I would buy this whiskey just based on how they’ve put all the information on the labeling. It’s sad how so many expensive bottles just put the bare minimum on the label, and then use most of the room for some goofy blurb on the back that they could’ve used a QR code for. Excellent review, Fred.
Grizzly Beast was my first Redwood Empire bourbon experience and it is one of my favorites now. I have finished off a batch 2 and have one more plus two batch 3’s. I also have a Lost Monarch and a Pipe Dream cask strength. Good stuff!
Just picked Grizzley Beast Batch 3 and I don't get the moldy note on the nose but the nose is pretty unremarkable. The flavor is great. Super complex and right up my alley. I get some nutty notes initially on palate that immediately turn into dark bourbon notes like tobacco, leather, and prunes. It lingers on the palate and finishes with this mash of flavors that I can never nail down. it's like the flavor notes just change every half second after it hits your tongue. The finish is mostly brown sugar, honey, apples, and oak (classic bourbon notes) but it doesnt' settle on any specific combination. The whole drinking experience is both "quintessential" bourbon but also super harmonious. There is complexity without spikes of flavor or incohesiveness. The waves of flavor just meld together like a longheld note that a singer just scales up and down.
I’m a big fan of Redwood empire currently drinking pipe dream and I will get their rye and burye. Wish I could find the cask strength versions. Enjoy!!
Would you consider the nose tight? And what exactly does that term mean? I’m curious if the old desk note would dissipate as it opens up.I got the tingle in my first bottle of pipe dream. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s a redwood phenomenon.
The rye is great too , lucky to try batch 2 , and got a bottle of batch 3 . Hopefully, when they start making all of their own products, they price can come down some .
Sometimes when I dry a glass off with a towel that was in the washer too long gets moldy and then I don't realize it's the towel and I wipe the glass out and the nose is weird but the palate is fantastic might be the class
It’s funny you brought up the Old Fitzgerald. The Bourbon Junkies said they would take the Larceny B523 over the Old Fitz. And yup Tare Breed beats a lot of things.
I have their core line up and it’s good. The emerald giant is one of my favorite easy drinking ryes. Their bottled in bond offerings are a disappointment to me. I got batch 2 based on your recommendation. The grizzly beast tastes super young and grainy, the rocket top is ok (they were super expensive at $100 each for 4-5 year juice) Haven’t tried their cask strength offerings but won’t ever buy anything other then their core line until they get the ages up to 6 years minimum and have the prices down. Tons of great things to drink out there especially at this price point. Thanks for the video Fred.
Great stuff, Fred! I'm a big Redwood Empire fan, and a bigger college football fan; which begs the question - how those Cowboys looking this year? I always pull for you guys in Bedlam! Cheers!
Fred, could you do a video on the economics of Craft distilleries compared to the “Big Boys”? I know it would be helpful for me to understand why this 5 year old bourbon is $90 and would perhaps nudge me in the direction of coughing up that cash if I knew why it was so expensive compared to its peers.
Yeah. In a nutshell, it’s the small business vs corporate. Walmart killed mom and pop retail. Kroger knocked out independent grocers. And Amazon cleaned what was left. Now our country is chain city. These small distilleries have leveraged most assets and have few revenue streams, while it takes 5 years to get here. It is complicated, but hope that helps
Fred, just watched you on BP's Roundtable (#84) and just wanted to say thank you for your honesty and opinions. Loved the input from all, but couldn't agree more with what you had to share and appreciate it. Great roundtable! wish I could have watched it live
I would buy this whiskey just based on how they’ve put all the information on the labeling. It’s sad how so many expensive bottles just put the bare minimum on the label, and then use most of the room for some goofy blurb on the back that they could’ve used a QR code for. Excellent review, Fred.
Grizzly Beast was my first Redwood Empire bourbon experience and it is one of my favorites now. I have finished off a batch 2 and have one more plus two batch 3’s. I also have a Lost Monarch and a Pipe Dream cask strength. Good stuff!
Just picked Grizzley Beast Batch 3 and I don't get the moldy note on the nose but the nose is pretty unremarkable. The flavor is great. Super complex and right up my alley. I get some nutty notes initially on palate that immediately turn into dark bourbon notes like tobacco, leather, and prunes. It lingers on the palate and finishes with this mash of flavors that I can never nail down. it's like the flavor notes just change every half second after it hits your tongue. The finish is mostly brown sugar, honey, apples, and oak (classic bourbon notes) but it doesnt' settle on any specific combination.
