COLOR – A nice range of autumnal russet oranges, perfect for October!

NOSE – Plum and blackberry jams, baking and rye spices, smooth oak, drying maple syrup, and brown sugar, all with a lot of oomph behind it from the 112 proof, so approach gently!

PALATE – Fiery without quite biting, the fruit jams tangier now, with a nice sweet caramel note acting as an undercurrent, and some rich milk chocolate.

FINISH – An initial biting heat that quickly fades, leaving caramelized sugar notes as if the fruit jams had been simmered in a pan, along with a bit of oak.

OVERALL – Like a decadent berry and chocolate dessert, flambé!

For October, the key autumn month alongside November, the Healthy Spirits American Whiskey Club has gone local with Vallejo’s own Savage & Cooke. This month’s exclusive store pick—jointly selected by Carly (Cortland store), Nate, and Jordan (Valencia store)—is a cask strength single barrel of S&C’s The Burning Chair Bourbon Whiskey, sourced from the great MGP in Indiana and finished in used Petit Sirah wine barrels.

Founded in 2018 by winemaker and restaurateur Dave Phinney, Savage & Cooke combines sourcing and distilling to creative effect. Phinney’s history with wine means he is very attentive to the impact that a second barreling will have, adding something special to the whiskey. His wine background also brings flavor profiles that favor lushness and roundness. To bring a whiskey down to proof (when they’re not bottled at barrel strength), fresh spring water from Phinney’s Alexander Valley property is used. The barrel we selected is from S&C’s Burning Chair Bourbon line, named for its intensity and expressive profile. The standard release might blend bourbons from Indiana, Kentucky, and/or Tennessee. However, the single barrel we selected is all Indiana, all the time—a classic MGP mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley.