Old Potrero California Cellar Series 2 Toasted Barrel Rye Whiskey Finished in Sonoma Portworks Petite Sirah Port Barrels
Old Potrero California Cellar Series #02 pairs San Francisco rye with California wine country. This limited release starts as Old Potrero's toasted-barrel rye whiskey — 100% malted rye, copper pot-distilled — then spends 17 months finishing in Sonoma Portworks Petite Sirah port barrels. Bottled at 113.6 proof (56.8% ABV) in a 700mL bottle, it's 7 years and 3 months old in total.
The California Cellar Series is Old Potrero's project of matching its rye with barrels from notable California producers — #02, released in October 2024, followed the Silver Oak Cabernet-finished #01. Here the base rye rested just shy of 6 years in toasted American oak before the port-barrel finish layered on dark fruit and wine-driven depth. Hotaling & Co. (formerly Anchor Distilling) makes Old Potrero in San Francisco the old way: 100% rye malt, small copper pot stills.
Tasting notes (official)
Aroma: deep caramel, rich vanilla, cooked fruit, cacao. Palate: sweet rye, spicy cinnamon, nutty, bright cherry wood. Finish: grape cola, grape leaf tanginess, spiced rye warmth — the Petite Sirah barrels leaving their unmistakable purple-fruit signature.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- Limited Cellar Series release — a one-time collaboration with Sonoma Portworks
- 113.6 proof cask-strength character with 17 months of port-barrel finishing
- 100% malted rye, copper pot-distilled in San Francisco
- A must for rye and finished-whiskey collectors
How to serve it
Neat with a few minutes of air — at 113.6 proof it rewards patience. A drop of water opens the fruit. This is a contemplative pour, not a cocktail base (though a bold Manhattan would be memorable).
Frequently asked questions
What is the Old Potrero California Cellar Series?
A limited-release series pairing Old Potrero rye with barrels from notable California wine (and beer) producers. #02 is finished in Sonoma Portworks Petite Sirah port barrels.
How old is Cellar Series #02?
7 years and 3 months total: just shy of 6 years in toasted oak plus 17 months in the port barrels.
How strong is it?
113.6 proof (56.8% ABV), 700mL.