Description
For OOLA owner and distiller, Kirby Kallas-Lewis, OOLA is a labor of love, intellectual curiosity and commitment to the neighborhood he has called home for more than two decades. Kirby has been studying the art and science of distilling intensively. He has participated in numerous workshops, tastings, and conferences on the topic of craft distilling by some of the leaders in the industry. A former artist and tribal art dealer, Kirby has long been interested in the power that great food, wine, art, cocktails and entertaining have in connecting people to each other and to a place.
Oola Gin
Oola Distillery Tasting Note
We’ve combined thirteen OOLA Gin botanicals with 2-4 months aging in Waitsburg Bourbon casks. Aromas of warm baking spices, honey and herbaceous juniper. A vanilla finish with hints of natural sweetness from organic WA winter wheat.
Tastings Tasting Note
Pale golden color. Aromas of cola soda, mint toffee, vanilla spice cake, and pepper with a soft dryish medium body and a honeyed rye toast, creamy nougat, pinecone, and dried flower accented finish. A good spirit, but the gin character is somewhat lost in the whisky barrel. 85 Points
Proof66 Tasting Note
Oola gin is their take on the traditional European, juniper-flavored spirit.
They use a balance of rose and citrus in their botanicals, which to us implies a relaxed juniper flavor and putting the gin in the new, modern class of gin. It is given a brief aging in American oak for between 2 and 4 months to give the gin a light color and whiskey-styled flavor. Oola Distillery is located in Seattle, Washington founded and run by Kirby Kallas-Lewis in 2011. They pride themselves on being a “grain to glass” distillery in that they perform every stage of the spirits process rather than rectify neutral grain spirit or otherwise pre-purchase product.
Fine Wine House Tasting Note
OOLA has woven together thirteen Gin botanicals with 2 months and 28 days of oak aging in freshly emptied Waitsburg Bourbon casks. The result is a complex yet delicate spirit with layered aromas of warm baking spices, honey and herbaceous juniper. On the palate, soft maple sugar, toasted brioche and cream evolve into a vanilla finish. No sugar is added to this spirit, but a natural, pleasant sweetness comes from the mash of soft white organic Washington winter wheat. It is a nuanced, lyrical spirit with beautiful floral elements and a deep, rich wood influence. 90 Proof
The Wine Club Tasting Note
This medium to full bodied bourbon presents a classic profile of vanilla, caramel and cherry on the nose – rich and compelling. Sweet, smooth corn combined with brown sugar/maple syrup and oak is balanced with a notable spice contributed by the higher than normal rye content. The finish is beautifully long with notes of buttery oak, toffee, and again the cherries make an appearance.
- American Distilling Institute Best in Category-Old Tom
- American Craft Distillers Association Gold Medal
- American Distilling Institute Silver Medal
- San Francisco World Spirits Competition Silver Medal
- BTI Rating: 93 points/Exceptional
