In fashion and in whiskey, there are certain brands that achieve cult status, selling out each new drop immediately upon its release whether it’s based on quality or hype. Since its founding in 2015, California whiskey brand Wolves has followed that pattern more than once, and the quality of the liquid is often quite high based on the partner distilleries it works with. The latest release has not sold out yet, but that’s a good thing if you’re a fan of whiskey fan favorite Willett Distillery, which is the partner for this new rye whiskey.
Wolves was founded a decade ago by partners James Bond of Undefeated fame and Jon Buscemi who is known for his brands Bescemi, Truff, and Redan. Over the years it has mostly released malt whiskeys or blends that were produced at the Charbay Distillery in California, where master distiller Marko Karakasevic has been making whiskey for many years (often distilling from beer), along with some expressions from other sources. The first American single malt came out in 2023, and a few years before that the brand embarked on a journey into rye whiskey through a partnership with Willett. That distillery is a favorite of many whiskey nerds, mostly for its sourced whiskeys that are blended by Drew Kulsveen and his team. The distillery also produces a small amount of whiskey onsite, which is where some of the liquid in this blend came from.
For the new Wolves and Willett collab, Wolves head blender Eddie Gonzalez selected 10-year-old rye produced in Indiana (likely MGP) that was aged for seven years there and finished for three years in Northern California, and Kulsveen provided 10-year-old Kentucky rye barrels from Willett. “Partnering with Willett on this release has been an honor,” said Wolves president Jennifer Marks in a statement. “This rare blend reflects our shared dedication to craftsmanship and bridges two distinct whiskey traditions, combining Willett’s storied Kentucky legacy with Wolves’ modern California perspective.” So how does this rye taste? We did not get to sample the whiskey yet, but official tasting notes describe orange, caramel, and baking spices on the nose; gingerbread, tobacco, and toasted nuts on the palate; and a velvety finish with vanilla, caramel sweetness, and a pop of spice.
As mentioned before, this whiskey is still available at the Wolves website, but it may not be for long even with a high asking price of $355. You can find other Wolves expressions available at websites like ReserveBar and Total Wine now if you’re interested in checking out some of the malts and blends.
Authors
-
Jonah Flicker