Laguna Beach, California-based Phenomenal Spirits has their inaugural rye whiskey – RY3 Cask Strength Cigar Series. Phenomenal Spirits RY3 Cask Strength Cigar Series was finished in a trio of casks — rum, Madeira and Naranja (orange) – then, subsequently aged in toasted French oak staves. The series is targeted at ‘Bourbon and rye aficionados, cigar […]
Laguna Beach, California-based Phenomenal Spirits has their inaugural rye whiskey – RY3 Cask Strength Cigar Series.
Phenomenal Spirits RY3 Cask Strength Cigar Series was finished in a trio of casks — rum, Madeira and Naranja (orange) – then, subsequently aged in toasted French oak staves.
The series is targeted at ‘Bourbon and rye aficionados, cigar enthusiasts and whiskey collectors alike’.
Phenomenal Spirits RY3 Cask Strength Cigar Series is being made available for $125 per bottle in the USA.
St. George Spirits in Alameda, California is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and is one of the pioneers of the U.S. craft distilling movement. In addition, it was one of the first distilleries to make an American single malt whiskey 20 years ago this year – a whiskey that came out of a job interview. We got the story behind that job interview from Master Distiller Lance Winters and Head Distiller/Blender Dave Smith on the latest #HappyHourLive webcast the other night. You can watch our live shows each Friday night on the WhiskyCast YouTube channel, our Facebook page, Twitter, Read More »
St. George Spirits in Alameda, California is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and is one of the pioneers of the U.S. craft distilling movement. In addition, it was one of the first distilleries to make an American single malt whiskey 20 years ago this year – a whiskey that came out of a job interview. We got the story behind that job interview from Master Distiller Lance Winters and Head Distiller/Blender Dave Smith on the latest #HappyHourLive webcast the other night. You can watch our live shows each Friday night on the WhiskyCast YouTube channel, our Facebook page, Twitter, and Twitch.
Time for our annual visit with the guys from “Off Track with Hinch & Rossi” podcast for a virtual whiskey tasting session. IndyCar veterans Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe joined us for the #HappyHourLive webcast, along with producer Tim Durham and their special guest, Marco Andretti. We tasted the Heaven’s Door Redbreast Edition Bourbon, the Dickel/Leopold Bros. Rye collaboration, Redwood Empire’s Lost Monarch, and the Crown Royal Noble Collection Winter Wheat edition. Join us for our live webcasts every Friday night at 5:00pm New York time on the WhiskyCast YouTube channel, our Facebook page, Twitter, and Twitch. Links: Heaven’s Door | George Read More »
Time for our annual visit with the guys from “Off Track with Hinch & Rossi” podcast for a virtual whiskey tasting session. IndyCar veterans Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe joined us for the #HappyHourLive webcast, along with producer Tim Durham and their special guest, Marco Andretti. We tasted the Heaven’s Door Redbreast Edition Bourbon, the Dickel/Leopold Bros. Rye collaboration, Redwood Empire’s Lost Monarch, and the Crown Royal Noble Collection Winter Wheat edition. Join us for our live webcasts every Friday night at 5:00pm New York time on the WhiskyCast YouTube channel, our Facebook page, Twitter, and Twitch.
Named after two different trees, the Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast California Bourbon is a bottled-in-bond bourbon that combines two different styles of bourbon: wheated and ryed. Sitting at 66% corn, the rest of the whiskey is comprised of rye, malted barley and wheat. Though not at equal parts, the wheat is just a dash at […]
Named after two different trees, the Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast California Bourbon is a bottled-in-bond bourbon that combines two different styles of bourbon: wheated and ryed. Sitting at 66% corn, the rest of the whiskey is comprised of rye, malted barley and wheat. Though not at equal parts, the wheat is just a dash at 4%.
So is it really fair to say that this bonded bourbon is a true mix of mash bills when no other wheated bourbon uses so little wheat? I guess not. I see what they’re doing, and good on them for trying, but at the end of the day is 4% wheat going to make a significant difference to the profile? Not likely, but then again, maybe it’s the secret ingredient that makes this thing rock.
Let’s get to drinkin’ and find out.
Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast California Bourbon – Details and Tasting Notes
Whiskey Details
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Style: Bourbon (Straight) Region: California, USA Distiller: RedWood Empire
Mash Bill: 69% Corn, 22% Rye, 5% Malted Barley, 4% Wheat Cask: New Charred Oak Age: 5 Years ABV: 50%
Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast California Bourbon Price: $90*
“The name Grizzly Beast is a combination of two trees: The Grizzly Giant, a giant Sequoia located in Yosemite National Park that has over two billion leaves, and the Mattole Beast, a massive 375-foot coastal redwood located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park.” – Redwood Empire
Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast California Bourbon Tasting Notes
EYE
Caramel
NOSE
Caramel, oak, roasted nuts, candied citrus, old leather and Twizzlers with a slight bit of dried fruit.
