Project Optimist's "A Whiskey Bottled In Support Of Displaced People" (often referred to as WFDP) is a project led by Will Schragis and other industry experts that produces high-proof, aged blended whiskies, with revenues supporting refugee relocation in upstate New York. These whiskies are described as big, loud, and flavorful, often leveraging multiple barrel treatments (including reconditioned sherry and secondary finishing casks) to achieve a rich, complex profile.
Age: 9-year age statement.
Type: Married Cask Strength.
62.4% ABV (124.8 Proof).
The hardest and most important part of developing a whiskey project is finding a real purpose for existing. Whiskey for Displaced People is a study in working outward from a clear, definable goal each year. One that requires liquid and commercial design to be in sync and for us to be singular in our vision and execution:
In this first year of existence, we will donate the first ten thousand dollars of revenue associated with this project to refugee relocation assistance in upstate New York, where this whiskey is being bottled.
It is our hope that we design, blend, and represent this whiskey in a way that allow us to expand this ambition and this page will be updated accordingly.
The first edition of WFDP is a study in barrel finishing across 13 unique marrying casks. Two base blends were constructed and entered into a variety of reconditioned sherry barrels for roughly 4 months. Each resulting micro-blend was then singularly transferred into a tertiary finishing cask for an additional 6 months before bottling.
These are big, loud, flavorful whiskeys that leverage the available acidity, tannin, and sweetness from multiple barrel treatments. They are high proof, bold, and show their maturity (9-16 years). They also speak to our dedication to refinement and reimagining of process. The importance of creativity driving experimentation, but analysis and taste driving decisions. Each one of these 13 casks was polished as its own attempt at a perfect blend, but each was also realized on its own terms.
Reviews of the series highlight heavy dark fruit notes (plums, cherry), rich caramel, and a warm, long finish often featuring oak and honeyed apple notes.
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All orders usually ship within 24-48 hours unless noted otherwise