I’ve always enjoyed introducing new products to these pages…sometimes new to you readers, as well…sometimes just new to me. In this case, that new product is from a company called Redwood Empire, a bourbon company in Northern California, and named after the giant redwood forest that blankets some portions of their home. They are a little “hippie” in that they quote naturalist John Muir on every bottle and name each expression for a protected tree…but, you know, I approve of this capitalist hippie-ism. Pipe Dream is named for the 14th tallest tree on earth (367 feet tall) and comes from barrels aged between four and twelve years. Research indicates that it is a blend incorporating bourbon distilled in California (the company’s own liquid), Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Pipe Dream uses a mash bill of 73% corn, 18% rye, 5% malted barley, and 4% wheat. The regular expression is bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV), but I picked up a cask strength bottle at 115.8 proof, or 57.9% ABV. The Pipe Dream Cask Strength was a medium amber in the glass, almost more orange in color than having a really reddish tint. On the nose, I got notes of oak char, caramel, pear, and vanilla. Taking a sip, the mildly sweet fruit notes showed up first…apple and pear, along with just hints of caramel. After that, the flavor exploded with oak, cinnamon, and pepper spice, which died down quickly, leaving a moderately spicy, moderately sweet finish.
I enjoyed the Pipe Dream Cask Strength quite a bit…probably too much to step myself down to the regular release if the cask strength is available, to be honest. It definitely has a “crafty” note and shows off the skill of the distillers and blenders. I’ll be on the lookout to try more Redwood Empire products soon.
