Bourbon Whiskey Archives – Page 14 of 79

Redwood Empire Pipe Dream

Posted on 10-October-202211-October-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon Review:

reviewed 21-September-2022

REDWOOD EMPIRE PIPE DREAM BOURBON REVIEW:

At first glimpse, Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon (Redwood Bourbon) appears honey-like in color, making me wonder … But when the cork is popped, classic bourbon aromas waft from the bottle. There are not many herbal notes, but when tasted, warm roasted sweet corn and newly spouted rye grass along with powdered ginger and white pepper blend into a sweet rye bread treat topped with a hint of honey. While the color belies this bourbon’s age, there are plenty of woody notes to provide a solid foundation.

REDWOOD EMPIRE PIPE DREAM VITAL STATS:

Category: Bourbon
Region: Graton, CA
Company: Redwood Empire Distilling
Distillery: Undisclosed distilleries in California, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee
Mash Bill: 75% Corn, 21% Raw Rye, 4% Malt Barley
Barrel Char: undisclosed
Barrel entry proof: undisclosed
Age: A blend 4 to 12-year-old barrels
ABV: 45% (90 Proof)
Price: 39.95 (California, 2022)

FOR EVERY BOTTLE SOLD, WE’LL PLANT A TREE

^{Named for the 14th tallest tree on the planet, Pipe Dream is our first Bourbon whiskey. Pipe Dream Bourbon is made from barrels aged between four and twelve years with a high corn mash bill. Smooth and complex, it is a true sipping whiskey.}
^{— Learn more at}^{Redwood Empire Whiskey}^.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

REDWOOD EMPIRE PIPE DREAM NOSE:

Redwood Bourbon offers a classic bourbon aroma without an alcohol nip to trouble on the nose. I get light fruit tree blossoms and a hint Maraschino cherries. There are faint notes of powdered ginger and white pepper which seem to enhance aromas of fresh baked rye bread. The sweets are faint as well and present as vanilla, simple syrup, faint honey, and a hint of maple. But most prominent is light sweet oak an a bit of cedar.

REDWOOD EMPIRE PIPE DREAM PALATE:

Redwood Bourbon tastes of warm roasted sweet corn, raw fresh grain, and newly spouted rye grass. The aromas of powdered ginger, white pepper and fresh rye bread pass to the palate. But now the sweets darken as burnt caramel and dark honey cover bitter walnuts. This is a woody bourbon as dry seasoned oak fades into toasted oak and barrel char.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Redwood Bourbon has a silky smooth mouthfeel is simple and gentle and is easy to hold. Yet it is a little disjointed with a bit of a effervescent mouth tickle. In the Glencairn the veil breaks quickly into long clinging legs. As the legs break, droplets hang then fall into the honey colored pool leaving behind a lingering crown ring with only a few irregularly spaced drops.

REDWOOD EMPIRE PIPE DREAM FINISH:

Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon offers a warm medium length finish of drying grain, ginger and pepper with a touch of warm buttery caramel. Like noted on the nose and palate, dry seasoned and toasted oak linger with a heavy char aftertaste. When the last drops are downed, the empty Glencairn smells of light barrel char and moist sawdust.

MY RATING: 87/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
I am surprised at the score I awarded and I would purchase another, but only if I couldn’t find something I would rather grab.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 87/100 to access other whiskies with this score.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Review

Posted on 10-October-202210-October-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Review

Original review written September 21, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Simple, grassy, but fairly affordable. If you like your whiskeys paying homage to the world of grain, this is a bourbon for you. It’s an easy-sipping addition to any bunker, if not a little plain. 85/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Graton, California, USA
– Distiller: Undisclosed distilleries in California, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee
– Company: Redwood Empire Distilling
– Age: a blend of 4-12 yr old bourbons
– Mash Bill: Corn=75%; Raw Rye=21%; Malted Barley=4%
– Casks: undisclosed char
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed
– ABV: 45% (90 proof)
– Price: $39.95 USD in California in 2022

“Named for the 14th tallest tree on the planet, Pipe Dream is our first Bourbon whiskey. Pipe Dream Bourbon is made from barrels aged between four and twelve years with a high corn mash bill. Smooth and complex, it is a true sipping whiskey.

