Crater Lake Spirits Black Butte Whiskey 2022 Release, produced by looking to make a beer-based whiskey should emulate at 47% ABV, five-year age statement — at $74.99, the question is whether it delivers on its promise. I sat down with a pour to find out.
Nose
100% malted barley. Distilled by Crater Lake Spirits, 47% ABV, five-year age statement. Whiskey is aged in virgin oak cask with a level 4 char. MSRP is $74.99. Color: Rich amber with medium legs which grip the glass evenly. Opens nicely. Very approachable, with warm vanilla and chocolate notes. The porter aroma is very present in the nostrils. It lingers with warm sugar spice and a subtle hint of that level four char.
Palate
Sweet, chocolatey and creamy. Vanilla, wheat bread, brown sugar are all present across the tongue. The mouthfeel is even if a little thinits not watery, but doesnt cling to my teeth or feel oily. The porter profile is unmistakable, as Padillo forecasted. This is a unique whiskey, most of the notes we expect to find in whiskey arent very present here. There is almost no leather, char, baking spices or caramel. The after taste is a delightful whisper reminding you there is another sip in the glass. This is what any distillery looking to make a beer-based whiskey should emulate. Beer based whiskies are their own category to me. Youre taking a fully formed product and trying to turn it into something wholly different. What makes Black Butte Whiskey different is the collaboration with Deschutes. They arent using kegs of a random retail IPA or amber ale, they worked with Deschutes who brewed a specific variant of their flagship porter to only be used as a base for this whiskey.rnrnThat, to me, makes all the difference. Its a specialty whiskey, fun and flavorful on every sip. For a beer-based whiskey its very good.
Finish
Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by Whiskeyful or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
The Bottom Line
Crater Lake Spirits Black Butte Whiskey 2022 Release is outstanding — one of those bottles that reminds you why you fell in love with whiskey in the first place. If you see it at $74.99, do not hesitate. This one earns a permanent spot on the shelf.
