Oola Waitsburg Bourbon Whiskey
Oola Waitsburg Bourbon Whiskey is a 47% ABV (94 proof) bourbon in a 750mL bottle — a four-grain recipe (corn, rye, malted barley, and white winter wheat) distilled in a copper pot still at OOLA Distillery in Seattle and aged in American white oak, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 47% (94 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Mash bill: four-grain — ~65% corn, 25% rye, 13% malted barley, 12% white winter wheat (founder's approximate figures)
- Aging: starts in small American white oak casks with large daily temperature swings, then moves to full-size 53-gallon alligator-char barrels; no age statement (recent bottles estimated ~5 years)
- Origin: distilled at OOLA Distillery, Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA; grains from two organic farms in eastern Washington
- Awards: Gold, 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; Silver (BTI 2012, "Highly Recommended"); 93 pts, Wine Enthusiast
Four Grains, Named for Wheat Country
Founder Kirby Kallas-Lewis launched OOLA as a small-batch Seattle distillery, and Waitsburg Bourbon (released around 2012) was its first bourbon. The name honors the wheat country of Waitsburg, Washington, where much of the grain grows — and the four-grain recipe is genuinely unusual: wheat plus rye alongside corn and malted barley. Kallas-Lewis says the wheat lets him hold back on the corn and add more rye, for complexity without excessive sweetness. The whiskey starts in small casks with big daily temperature swings, then graduates to full-size 53-gallon alligator-char barrels. (And "Oola" is the owner's dog.) Shop our bourbon collection, browse the OOLA range, or explore other craft bourbons.
Tasting Notes
Vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, ginger, black peppercorn, and baked apple on the nose. The palate brings butterscotch, caramel, brown sugar, and maple, with savory hints (olive brine, dill, chutney) balanced by cherry and baking spice. The finish is warm and long — honey, oak, and a pepper-cinnamon kick.
How to Enjoy
Neat with a few drops of water to open it up, or in cocktails — Wine Enthusiast specifically recommended it in an Old Fashioned.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Oola Waitsburg Bourbon's mash bill?
A four-grain recipe: approximately 65% corn, 25% rye, 13% malted barley, 12% white winter wheat (founder's figures — approximate).
How old is it?
No age statement; recent bottles are estimated around 5 years.
Where is OOLA Distillery?
Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington.
Has it won awards?
Gold at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Silver at the 2012 Beverage Testing Institute, and 93 points from Wine Enthusiast.
Seattle's four-grain bourbon — order Oola Waitsburg Bourbon Whiskey online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.