abundance of fresh, clean water and fertile soil added to the allure.

    Read more

  • Whiskey Proofing Strategies: Slowing Things Down For Batch No. 3

    In 2019 for Batch No. 3, we are switching to SLOW DILUTION. Instead of diluting the cask proof whiskey just prior to blending, we will be diluting it down in the barrel 1-2 proof a month. It will be fully diluted, from 120 proof to bottle proof, right on time for bottling this Fall and and are excited to note its impact in the final taste.

    Read more

  • Honoring the Environment: Making Wanderback at The Farm

    When we first purchased the Farm, we knew it was special, but the vision for Wanderback didn’t come until much later. What we did realize immediately, however, was the natural beauty of the place. Rolling hills tucked between Cascade mountains, an abundance of fresh, clean water and fertile soil added to the allure.

    Read more
1234

  • Quiz: How Does Wood Age Whiskey?

    Do you know how wood ages whiskey? Take our quiz to find out!

    Read more

  • Our Aging Climate and Environment

    When we first purchased the Farm, we knew it was special, but the vision for Wanderback didn’t come until much later. What we did realize immediately, however, was the natural beauty of the place. Rolling hills tucked between Cascade mountains, an abundance of fresh, clean water and fertile soil added to the allure.

    Read more

  • Whiskey Proofing Strategies: Slowing Things Down For Batch No. 3

    In 2019 for Batch No. 3, we are switching to SLOW DILUTION. Instead of diluting the cask proof whiskey just prior to blending, we will be diluting it down in the barrel 1-2 proof a month. It will be fully diluted, from 120 proof to bottle proof, right on time for bottling this Fall and and are excited to note its impact in the final taste.

    Read more

  • Honoring the Environment: Making Wanderback at The Farm

    When we first purchased the Farm, we knew it was special, but the vision for Wanderback didn’t come until much later. What we did realize immediately, however, was the natural beauty of the place. Rolling hills tucked between Cascade mountains, an abundance of fresh, clean water and fertile soil added to the allure.

    Read more
1234

Whiskey Wisdom

WHISKEY WISDOM

Our love for adventure and thirst for knowledge inspires the places we go and the company we keep. This page is dedicated to sharing the collective wisdom of our community and our adventures in making (and enjoying!) our limited edition American single malt whiskeys.

THE BRIEF: BARRELS

All whiskey barrels are the same, right? Wrong. Up to 70% of the final flavors and fragrances found in whiskey are formed within the relationship between the new make spirit and the barrel, so each variable can have a dramatic effect on the whiskey. Check out the articles below – each topic is covered in five minutes or less!

Secondary Maturation

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Barrel Toast vs Char

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Stave Seasoning Matters

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In Oak We Trust

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LEARN THE BASICS – AMERICAN SINGLE MALT

Are you interested in learning more about the fundamentals of whisk(e)y and the whiskey making process? Click here to deep dive into each phase of the whiskey process.

How Should You Taste Whiskey?

AMERICAN SINGLE MALT WHISKEY – THE BASICS

Are you interested in learning more about the fundamentals of whisk(e)y and the whiskey making process? Choose from any of our ASM 101 topics below to deep dive into each phase of the whiskey process.

How Should You Taste Whiskey?

Read more

What Is American Single Malt?

Read more

Malt: Specialty vs Pale?

Read more

How Does Wood Age Whiskey?

Read more

THE WANDERBACK WHISKEY WAY

Learn more about Wanderback specific process and whiskey making philosophy.

Quiz: How Does Wood Age Whiskey?

Do you know how wood ages whiskey? Take our quiz to find out!
Read more
,

Our Aging Climate and Environment

When we first purchased the Farm, we knew it was special, but the vision for Wanderback didn’t come until much later. What we did realize immediately, however, was the natural beauty of the place. Rolling hills tucked between Cascade mountains, an abundance of fresh, clean water and fertile soil added to the allure.
Read more

Whiskey Proofing Strategies: Slowing Things Down For Batch No. 3

In 2019 for Batch No. 3, we are switching to SLOW DILUTION. Instead of diluting the cask proof whiskey just prior to blending, we will be diluting it down in the barrel 1-2 proof a month. It will be fully diluted, from 120 proof to bottle proof, right on time for bottling this Fall and and are excited to note its impact in the final taste.
Read more

VIDEO ARCHIVES

During Covid, we stayed connected to fellow whiskey lovers by gathering around a virtual campfire.  We chatted about every aspect of the craft we love. We invite your to re-watch the archived episodes below.

 

BARREL AGING WHISKEY (3/10)

MASHBILL TO DISTILLATE (2/24)

Wanderback Whiskey Co

PALE & SPECAILTY MALT (2/10)

DIFFERENCE IN WHISK(E)YS (1/27)

HOW TO TASTE WHISKEY (11/18)

PNW MALT INNOVATION (7/19)

THE ART OF THE COOPER (6/14)

FARM TO GLASS WHISKEY (6/7)

CRAFT WHISKEY COCKTAILS (5/26)

OUR MAGICAL MASH BILL (5/10)

BARREL AGING SCIENCE (5/3)

AMERICAN SINGLE MALT WHISKEY – THE BASICS

Are you interested in learning more about the fundamentals of whisk(e)y and the whiskey making process? Choose from any of our topics below to deep dive into each phase of the whiskey process.

