Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

Named after the 14th tallest tree on the planet, Pipe Dream is a mix of four to twelve year old Bourbons, some made at Sonoma County's Graton Distilling Co., others sourced from Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. The high corn mash bill is balanced out with 21% raw rye and 4% malted barley. The nose opens with attractive, youngish aromas of peach tart, cherry chocolate, white pepper and citrus zest. Entry develops into a semi-sweet, well-rounded profile offering toasty oak, dried peach and lively spices. Fresh oak and hints of muddled mint balance the finish. A quality mid-tier Bourbon with a typical profile and nice texture. Matured in northern California. 45% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews… For a whiskey of this age, the hickory content is high. And a very sweet hickory at that. Very distinctive Bourbon. 91.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible.

...An herbaceous nose offers spearmint, spice, tea, and leather. Coconut on the palate, followed by orange oil, peach pie, vanilla, brown sugar, and chocolate-covered almonds. The finish has spice, nutty dark chocolate, espresso, and melon. Cohesive, balanced, and well-textured. 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com

I’m not sure if Redwood Empire’s goal was to create a quintessential bourbon flavor profile, but they certainly nailed it if that was the case. Pipe Dream Bourbon is mainly a straightforward bourbon that nails the caramel/vanilla/oak trio with expert precision. Easy sipping and inoffensive in every way, Redwood Empire nails being an every-person bourbon. That decision ends up being a double edged sword, as it makes the bourbon a bit on the boring side, lacking much excitement besides its delightful strawberry rhubarb aftertaste. The bourbon will probably work best as a gift to a budding bourbon drinker that will be equally impressed by the out-of-the-mainstream selection and enchanting label design. For more experienced drinkers, despite its straightforwardness, it gets a few bonus points for its amazingly smooth and buttery consistency. For its price, it's hard to beat the value it offers. - breakingbourbon.com

94 points - Tasting Panel Magazine - Nov 2020
DOUBLE GOLD - SIP Awards - Aug 2020
DOUBLE GOLD - San Diego Spirits Festival - Sept 2019