I think that it goes without saying that I enjoy trying new bourbons. If I didn’t, eleven years of writing for this site would have long ago become torturous. That said, even I am starting to find comfort in my old favorites. There are just so many new companies and labels on shelves that it is hard to keep up. At least I get press releases for some of them. I don’t understand how you folks make headway in this.
Well, you probably do what I do when I’m in the liquor store. Ask the folks that work there, “What’s new?” “What are people buying these days?” I usually get an answer that I have to ignore as the recommendation is something I’ve already covered. But once in a while, I get a recommendation about something that I’ve overlooked. Such is the case tonight. Redwood Empire Whiskey is a craft distillery that opened its doors in 2014 in beautiful Sonoma County, California. Now owned by Purple Brands of Petaluma, California, the whiskey is produced in Graton, California, alongside Benham’s Gin and Vodka.
This particular release, Pipe Dream, is a blend of both in-house distilled bourbons and bourbons sourced from Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The constituent parts are listed as between four and 12 years old on the company website. And the composite mash bill works out to 75% corn, 21% “raw rye,” and 4% malted barley (also per their website). And in case you wondered where the name comes from, the bourbon is named for the 14th tallest tree on the planet. That tree is located in California’s Humbolt State Park. You can read more about the tree here should you wish.
Redwood Empire, Pipe Dream Bourbon
Purchase Info: $35.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Viking Liquor Barrel, Prior Lake, MN
Price per Drink (50 mL): $2.40
Details: 45% ABV. Distilled in California, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Bottled in California.
Nose: Floral vanilla, oak, wood smoke, and toffee.
Mouth: Thin mouthfeel with muted notes of vanilla, baking spice, and toffee.
Finish: Warm and of medium length. Sweet with notes of vanilla, toffee, and oak.
Thoughts: Solid bourbon. The nose is nice. The thin, muted mouth is a bit of a disappointment. But the finish is nice. And if I had to choose, I'd rather have a nice finish over a nice mouth experience just because I spend more time experiencing the finish. That said, I'm pretty neutral on this. I don't particularly like it, but I don't dislike it either. I probably won't buy it again, but if you poured me a glass, I wouldn't complain. (Not even after you were gone... I mean, I am Minnesotan. We are a very passive-aggressive bunch.) I will probably check out some of the other Redwood Empire offerings at my local corner liquor store though. I want to see about the cask strength version of this and maybe try their rye as well.
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