Description

• Located just 25 miles south of the Canadian border in Hallock, Minnesota. Far North is the most northern distillery in the continental US. It was founded in 2013 by Michael Swanson and Cheri Reese on the The Red River Valley Swanson farm, which has been farming since 1917.
   

  Most of the crops Far North grow are AC Hazlet Winter Rye and two varieties of non-GMO corn, Blue River Organic, and Minnesota 13 Heirloom Corn. These grain varieties reflect their commitment to sustainable, environmentally sound, and minimally-invasive farming practices. 
   

  The heirloom grains are also grown to showcase the different flavor profiles the different varieties bring to the whiskey. Our Cask Exclusive bottling is distilled with Oklon rye. Oklon was bred and developed by Oklahoma State University in 1993. In the field, it’s taller than most modern varieties (>5 ft!) and thus more susceptible to lodging. Also having been bred further south, the grain produces lower yields in MN’s harsh climate.
   

  Our Oklon rye single barrel is a marrying of two 15 gallon single barrels. It's 95% unmalted and 5% malted. It was distilled in March 2023 and bottled in July 2025 at 58.5 Alc/Vol. Two years and four months old. This whiskey tastes so over the top, you'd think it has flavor from a different dimension.
   

  The nose is surprisingly sweet. I get lychee, bittersweet chocolate, maple syrup, pancakes, oatmeal raisin, cinnamon cardamom, and apple skin. I pick up a lot of breakfast notes. On the palate it’s more spicy with the classic rye characteristics (dill, caraway, mint, black pepper) , floral, black licorice candy, dried fruits and a bold savory meat note.