Redwood Empire The Hyperion Batch 001 American Whiskey 750ml

Redwood Empire has spent more than a decade building its reputation on ambitious blending, and The Hyperion is genuinely the boldest expression of that philosophy yet — the first release in a brand-new annual series, and, fittingly, one that will never be repeated. Every future batch is designed to be its own distinct statement, so whatever's in this bottle exists exactly this way, this one time. The name comes directly from Hyperion, a 380-foot coast redwood in Redwood National Park believed to be the tallest living tree on the planet, at roughly 919 years old — a genuinely apt namesake for a whiskey built to showcase the full depth of the distillery's own barrel inventory.

Master Distiller Jeff Duckhorn and Master Blender Lauren Patz constructed the blend from somewhere between 50 and 100 barrels — roughly 79 in total — spanning more than 10 distinct mash bills across four entirely different whiskey categories: 32% bourbon, 30% rye, 25% wheat whiskey, and 13% American single malt, with individual components aged anywhere from 7 to 14 years. The single malt is 100% Redwood Empire's own grain-to-glass distillate, while the bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskey components were sourced from distilleries in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee — Duckhorn has confirmed the oldest whiskey in the entire blend is an Indiana bourbon. Every component entered the barrel between 110 and 120 proof in char #3 oak, was married together, and then given further maturation time in Northern California's cool coastal climate before being blended down to a final bottling strength of 110 proof (55% ABV), unfiltered.

"The Hyperion is an exercise in artistry," said Lauren Patz. "Regal, refined, bold. A collaboration of spirit types that fully brings to light the depth and diversity of our barrel inventory. Wheat Whiskey, Bourbon, Rye, and American Single Malt find both balance and transformation and demonstrate what can emerge when curiosity is matched with patience and purpose." Jeff Duckhorn added: "the Hyperion asks whiskey drinkers to look beyond the familiar. This first batch celebrates where we began, revealing what has been quietly maturing within our inventory." Forbes' David Tao got an early taste ahead of release, finding it "a full-bodied and complex whiskey that doesn't sacrifice composure for punch," with "the nose kicking off with loads of dried orchard fruit: apricots, figs, red plums, and white peaches," a medley that's "both tart and sweet, followed by growing waves of baking spice, cardamom, and toasted oak." The official tasting notes describe California walnut and roasted apricot on the nose, developing into "a rich, layered palate of decadent pomegranate molasses, stone fruit, cream, and warm baking spices," closing on "a long, harmonizing finish of toffee and toasted malt." With total production around 12,000 bottles, this is a genuinely limited, one-time-only expression from California's most recognized whiskey brand.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Redwood Empire Whiskey was founded in 2013 in Sonoma County/Mare Island, California, and describes itself as California's No. 1 whiskey brand. The Hyperion Batch 001 is the inaugural release in a new, annual, limited-edition series designed to showcase the depth of Redwood Empire's barrel inventory, with each future batch intended to be entirely distinct and never repeated.

The blend combines 32% bourbon, 30% rye, 25% wheat whiskey, and 13% American single malt, drawn from roughly 79 barrels spanning more than 10 different mash bills, with individual whiskeys aged between 7 and 14 years. The single malt component is 100% distilled in-house by Redwood Empire; the bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskey components were sourced from distilleries in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, with the oldest whiskey in the blend confirmed as an Indiana bourbon. Every component entered the barrel at 110 to 120 proof in char #3 oak, was married together, and matured further in Northern California's cool coastal climate. Crafted by Master Distiller Jeff Duckhorn and Master Blender Lauren Patz, the whiskey is unfiltered, distilled using a column still, and bottled at 55% ABV / 110 proof. Total production is approximately 12,000 bottles, released in August 2026.

Critics Reviews

No formal numerical critic score is confirmed for this product at this time — a very recent 2026 release.

David Tao, Forbes (extended independent early tasting):
"I got an early taste of Hyperion, and to my palate, it's a full-bodied and complex whiskey that doesn't sacrifice composure for punch. The nose kicks off with loads of dried orchard fruit: apricots, figs, red plums, and white peaches. That fruity medley is both tart and sweet, followed by growing waves of baking spice, cardamom, and toasted oak."

Lauren Patz, Master Blender, Redwood Empire Whiskey:
"The Hyperion is an exercise in artistry. Regal, refined, bold. A collaboration of spirit types that fully brings to light the depth and diversity of our barrel inventory. Wheat Whiskey, Bourbon, Rye, and American Single Malt find both balance and transformation and demonstrate what can emerge when curiosity is matched with patience and purpose."

Jeff Duckhorn, Master Distiller, Redwood Empire Whiskey:
"Exploration has always been central to Redwood Empire, from making whiskey in Northern California to blending across regions, ages, and styles. The Hyperion asks whiskey drinkers to look beyond the familiar. This first batch celebrates where we began, revealing what has been quietly maturing within our inventory. With each annual release, we invite people to experience whiskey from a different perspective."

Redwood Empire (official tasting notes):
"Nose: California Walnut, Roasted Apricots. Palate: Rich, layered palate of decadent pomegranate molasses, stone fruit, cream, and warm baking spices. Finish: Toffee and toasted malt."

The Spirits Business (press coverage):
"Described by its producer as 'a flavour bomb' with notes of walnuts, apricots, pomegranate molasses, stone fruit, cream and baking spices."

Tasting Profile

Nose
California walnut and roasted apricot lead, joined by dried orchard fruit — figs, red plums, white peaches — both tart and sweet, developing into baking spice, cardamom, and toasted oak.

Palate
Rich and layered, with decadent pomegranate molasses and stone fruit carrying the entry, joined by cream and warm baking spice. Full-bodied and complex, balancing genuine punch with real composure.

Finish
Long and harmonizing, closing with toffee and toasted malt — a smooth, unified close reflecting the careful marriage of four distinct whiskey styles.

Quick Overview

Serving Note

Best enjoyed neat in a Glencairn glass to fully appreciate the interplay between all four whiskey styles.