Warm, approachable, pleasant, I’m enjoying this so far.
PALATE
Caramel, oak, vanilla, baking spice, black tea and some cereal sweetness with a touch of copper chalky cocoa and leather.
Sweet and earthy, but unfortunately, heavily, dry and tannic.
FINISH
Medium-long -> Caramel, oak and cereal sweetness
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Decent balance, medium body, ultra-dry feel.
Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast California Bourbon – Overall Thoughts and Score
Grizzly Beast is an apt name, because I feel like I have a ball of fur in my mouth; it’s quite a dry, tannic, whiskey. Very few whiskeys have dried out my mouth this fast, it’s like a cup of tea you forgot was steeping for over a half-hour. It’s definitely not undrinkable, but it pulls the moisture out my mouth quickly and feels like it leaves a film. It doesn’t, just feels like it from the dryness and doesn’t make me want another glass.
Setting aside said dryness and focusing on the aromas and flavors of this California Bourbon, it’s nice. I really dig the aroma and what you can taste on the palate is good. It’s an all-around pleasant whiskey, or at least it would be if I could drink more than one glass of it neat.
However, that intense dryness is alleviated when used in a cocktail. I used the last 1 oz of my Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast California Bourbon to make a small Old Fashioned and it was fantastic. Adding water did help a bit, and brought up the cocoa note, but I don’t like having to do that every time I sip a BiB.
SCORE: 2.5/5 (average, drinkable, possible minor flaws – C+ | 77-79)
*Disclosure: The sample for this bourbon review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast California Bourbon Review
$90
Named after a 2,000-year-0ld, 365 foot tall, redwood, the Redwood Empire Rocket Top California Rye Whiskey is the distillery’s bottled-in-bond rye offering. This bonded rye is made from an 87% rye mash making it a super-high rye while also making it a more unique mash than the all-too-familiar 95/5 we see so many distilleries copying. […]
Named after a 2,000-year-0ld, 365 foot tall, redwood, the Redwood Empire Rocket Top California Rye Whiskey is the distillery’s bottled-in-bond rye offering. This bonded rye is made from an 87% rye mash making it a super-high rye while also making it a more unique mash than the all-too-familiar 95/5 we see so many distilleries copying.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good MGP 95/5. The warm, spicy, dilly profile is awesome and it’s absurdly versatile as an excellent cocktail ingredient and a sipper. But I don’t want to try everyone’s attempt at it. I want originality and personality and at least in the specs, this one has both.
Let’s get to drinkin’!
Redwood Empire Rocket Top California Rye Whiskey – Details and Tasting Notes
Whiskey Details
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Style: Rye (Straight) Region: California, USA Distiller: RedWood Empire
Mash Bill: 87% Rye, 6% Wheat, 7% Malted Barley Cask: New Charred Oak Age: 5 Years ABV: 50%
Redwood Empire Rocket Top California Rye Whiskey Price: $90*
“The Patriarch Forest in Humboldt Redwoods State Park is home to Rocket Top, a tree reminiscent of a 365-foot-tall bottle rocket. This rye is as complex and extraordinary as the tree it represents.” – Redwood Empire
Redwood Empire Rocket Top California Rye Whiskey Tasting Notes
EYE
Coppery oak
NOSE
Caramel, herbal, oak, copper, dried fruit, leather, pepper, baking spice touch of malted milk balls.
The dark sweet notes, caramel heavy, glide through heavily but balanced out by the rest of the notes.
PALATE
Herbal baking spice, oak, dried fruit, malted milk balls, citrus zest, copper and some pastry notes and leather.
Spicier and brighter than the aroma, but still balanced and nice.
FINISH
Medium-long -> Baking spice, oak and herbal notes fade out evenly
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Good balance, medium body and a soft, slightly dry, feel.
Redwood Empire Rocket Top California Rye Whiskey – Overall Thoughts and Score
I like it, it’s a pleasant, easy sipping, rye even at 100 proof. It does sit on the dry side, but not nearly as bad as the Grizzly Beast Bourbon (spoiler to review). The delivery of the Rocket Top definitely comes through tannic and oaky, but the dryness sits at a perfect, unobtrusive, level.
Tasty and complex enough to be a sipper, heavy and bold enough to stand out in a cocktail, this is a whiskey that can do it all. I’d happily drink this neat on a Wednesday night or make a Perfect Manhattan with it on a Friday; which is exactly what I did with the last 1 oz of this sample. It was delightful mini Manhattan.
I like seeing good whiskey come out of CA, it’s about time more of our distilleries mature to the point of putting out drinkable stuff. If you’re looking for an earthy rye, the Redwood Empire Rocket Top California Rye Whiskey is a good way to go.
SCORE: 3.5/5 (above average, worth checking out – B | 83-86)
*Disclosure: The sample for this rye whiskey review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Redwood Empire Rocket Top California Rye Whiskey Review
$90
