Redwood Empire Rocket Top Bottled-in-Bond Rye Whiskey

50% ABV (Bottled-in-Bond), 750 ml

 SINGLE SEASON, SINGLE DISTILLERY This rare whiskey was bottled under the strict tenents of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. Aged in the temperate climate of the Northern California coast, the original distillate was altered only by the addition of pure water from the Russian River Valley aquifer. This is the purest expression of Redwood Empire’s craft.
DISTILLED GRAIN TO GLASS, SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
DISTILLING SEASON: SPRING 2016
MASH BILL : 87% Rye 7% Malted Barley 6% Wheat
BOTTLING: SUMMER 2021
LOT SIZE: 26 BBLS

sandalwood, clove, black pepper, coffee parsnip, dry leaves grounds, leather, rich malt

The Redwood Empire stretches from San Francisco to Humboldt Bay and on to the Oregon border. The region is home to majestic coastal redwoods, some more than 2,000 years old. 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.

All aspects of the spirit production process are preformed onsite and add a level of control and dedication to ensure both the quality and consistency of the product. This process includes mashing, fermentation, distillation, aging, blending, and bottling.

The craft and complexity of Rocket Top Rye started in Spring 2016. Different mash bills were selected to ultimately deliver a wide range of whiskey expressions to use in the crafting of the final blend. In fact, no two mash bills were identical, and that resulted in exceptional balance and depth of flavor. The mash bills ranged from 56% rye to 90% rye to emphasize the bold flavor of the rye and tempered it only slightly with malted barley and wheat.

Using water sourced from our Russian River aquifer, we cook the mash and then ferment it for approximately 7 days.

The fermented mash is pumped in a continuous column still from Headframe Spirits Manufacturing out of Butte, MT. Continuous distillation generally produces an overall more consistent product and streamlined process.

Rocket Top Rye has been aged a minimum 5 years in 53-gallon American White Oak (quercus alba) barrels. Most barrels are toasted and charred to level 3. We barreled down between 110-120 proof in order to extract both the tannins and sugar from the wood.

In Summer 2021 we taste through 100+ barrels to select the top 26 barrels that come together for the best balance and expression. Finding the right combination of barrels that elevate the overall product is as personal to each distiller as the distillation process. It cannot be rushed or forced; it must be forged with patience passion and palate.
The final mash bill for Rocket Top Rye is: 87% Rye, 7% Malted Barely, and 6% Wheat. This a high Rye whiskey that showcases the best of what the grain has to offer.