We start with 100% American malted barley (predominately two-row pale malted barley, the remainder is lightly roasted by our friends at Admiral Maltings) that is pot distilled, then aged in used bourbon and French oak wine casks. After aging, we filter the whiskey through maple charcoal, lending subtle smoke, then finish it in umeshu casks to create a flavor unlike any other. What is umeshu? It’s an incredibly aromatic liqueur made from small, tart stone fruit called ume. While umeshu is native to Japan, we make the umeshu for our casks in-house, with California-grown fruit.

Baller is clean and dry on the nose with bright fruit and a hint of smoke. Tasting opens with a touch of malt sweetness and maple charcoal, then explodes into a burst of plum, mango and lychee with notes of almond and eucalyptus underneath. The smoky finish lingers and builds with each sip.