THE WHISKEY MAKING PROCESS

  • Overview of the tried and true process using pot stills.

WHAT IS AMERICAN SINGLE MALT?

  • American single malt is a hot topic in the world of spirits yet a firm definition of what constitutes a whiskey in this category is still fluid.

WORLD WHISK(E)Y EXPLAINED

  • Discover the differences between ASM and other American and world whiskeys.

HOW TO TASTE WHISKEY

  • Our guide and tasting wheel will help you take the plunge into the world of whiskey tasting.

PALE AND SPECIALTY MALT

  • Production Methods and Impact on Flavor

BARLEY AND THE MAGICAL MASHBILL

  • Deep dive into the grain that makes up American single malt, where we source it from, and Wanderback’s bespoke grain bill.

SLOW DILUTION

  • Discover what slow dilution is and why do we take this approach.

FERMENTATION

  • Blah blah

WOOD SCIENCE

  • Wondering exactly HOW a barrel impacts a spirit? We’ve broken down this extremely multivariate process.

BARREL AGING

  • A whiskey’s flavor is truly an expression of the nature of the oak barrel in which it is as aged.

THE IMPACT OF NEW VS PREVIOUSLY USED BARRELS

  • Blah blah

World Whiskeys Explained: Bourbon, Rye, Scotch, Single Malt & More

Wed, Jan 27, 2021 5:45 PM

American single malt (ASM) is a relatively new category of whiskey . There is excitement and sometimes confusion as to its place on the world whiskey scene.

In this session, you will learn the official differences between ASM and other American and world whiskeys and how to taste the differences on your palate. Discover why Wanderback focuses on ASM and join the debate on the push for ASM to be an official American whiskey category in its own right.

Click here to set a reminder and watch live on Youtube.

REGISTER

Pale and Specialty Malt: Production Methods and Impact on Flavor

Wed, Feb 10, 2021 5:45 PM

The single ingredient of American single malt, malted barley, comes in many forms. Discover the different ways in which barley is malted, how they lend different flavor profiles, and how the craft malt industry is growing in the PNW.

We’ll also discuss growing barley at the Wanderback Farm in Hood River and our current and future estate grown grain-to-glass collaborations.

Click here to set a reminder and watch live on Youtube.

REGISTER

From Mash Bill to Distillate: Distillery Process and Effects of Equipment

Wed, Feb 24, 2021 5:45 PM

The overarching process for making single malt whiskey is consistent, but different distillery equipment and processes can impact final taste.

In this session we first learn about the science behind making whiskey. Next, we explore different Wanderback partner distilleries to understand what makes each unique and interesting.

Click here to set a reminder and watch live on Youtube.

REGISTER

Barrel Aging Whiskey: The Impact of New and Previously Used Casks

Wed, Mar 10, 2021 5:45 PM

Oak barrels play a significant role in aging whiskey. In this session, we will first learn the science of barrel aging through the processes of oxidation, extraction and elimination.

Next, we will discuss the merits of new vs. previously used barrels and finally take a peak into Wanderback’s unique finishing cask program.

Click here to set a reminder and watch live on Youtube.

REGISTER

Wanderback LIVE!

GO TO ARCHIVES

Wanderback LIVE!

Virtual Fireside Chats

GO TO ARCHIVES

Every Sunday at 5pm we connect around a virtual campfire with fellow whiskey lovers. Chat are informal yet educational and explore a broad spectrum of topics connected to the craft we love. Claim your seat at our next chat here.

GO TO ARCHIVES

STORIES

Wander with us!

GO TO STORIES

Our love for adventure inspires the places we go and the company we keep. Chasing life and opportunity wherever it takes us, the people we meet along the way are the most rewarding part of our adventures. Here, in the shadow of Mt. Hood, we live, laugh, play, dream and enjoy the bounty. 

STORIES

GO TO STORIES

STORIES

GO TO STORIES

STORIES

Wander with us!

Our love for adventure inspires the places we go and the company we keep. Chasing life and opportunity wherever it takes us, the people we meet along the way are the most rewarding part of our adventures. Here, in the shadow of Mt. Hood, we live, laugh, play, dream and enjoy the bounty. 

GO TO STORIES

About Wanderback Whiskey Co.

Wanderback produces hand-crafted, limited edition American single malt whiskeys in Hood River, Oregon. Instead of making a flagship whiskey and reproducing the same taste over and over, we prefer to explore endless possibilities of bold American whiskeys through partnerships.

Once distilled, their whiskey is transported to the family Farm in Hood River, Oregon for aging. Barrel selection is a deep passion and exploring unique cask types allows the whiskey to unveil its final and fullest expression. This process gives Wanderback the freedom to interpret endless iterations of limited edition American single malt whiskeys. We invite you to explore our collections.

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(503) 305 9261

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info@wanderback.com

(503) 305 9261

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