Redwood Empire Whiskey pays homepage to mighty Redwoods of Northern CA — ruling from San Francisco to Humbolt Bay and up to the Oregon border — as well as the John Muir, popular naturalist, conservationists, and the Father of the National Parks. Graton Distilling Company revitalized an old apple processing plant in a small town in Sonoma County.
Derek Behnam, an entrepreneur and wine enthusiast, planted his roots in Graton, CA in 2016. Graton Distilling Co. started offering Gin and Vodka but soon branched out to whiskeys. It’s also honoring Sonoma County’s deep roots in the wine industry by blending with wine cask finished whiskeys and also offering bourbon finished in wine casks.
Start shopping for bourbon clothing and accessories for your journey. The Bard’s Shop has custom tees and hoodies, books, barrels, and more.
Table of Contents
Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon Review
| Pipe Dream Bourbon | Details |
|---|---|
| In the Bottle | 90 Proof |
| ABV | 45% |
| Mashbill | 75% corn, 21% raw rye and 4% malted barley |
| Distilled and Aged | MGP and No Cal |
| Age | 4, 5, and 11-years-old |
| Style | Blended Bourbon |
| Size | 750 mL |
| Suggested MSRP | $44 |
| Distillery | Graton Distilling Co. 9119 Graton Rd. Graton, CA 95444 |
| Pros | Love the Fruity Nose |
| Cons | Needs More Complexity on Palate |
| Availability | Limited Distribution |
| Rating | Silver 87 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Daily Drinker |
| Buy Online | Buy Online |
My Glencairn whiskey glass was completely covered with oily bourbon. Slow but long legs cote the inside of my glass. Color is honey and bronze. Now onto my Redwood Empire Bourbon review.
Nose – 89 out of 100 Points
This nose has deep, rich cooked down red fruit with savory baking spice and caramel.
Taste – 86 out of 100 Points
Just a hint of that cooked-down fruit. It’s mostly baking spice and caramel walnuts. It’s dry on the palate but creamy with some oak and oatmeal.
Finish – 86 out of 100 Points
The finish is medium. More dry but creamy baking spice and oatmeal.
Verdict – Silver 87 out of 100 Points
A solid drinking experience from glass to finish. I do wish more of that fruity note would’ve come through in the palate. It would’ve added more complexity and intrigue.
Awards
- 94 Points – Tasting Panel Magazine (2020)
- Double Gold – SIP Awards (2020)
- Double Gold San Diego Spirits Festival (2020)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye Whiskey
| Emerald Giant Rye Whiskey | Details |
|---|---|
| In the Bottle | 90 Proof |
| ABV | 45% |
| Mashbill | 75% corn, 21% raw rye and 4% malted barley |
| Distilled and Aged | MGP and No Cal |
| Age | 2 to 3-years-old |
| Style | Blend of 3 Year from MGP and 2 Year of Their Own Distillate |
| Size | 750 mL |
| Suggested MSRP | $34.99 |
| Pros | Coming Soon |
| Cons | Coming Soon |
| Availability | Limited Distribution |
| Rating | Coming Soon |
| Inventory | Coming Soon |
| Buy Online | Buy Online |
Full review coming soon
Awards
- 97 Points Tasting Panel Magazine (2019)
- Double Gold Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards (2019)
- Double Gold Sunset Magazine International Spirits Competition (2019)
Redwood Empire Lost Monarch American Whiskey
| Lost Monarch American Whiskey | Details |
|---|---|
| In the Bottle | 90 Proof |
| ABV | 45% |
| Mashbill | Mixed |
| Distilled and Aged | MGP and No Cal |
| Age | 3-year-old rye (MGP) 2-year-old rye (house) 4, 5, and 11-yeara-old bourbon |
| Style | Blend MGP and Their Own Distillate 60% rye and 40% bourbon Some cask finished in port, California chardonnay, and zinfandel included |
| Size | 750 mL |
| Suggested MSRP | $34.99 |
| Pros | Amazing Value, Great Sipper |
| Cons | Lacks Elite Complexity |
| Availability | Limited Distribution |
| Rating | Silver 87.3 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Buy It |
| Buy Online | Buy Online |
Nose – 87 out of 100 Points
The upfront aroma is bright red fruit followed by baking spice and toasted oak. It’s a pleasant enough nose but I wish it were more compelling.