FOR EVERY BOTTLE SOLD, WE’LL PLANT A TREE”

Visit redwoodempirewhiskey.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with my sister Elora, along with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

This bourbon is initially striking in its contrast, though it loses it in the palate. I’d love to have Redwood Empire on a cliffside or in the waves, watching flame rivers of lava fall into the ocean, being caught in the spray all the while. This bourbon would ground you in a turbulent environment, and perhaps it’d be that environment that would bring out the best in this bourbon.

Photo by Buzz Andersen on Unsplash

NOSE:

This bourbon crosses the nose with a mellow, yet seasoned pine chased by a salted peanut. The peanuts almost seem encased in a toffee, but it’s not necessarily sweet. Much of this bourbon smells quite savory, with bay leaves, thyme, and a sprinkle of black pepper offering a steep contrast to the toffee – nearly smothering it, in fact. Further contrasts are offered in clashing of the aforementioned salt (now taking on a briny essence like an ocean) and a scorched earth component. Char from wood bark is met with the burnt sap from within, creating such a mixture, it’s absolutely captivating. The alcohol is soft – no chance of feeling a bite if you’re experienced with whiskey.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: This has an effervescence to it, feelings raspy as if I have pulled a shoot of grass across the palate.
– Balance: Heavy on the grasses and grains – a flavor I don’t mind, but it would be nice to have some extra complexity.
– Visual: Honey in color, this fades to leave behind a faint ring, but it does linger for a significantly long period of time.

– Taste: I can let this sit on my palate almost indefinitely without feeling the slightest hint of a burn. When I push it across the palate, it’s as if I’m chewing on a reed or tall blade of grass. There’s a chewy starch, coupled with some moisture that prevents the flavor from being a distinct hay. I can find rye apart from the grass that offers both a spice and freshness to this bourbon, but it doesn’t change the tone of it much. This tastes fine, but I will admit it to being a one-note wonder. Fortunately for this whiskey, it’s a good note.

Looking for more complexity, I go for the Kentucky chew, and while I find the alcohol waking up (a little), the grass/reed element is still the most potent component of this whiskey.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. I can feel the warmth of the bourbon linger, but it isn’t particularly aggressive and there aren’t many other flavors contributing.
– Between Sips: Grass, grass, and grass are found here in this pause. If I squint, there are some raisins, but they are so fleeting, they hardly count.

– No More: The mouth feel really is what makes this bourbon. It doesn’t get worse from an objective perspective; however, I am starting to long for some complexity.

The empty Glencairn is actually a bit empty in its aroma. There’s oak, but it is oak to hunt for with deep inhales and the nose shoved into the glass. For a bourbon so heavy in its earth component everywhere else, I’m surprised to find it so lacking here.

WORTH THE PRICE?

For $40, you’re not getting robbed, and I won’t have difficulty finishing this, as I do like grassy bourbons. But this is a bit simple for me to ever consider keeping it a permanent addition in the bunker (in the hypothetical situation where I could buy it any time I wanted). I *do* think it’s worth $40, but it’s not a flavor I’m constantly seeking out.

REDWOOD EMPIRE PIPE DREAM REVIEW RATING: 85/100

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Horse Soldier Reserve Review

Posted on 18-September-202210-October-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Horse Soldier Reserve Review

Original review written September 12, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

An emotional story for bourbon, I don’t think Horse Soldier forfeited the craft and quality a drink of this stature demanded. This exceeded my personal expectations without a doubt. 93/100

VITALS:

– Made In: St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
– Distiller: American Freedom Distillery
Distilled by and stored in Ohio at Middle West Spirits
– Classification: Wheated Bourbon
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=70%; Soft red winter wheat=20%; Malted barley=10%
– Casks: unpublished char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 61% (122 proof)
– Price: $65.85 USD in Montana 2022

“Immediately following the [9/11] attacks on our nation, the USA responded with a daring insertion of small teams of Green Berets into northern Afghanistan. The Northern Alliance successfully overthrew Masar-i-Sharif, a Taliban stronghold, with the support of these brave men. This region’s inhospitable, mountainous terrain made efforts and enemy engagements on wild Afghan horses a necessity for the Special Operations team (ODA595). Nicknamed the “Horse Soldiers”, all these brave men are honored today by American’s Response Monument overlooking ‘Ground Zero’ in New York City. [In addition], our bottles … are molded with World Trade Center steel.” – American Freedom Distillery

Visit horsesoldierbourbon.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with sister and reviewer, Elora, as well as father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages editor, Brian.

