Trail’s End 8 Year is a Kentucky straight bourbon finished in apple brandy barrels, poured at Grappa, the Italian and Mediterranean restaurant in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. Bottled by Hood River Distillers in Oregon, it pairs eight years of Kentucky maturation with a distinctive Oregon barrel finish, and we keep it on the list for guests drawn to something a touch more unusual at our tables on Boston Street.

About the Distillery

Trail’s End is a brand of Hood River Distillers, the oldest distillery in Oregon. For this release the whiskey is distilled and aged in Kentucky, then finished in the Pacific Northwest in apple brandy barrels associated with Clear Creek Distillery, a noted Oregon producer of fruit brandies. The result bridges classic Kentucky bourbon with the Northwest fruit-distilling tradition.

Style & Mash Bill

At its core this is a corn-forward Kentucky straight bourbon aged eight years in new charred oak, as stated on the bottle. After that maturation it is finished in barrels that previously held apple brandy, a second stage that layers orchard-fruit character over the bourbon’s caramel-and-oak base. The finish is what sets it apart, lending a soft fruitiness not found in a standard bourbon.

Tasting Notes

The aroma carries baked apple, cinnamon and pie crust over vanilla and caramel. The palate is warm and rounded, with bourbon’s brown-sugar sweetness joined by orchard fruit, soft spice and a touch of oak and tobacco. The finish is long and gently sweet, with lingering apple and warm wood.

What to Pair It With

The orchard-fruit finish of Trail’s End is lovely with our flourless chocolate cake and a graceful match for a thoughtfully built charcuterie board. It also complements our American Wagyu steaks. Browse the full dine-in menu to complete your evening.

How It’s Served at Grappa

We pour Trail’s End 8 Year neat or over ice at $12, however you prefer to enjoy it.

FAQ

Where is it from?

It is a Kentucky straight bourbon aged eight years, then finished in apple brandy barrels in Oregon and bottled by Hood River Distillers, the oldest distillery in the state.

What does it taste like?

Expect baked apple, cinnamon, caramel and vanilla, with soft orchard fruit over the bourbon base and a long, gently sweet finish.

Is it a high-rye or wheated bourbon?

It is a corn-forward Kentucky straight bourbon rather than a high-rye or wheated style, with its signature character coming from the apple brandy barrel finish.

When you are ready, book a table, explore the cocktail & spirits list, and browse the dine-in menu.