The whole drinking experience is both "quintessential" bourbon but also super harmonious. There is complexity without spikes of flavor or incohesiveness. The waves of flavor just meld together like a longheld note that a singer just scales up and down.
I’m a big fan of Redwood empire currently drinking pipe dream and I will get their rye and burye. Wish I could find the cask strength versions. Enjoy!!
Would you consider the nose tight? And what exactly does that term mean? I’m curious if the old desk note would dissipate as it opens up.I got the tingle in my first bottle of pipe dream. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s a redwood phenomenon.
The rye is great too , lucky to try batch 2 , and got a bottle of batch 3 . Hopefully, when they start making all of their own products, they price can come down some .
Sometimes when I dry a glass off with a towel that was in the washer too long gets moldy and then I don't realize it's the towel and I wipe the glass out and the nose is weird but the palate is fantastic might be the class
Glass
Transparency is great. Ben Hollady also list number of barrels and which floor of the rickhouse they come from. Completely transparent
It’s funny you brought up the Old Fitzgerald. The Bourbon Junkies said they would take the Larceny B523 over the Old Fitz. And yup Tare Breed beats a lot of things.
I love Redwood Empire. Looking forward to trying this one.
You don’t find the 5 grains colliding? If not, that’s impressive. Thanks Fred
You know, they didn’t! Impressive for sure
I have their core line up and it’s good. The emerald giant is one of my favorite easy drinking ryes.
Their bottled in bond offerings are a disappointment to me. I got batch 2 based on your recommendation. The grizzly beast tastes super young and grainy, the rocket top is ok (they were super expensive at $100 each for 4-5 year juice)
Haven’t tried their cask strength offerings but won’t ever buy anything other then their core line until they get the ages up to 6 years minimum and have the prices down. Tons of great things to drink out there especially at this price point.
Thanks for the video Fred.
The weird note on the nose - could it be a corked bottle (because you noted a maybe mold) or does that smell different?
I like redwood empire.. haven't had this one yet but sounds good!! Thanks
Just got the pipe dream cask strength…this makes me really excited to try it!
Batch 2 was amazing! Looking forward to batch 3.
I see a Blackwood over your left shoulder. Found a JHOB pick of that last month when passing through Louisville. Incredible bottle! Review?!
Sorry. Your right shoulder! My wife is a compounding pharmacist. I call her my very own “drug dealer!” 😂
Sounds delicious, and what a cool looking bottle
Great stuff, Fred! I'm a big Redwood Empire fan, and a bigger college football fan; which begs the question - how those Cowboys looking this year? I always pull for you guys in Bedlam! Cheers!
Love it.
I honestly do not know. I believe in Gundy, but the transfer portal killed us
I as well love the labeling wish more brands would do this
Redwood is great! Glad to see this make an appearance!
This bottle is great with cigars also
Fred, could you do a video on the economics of Craft distilleries compared to the “Big Boys”? I know it would be helpful for me to understand why this 5 year old bourbon is $90 and would perhaps nudge me in the direction of coughing up that cash if I knew why it was so expensive compared to its peers.
Yeah. In a nutshell, it’s the small business vs corporate. Walmart killed mom and pop retail. Kroger knocked out independent grocers. And Amazon cleaned what was left. Now our country is chain city. These small distilleries have leveraged most assets and have few revenue streams, while it takes 5 years to get here. It is complicated, but hope that helps
Totally helps. It is what I assumed…so appreciate it my man. Keep up the good work as always.
They plant the tree that gets burned down every 5 days in a forest fire so it's just replacing the last tree
Lookin good Fred!
Fred, just watched you on BP's Roundtable (#84) and just wanted to say thank you for your honesty and opinions. Loved the input from all, but couldn't agree more with what you had to share and appreciate it. Great roundtable! wish I could have watched it live
Ive tried their entire selection but cant find any bottled in bond. Love that bear lable
Rocket Top batch 3 is also good
thumbnail says distilled 2008 - you had me thinking this was 15yr BiB!
Talk about Click Bait!!
Shoot. That was an error. 2018
Will fix
GRIZZLY BEAST…….
Omg. How embarrassing!
All good Fred!@@FredMinnick
I can get RB for $40 hard to think of another bourbon I prefer at that orice
Please do that blind!
It would be like trying to do hard drugs today😂