Redwood Empire Rocket Top California Rye Whiskey Review

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*

Related Whiskey

Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast Bourbon
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye
Redwood Empire American Whiskey
Frey Ranch Rye
New Riff Rye

“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.

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