The Beginning
Where our bourbon journey begins
Greenhorn is the first chapter of the Chambers Bay bourbon story. As our inaugural wheated bourbon, it was crafted to showcase the quality of Washington-grown grains and the smooth character of our signature mash bill. Aged 2–3 years in new American oak barrels inside our floating boathouse on Puget Sound, Greenhorn offers a balanced, approachable expression of Pacific Northwest bourbon that's equally at home enjoyed neat or in a classic cocktail.
Our approach to making whiskey combines a healthy respect for traditional methods with the innovative spirit and natural resources of the Pacific Northwest. All of our bourbon whiskies are crafted grain-to-bottle on premise.
Batch #1
Greenhorn Bourbon (12/19/15)
land crafted, ocean aged
Greenhorn is Chambers Bay Distillery’s inaugural release — a light, approachable wheated bourbon crafted for smooth sipping and high on‑premise versatility. Aged 2–3 years, it delivers balanced flavor without excessive oak, making it ideal for both neat pours and cocktails
Gold medal winner at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition
The Ingredients - local
Truly a locally-crafted bourbon, Greenhorn is made using Cascade mountain water, the highest-quality sweet yellow corn and soft white wheat from Grant County, Wash., and our own proprietary wild-yeast strain harvested from the (local) Curran apple orchard. You could say we produce our bourbon yeast-to-bottle.
The Aging Process - hydrokinetic
Harnessing the power of the sea, this bourbon is aged in one of our floating boathouses on Puget Sound. The wave and tidal movement created by the hydrokinetic energy expedites the aging process by increasing the interaction of the spirit and the wood inside our charred new american-oak barrels. The sea also enhances our bourbon with a subtle note of sea salt.
The Result - salted caramel
Greenhorn bourbon has a sweet cola/floral nose and a salted caramel flavor profile mature beyond its years.
Flavor Profile
Caramel salt-water taffy with hints of fig, apple pie, with a mouthwatering finish.
Greenhorn is bottled at 88 Proof (44% alc./vol.)
Reviews
WhiskyCast (whiskycast.com)
CHAMBERS BAY GREENHORN BOURBON
Country: USA
Region: Washington
Type: Bourbon
Bottler: Distiller
ABV: 44%
Score: 84 points
This Bourbon from Seattle’s Chambers Bay distillery is matured for at least a year, and its youth shows. The nose is grainy with popcorn, caramel, honey, vanilla, and oak notes. The taste develops slowly to an intense combination of black pepper and chili powder notes with hints of caramel, vanilla, and honey in the background. The finish is long, spicy, and mouthwatering. I’m planning to keep an eye on this one as it gets older to track its potential.
Mark Gillespie (September 2016)
Whisky Advocate (vol. 25, #3)
Greenhorn Bourbon (Batch 1), 44% Brand: Chambers Bay, Category: Craft Whiskey
Initial aromas of boiled corncob, sugarcane stalks, and burnt sugar give a suggestion of youth and slight bitterness. Dig a little deeper and the secondary flavors of honeyed fruit, green apple, lavender, vanilla, and fresh oak reveal potential. While clearly young, there is still a lot to admire in this soft and delicate wheated bourbon, with its hints of smoke and a mouthwatering saltwater taffy finish, possibly derived from aging in floating boathouses on Puget Sound.
