Old Emmer Bourbon is produced by the Stein Distillery, a craft distillery located in Joseph, Oregon. They utilize an ancient grain, emmer, in the mash bill, distinguishing their bourbon from more traditional recipes. This choice of grain contributes unique flavor profiles to the final product.
The distillery’s focus on emmer highlights the growing interest in heirloom and heritage grains within the craft spirits movement. Emmer, a farro variety cultivated for millennia, offers a distinct taste and texture compared to modern wheats typically used in bourbon production. This dedication to utilizing emmer preserves agricultural biodiversity and contributes to a richer and more complex flavor profile in the resulting spirit. This exploration of historical grains allows distillers to experiment with and potentially rediscover forgotten flavor profiles, benefiting both producers and consumers.