Taste – 88 out of 100 Points
It reminds me of Greek yogurt with fresh red fruit. It’s also has a nice baking spice and toasted oak on the mid-palate. The creaminess boosts the drinking experience for me. There’s also vanilla and caramel. It’s refreshing.
Finish – 87 out of 100 Points
The finish is medium. Baking spice is prominent with hints of white pepper rounded out with those sweet fruit notes.
Verdict – Silver 87.3 out of 100 Points
Lost Monarch is a delicious sipper. It could be a great whiskey with more complexity and depth.
Awards
- Double Gold SIP Awards (2020)
- Gold Medal Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards (2019)
- 94 Points Cigar and Spirits Magazine (2017)
Redwood Empire Haystack Needle (Wine Cask Finished)
What would you expect from a whiskey distillery in Northern California? Their single barrel bourbons are offered in three cask finishes — chardonnay, port, and cabernet. I’ve yet to see one of these less than 12 years but I’ve seen some as old as 14. I’m on the hunt for some samples of all three to give a full review.
Chardonnay Cask
Full Review Coming Soon
Port Cask
Full Review Coming Soon
Cabernet Cask
Full Review Coming Soon
Which Redwood Empire Whiskey is best?
Check out the Mash and Drums review of the three main expressions to find out:
Start shopping for bourbon clothing and accessories for your journey. The Bard’s Shop has custom tees and hoodies, books, barrels, and more.
About Matty Sims
Written by Matty Sims
We may receive a commission at no cost to you for purchases made through our affiliate links.
Popular Articles
Every Weller Bourbon Reviewed [2021]
You're here because you've been asking, "Which Weller bourbon is the best?" We've got you covered with reviews of every Weller in your Weller bourbon collection plus more. Some of you may be newer to bourbon and may just want to know the types of Weller bourbon. Experienced drinker or newer to the...
Bourbon Release Calendar | Bourbon Drop Dates [2021]
Our bourbon release calendar and drop dates cover the annual cadence of major limited releases as well as new labels approved by the TTB — making bourbon hunting easy again. You may be asking, "What bourbon is releasing this week?" Well, new bourbon release dates are not an exact science. Not all...
The 25 Best Bourbon Under $100 Ranked [New 2021]
The over $50 and under $100 bourbon whiskey category is where it gets interesting. There are some all-time great options available in this corner and many can be easily found. Some of my top choices include Booker’s bourbon and Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Proof (SBBP). Booker’s batches...
The 18 Best Bourbons Under $50 Ranked [Updated 2021]
The best bourbons under $50 list are where it gets interesting. In the under $30, there are some great mid to bottom shelf bourbon whiskeys but not many offer the complete package. Our top pick for the $50 and under does just that, so check out our best bourbon rankings for under $50. Related:...
The 16 Best Bourbons Under $30 Ranked [Updated 2021]
Many people are returning to the best bourbons under $30 and are reminded of just how good they are. I love the thrill of the hunt and the premium bourbons as much as anyone, but a theme I’ve heard in bourbon groups and among bourbon aficionados is bourbon burnout. Flat out — these under $30...
The 20 Best Bourbons Over $100 Ranked [Updated 2021]
Many will shake their heads and sigh over the best bourbons over $100 category — because most of these are unicorns for your average bourbon drinker. I’m going to include some no brainers like the Pappy Van Winkle bourbons, but you can’t have a complete list and especially not one with the best...
Every Smoke Wagon Bourbon Reviewed [2021 Updated Guide]
Smoke Wagon Bourbon was founded by Aaron Chepenik and Jonathan Hensleigh in 2012 as part of Nevada H&C Distilling Co. They source their bourbon from Midwest Grain Products of Indiana (MGPI) using MGPI's 36% high rye bourbon mashbill. Chepenik developed Smoke Wagon's mashbill and brand flavor...
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: The Bourbon Bard, PO Box 1501, Taylors, SC 29687, https://www.thebourbonbard.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email. Emails are sent by MailChimp.
0 Comments