Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
Ammunition Wine & Whiskey
About the Distillery
Ammunition Wine & Whiskey in Sonoma County combines wine- and whiskey production with a strong focus on local ingredients. Founders Andy Wahl and Bill Kerr have built a brand that honors the craft of farming by, among other things, finishing whiskies in the producer's own Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir wine barrels. The result is spirits where the wines' tannins and fruit meet classic bourbon- and rye-character.
History
Founding and Concept
Ammunition was created by Andy Wahl and Bill Kerr as a tribute to the country’s agricultural traditions and the people who work the land. The brand is built on a respect for quality cultivated ingredients and a desire to highlight origin in both wine and spirits.
Integration into Daylight Wine & Spirits
Ammunition Wine & Whiskey operates as part of Daylight Wine & Spirits, an independent American company based in California. The combination of wine and distillation activities is part of the company’s profile.
Raw Materials and Production
Ammunition operates at the crossroads of wine and spirits: grain-based mash bills are documented on the product pages (e.g., bourbon’s 70% corn / 20% rye / 10% malted barley and rye’s 95% rye / 5% malted barley), while the finish phase often takes place in the producer’s own French wine barrels. The whiskies consist of blends with components around 3–4 years old for Straight Bourbon and Straight Rye, and are typically finished for at least six months in wine barrels that previously held Ammunition Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir. The process combines traditional bourbon/rye components with the wine-cask influence to add tannin and fruity notes. The actual distillation and maturation infrastructure, as well as details such as still type and water source, are not explicitly mentioned on the available information pages.
Maturation and Barrel Types
The whiskies gain their distinctive character through finishing in French wine barrels: Cabernet Sauvignon barrels (Bordeaux typology) and Pinot Noir barrels are used for a secondary maturation of typically around six months. The Cabernet Sauvignon wine is aged in French oak, and a small component of Cabernet is barrel-fermented for added roundness. For the wines, a maturation period of around 18 months is indicated and a share of new oak in the aging; the producer’s own barrels from these vintages are re-used for the whiskey finish.
The Whiskies
Ammunition's range primarily includes bourbon and rye releases, split between a core lineup and more distinctive single-year or cask-strength releases. The core offerings include Straight Bourbon and Straight Rye (both finished in the producer's wine barrels) and a cask-strength double-barrel bourbon with a signature finish in Cabernet barrels. The product descriptions emphasize mash bills, finish type, and the wine influence from Sonoma wines. In addition to spirits, Ammunition also produces a range of wines from Sonoma County, which in practice provide the casks for the whiskey finish.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Age | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition Bourbon Cask Strength | Bourbon | Single year | French Bordeaux Cabernet Barrels; finish: Secondary finish in ~6 months | A single year double-barrel cask-strength bourbon with a signature second-barrel finish: about six months maturation in French Bordeaux Cabernet barrels that previously held Ammunition Cabernet Sauvignon. Mash bill: 70% corn, 20% rye, 10% malted barley. Bottled at barrel strength. Nose: Sweet, complex nose with notes of chocolate and cherry; Palate: Pronounced sweetness with expected notes of sweet corn; Finish: Subtle tannins from Cabernet barrels | Active; Core range; Sold out |
| Ammunition Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Bourbon | 3-4 years | French Oak wine barrels (Cabernet Sauvignon); finish: Minimum 6 months finish in wine barrels | A blended bourbon (3–4-year components) finished for at least 6 months in wine barrels, which previously held Ammunition Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon. Mash bill: 70/20/10. Noted as suitable to enjoy neat or on the rocks. Nose: Caramel and butterscotch; Finish: Vanilla and a hint of fullness from Cabernet Sauvignon French oak | Active; Core range; Sold out |
| Ammunition Straight Rye Whiskey | Rye Whiskey | 3-4 years | French Oak wine barrels (Pinot Noir); finish: Minimum 6 months finish in Pinot Noir barrels | A rye whiskey composed of 3–4 year components, finished for at least 6 months in wine barrels that previously held the producer's Pinot Noir. Mash bill: 95% rye, 5% malted barley. Marketed as a whiskey for the adventurous.; Taste: Rich butterscotch and a hint of citrus; Finish: Baking spices and red berries from Pinot Noir French oak barrel | Active; Core range; Sold out |
The Whiskies' Style and Flavor Profile
Ammunition's expression builds on three throughlines: sweetness and caramel/butterscotch from classic bourbon grain, fruitiness (dark cherries and red berries) derived from finishing in Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir wine barrels, and spice in the form of baking spices in the rye releases. In addition, there is tannic structure and a certain dryness from French oak when the whiskies have spent at least six months in wine barrels.
Visit the Distillery
Contact and distribution information: Phone: 707-408-8228, email: info@daylightwineco.com. Address for Daylight Wine and Spirits / Ammunition: 427 Mendocino Ave Suite 100 Unit #139, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. Inquiries regarding products, events, and partnerships can be sent to the above contact information.
Philosophy and Craft
Ammunition describes its work as a tribute to the country’s heritage and the craftspeople who grow the ingredients. Values include respect for quality-grown ingredients, a focus on independence and hard work, and a conscious link between wine and spirits production to let local origin influence the final product.
Awards and Recognitions
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90 Points (90 Points, Ammunition Straight Bourbon Whiskey)
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95 Points (95 Points, Ammunition Straight Bourbon Whiskey)
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90 Points (90 Points, Ammunition Straight Rye Whiskey)
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95 Points (95 Points, Ammunition Straight Rye Whiskey)
Latest News
Ammunition Cask Strength Bourbon Finished in Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels, USA, Kentucky, Bourbon Review – 2024-04-01
News covers a cask-strength bourbon with double-barrel finishing and a finish in French Bordeaux Cabernet barrels that previously held Ammunition Cabernet Sauvignon. The article highlights the brand's use of wine barrels from its own wines to add complexity.
Ammunition Straight Rye Review | Bottle Raiders – 2024-05-14
Review of Ammunition Straight Rye, described as a 3–4 year rye finished in Pinot Noir wine barrels. The article discusses the producer's combination of wine and spirit production and the distinctive wine-barrel influence.