Check out Elora’s thoughts here and Brian’s here!

SETTING:

This bourbon calls for rusticity; there’s a desire to walk onto a patch of farmed earth and break off a stalk of wheat – the bloom of America’s dinner table. Pair it with a homemade apple pie with chunky, ungraceful pie crust designs (it’s made with love and butter), and the Horse’s Soldier is finally able to dismount. Time to come home.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

NOSE:

Burnt wheat, dark caramel and candied apples all but attack the nose even on the first inhale, remaining surprisingly distinct from one another despite these flavors being quite bold, even on their own. Regardless of the bold, subtle notes can be found underneath with only a little coaxing, such as a faint vanilla, mixed together with a fresh herb rosemary as well as light vanilla and yeast.

There is a dark fruit here as well, like plum, but it comes in such a heavily reduced form, it’s almost become a syrup. It’s hard to tell if this plum is burnt, and if it’s not, then it is certainly close to that point. It’s as though it’s meant to be painted within the confines of pastry, but bitterness of the near-burnt quality prevents it from seeming too indulgent.

I can’t find too much oak on the nose, but with the assortment of the other aromas, I’m not too bothered. A surprising gentle alcohol burn makes these flavors both approachable and discoverable.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Heavy and oily. It sinks into the palate in a way that both grips the taste buds while simultaneously feeling slippery.
– Balance: Excellent. I can detect grain, sugars, fruits and alcohol heat in each sip in equal proportion.
– Visual: Flame in color, this leaves behind a thick ring with droplets clinging just under the rim.

– Taste: For being 122 proof, it’s a bourbon that I can hold in my mouth for a significantly long time before I feel pressured to move it around. When I do, caramel-esque candies – from the hard butterscotch to the chewy cubes of caramel themselves – are all presented. There’s a bitter wheat element that comes with this sweetness, but it grounds the flavors from becoming overbearing. It sits heavy on the palate as well, much like the aforementioned plummy gooeyness on the nose. The heat of the alcohol finally kicks in at the back of the palate in a single rush, but it doesn’t burn – just wants to be acknowledged.

In the midst of the caramel and warmth, are poached figs and pears, doused in another light caramel. Again, there’s some bitterness, but the accompanying warmth makes it all seem purposeful. There are even cherries to chase back the fig and pear. A Kentucky chew absolutely burns the palate, awakening cinnamon and black pepper, with the cherry as well as an alligator-charred oak. Exquisite.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Exceptionally long. I can feel the heat at the back of my palate linger long after the sip is gone. It’s certainly another enjoyable aspect of this bourbon.
– Between Sips: I can find a hint of cherries between sips; however, the predominant flavor comes from wood chips, soaked in water and incredibly chewy.

– No More: This grows in depth and complexity the further into the glass I get. Each sip brings out more darkness in flavors, especially the sugars. It’s truly a treat to the palate that is looking for a rich texture of sweetness.

The empty Glencairn is a spicy oak with more of that black pepper and cinnamon from the palate. A great finish to a pretty great bourbon.

WORTH THE PRICE?

I like to think I remained objective in my review and kept the story to the back of my mind, as it is an emotionally driven bourbon with its marketing. Nevertheless, I find that Horse Soldier offers a wide variety of flavors. At least one is sure to impress any preferred flavor profile. It’s a wheater that stands apart from the crowd, whether you’re talking about proof or distillery (Heaven Hill’s Larceny Barrel Proof’s are perhaps the most analogous at this time). Do I think it’s worth $65? All day. If I lived in Montana, this would be a bottle I’d endeavor to keep in the bunker at all times.

HORSE SOLDIER RESERVE REVIEW RATING: 93/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

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