Notes and Reviews for Whiskey Ring Podcast Episode 169: Pine Bluffs Distilling with Chad Brown

Whiskey in Wyoming, via Nevada and NorCal

It's been nearly 20 years since I visited Wyoming, and I still remember it as one of the most beautiful places in the US. The least populous state, with multitudes more cattle and sheep than people, it is nonetheless one of astounding natural beauty, where small towns abound and you know your neighbors and who's growing your grain.

This was the place Chad Brown wanted to bring his family. After years in Nevada working for the Gaming Commission and a small brewing hobby in his garage, a conversation with his cousin brought up the question: if they were making pennies on a batch of barley, where was the money going? There were so many breweries - what about starting a distillery?

There's a long thread to explore there, but the key is this: Chad moved to Pine Bluffs, WY, in the southeast corner by the capital, Cheyenne, a town with "more elevation than people." Over the last decade, he and his team have founded and grown Pine Bluffs Distilling into a destination and a grain-to-glass distillery working with local farmers (we're talking between 15-25 miles away from the farm depending on the year's crops).

Bourbon, rye, single malt, oated bourbon, oat whiskey, finishes, playing with the flavoring grains to see what would happen, all of it is here. Chad's passion vibrates out of him when he talks, and it's easy to see why Pine Bluffs has a bright future. When your founder cares, it flows to the team and to the guests. It was truly a pleasure to have this be the first distillery I talk to in Wyoming, and thank you to Chad for entering the Whiskey Ring!

Below, you’ll find my tasting notes for each of the whiskies shared with me.

Want to hear more of Pine Bluff Distilling’s story? Listen to the Whiskey Ring Podcast at whiskeyringpodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts!

Thank you to Pine Bluffs Distilling for providing these bottles free of charge. All opinions are my own.

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Pine Bluffs Ryed Bourbon Whiskey: Specs

Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Producer: Pine Bluffs Distilling

Mashbill: 60% Corn, 20% Rye, 20% Malted Barley

Proof: 92 (46% ABV)

Age: NAS

Location: Pine Bluffs, Wyoming

Pine Bluffs Ryed Bourbon Whiskey Price: To Come

Official Website

Pine Bluffs Ryed Bourbon Whiskey: Tasting Notes

Eye: Black iced tea. Thin rims, thin legs, round droplets.

Nose: Lots of rye and mint spice, flowing out of the glass. Some youthful wood notes, though the grain isn’t tasting young. Dried stone and orchard fruits, peaches especially, with an astringent angle. Black tea and fresh barley on the stalk.

Palate: Astringency rolls over the first half of my tongue, roasting grain in a pan. Acidic yellow fruit, rye porridge, lemon curd with less sugar than you need to be balanced. Mouthfeel is silky, piquant, a touch astringent, smoky new barrel char notes throughout. A bit coating, light-to-medium bodied. The rye is now showing a tad young, but malt and brewing grow.

Finish: Leans into the malted side, lemon iced tea and whole peppercorns giving background spice more towards the back of my tongue and throat. Medium length, sits more on the back half of my tongue.

Overall: Drinks a little young, but the brewed and malted side of things compensate. Curious to see how this evolves with a little more age. It’s a nicely spiced bourbon that drinks stronger on the rye and malt than the corn.

Final Rating: 6.2

Pine Bluffs Single Cask PX-Finished Rye Whiskey: Specs

Classification: Straight Rye Whiskey

Producer: Pine Bluffs Distilling

Mashbill: 68% Rye, 14% Malted Winter Wheat, 14% Malted Barley, 4% Oats

Proof: 113.46 (56.73% ABV)

Barrel: 23-32

Age: NAS

Location: Pine Bluffs, Wyoming

Pine Bluffs Single Cask PX-Finished Rye Whiskey Price: To Come

Official Website

Pine Bluffs Single Cask PX-Finished Rye Whiskey: Tasting Notes

Eye: Mahogany/red wood. Thin but syrupy rims, very slow droplets falling.

Nose: Sherry red fruits, spice up the nose, mulling spice studded into plums and Christmas cake. A pleasant, soft rye emerges under and alongside the PX, not letting it become too sweet or syrupy. No proof burn.

Palate: PX and rye dancing wonderfully on the tip and front third of my tongue. PX remains nicely balanced with a stronger-than-expected rye. Oak adds vanilla and light tannins, non e of the younger oak I found in the bourbon. Mouthfeel is a light syrup, piquant mid-tongue and to the front, red fruit going over the whole tongue and coating.

Finish: Slightly numbing in a pleasant way, medium bodied even late. Christmas fruit and spice in a glass, medium length.

Overall: Great balance of PX and rye, not at all overwhelming for the whiskey. Really great late fall/winter holiday dram. The slight creaminess from the oak and oats adds great body to this.

Rating: 6.4

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary

8 | Excellent | Exceptional

7 | Great | Well above average

6 | Very Good | Better than average

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary

4 | Has promise but needs work

1-3 | Let’s have a conversation