Bendistillery’s Crater Lake Spirits and Deschutes Brewery have teamed up on a limited edition Black Butte 5-year American Whiskey. The Oregon distillery and Bend-based brewery first teamed up in 2016 for the release of a 3-year version of this Whiskey.
The American malt Whiskey is distilled from the wash of Deschutes’ Black Butte Porter with a selection of speciality malts. The liquid is then double-distilled and aged for five years in new #4 char American Oak barrels. The resulting spirit is a balanced, yet complex Whiskey that retains the malty, chocolatey notes of Black Butte Porter and finishes with a soft, almost sweet, character.
The Crater Lake Spirits Black Butte Porter has already garnered a few awards, including Best In Show and Double Gold from Sunset Magazine’s 2019 International Spirits Competition. “We are thrilled by the attention we’ve received, especially to earn Sunset’s Best in Show against such a deep field of brands is really an honor,” said Alan Dietrich, Crater Lake Spirits CEO, after picking up the top prize. “It means even more to share this success with our partners at Deschutes Brewery. Both of our teams have worked tirelessly to redefine the traditional American whiskey category.”
“We’re honored to receive recognition that speaks volumes to the uniqueness and complexity of this whiskey,” said Deschutes Brewery founder, Gary Fish. “The idea for this partnership was born decades ago through conversations over beers and the result has generated incredible excitement from both craft beer lovers and spirits fans.”
Bottles of the limited edition Black Butte 5-year 2020 batch are already availbale to the public at Bendistillery’s Crater Lake Spirits Downtown Tasting Room and Distillery Tap Room. Pours will be available at both Deschutes Brewery pubs in Bend and Portland upon reopening for indoor dining pending COVID restrictions. Beginning in January, bottle sales will be available at select liquor stores across Oregon and a few select markets across the country, including California, Washington, Arizona, Minnesota, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Delaware.
