Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye

I’ve been tempted to buy this bottle as I’ve heard great things about Redwood Empire as a distillery and I enjoy ryes. I was able to try this at a bar, neat, in a glencairn glass. The nose was was strong with mint, pepper, and rye spices that hit quick but ended sweet. It wasn’t too enjoyable as I didn’t have a real desire to go back to the nose. The palate had a strong rye spice punch that was full of honey and spice. It wasn’t too complex and more just rye spices which left me wanting more. It didn’t wow me and more of disappointed me since again, I wasn’t drawn to it. The finish was short, peppery and grabbed at your taste buds with the rye spices. Overall, for a $32 bottle (this was $8 a glass), it wasn’t a terrible rye but I have many other ryes I enjoy for $30-$40. I would even spend that extra $10-$15 for a more enjoyable rye. I’ll pass on grabbing this bottle BUT I do want to try their other offerings.

👃 spicier than expected for a 90 proofer. Classic rye notes. Obviously not bourbon. 👄 Much more complex than the nose. There's a strange note that reminds me of something like glue or play-doh, but that's not it. It's actually quite interesting and I like it a lot. I remember getting something like this from Blade & Bow bourbon, but it was overpowering there. Here, it seems to compliment the rye. 🏁 It gets sweeter and sweeter. Finish almost gives some bourbon notes like caramel. Notes: I'll always prefer good bourbon, but this is a GREAT rye. Easily a sipper, but I've made some pretty phenomenal cocktails with this too. I generally try to use less expensive whiskey for cocktails, but this one was especially good in something like a Paper Plane or Manhattan.

Was out with the wifey for dinner, saw this on the whiskey menu and figured I'd give it a try. I've had the Redwood Empire Pipe Dream bourbon, and I liked it very much. So... I agree with Expert review: this is on the "fresh and more youthful" side of the Rye spectrum. Light nose, and initial spicy palate with some sweetness. Similar spicy/herbal profile to other nearly-all-rye-mashbill Ryes I've had, but with less of a punch. 3.0 stars. It's good Rye, but I will most likely repeat-purchase Sazerac, Rabbit Hole, etc. — or one I've not had yet — before I consider buying Emerald Giant for the first time.

Fresh fennel, green cardamom, clove, nutmeg, nutty pralines, fair bit of peppery spice, dry golden apple, some astringency, leather, roasted corn, unripe peach. Not very interesting but not as 'young' as others claimed. Label states 4yrs which would meet the age requirement for bonded. Young whiskey isn't light, it's more of a palatte punch on account of the bitter oak tannins not having enough time to mellow out and reveal more diverse flavors. Full bodied and aged. Would suggest beam products, old forrester row series if you're a fan.

NEAT NOSE - Caramel and Green Apple PALATE - Extremely thin and while the notes from the nose transfer to the palate, they are very faint and leave as soon as they come. FINISH - Short. More minty than apple or caramel. BUY? Maybe; if you want to try it. At the price point, I can’t see it as being a regret. You’d also be supporting the environment/production of future barrels as they pledge to plant a tree for every bottle purchased. BUY AGAIN?? - Probably not.

Really great change of pace from what I've had lately. Strong candy apple and caramel on the nose. Slight pine. Some herbal characteristics. Those notes come through at the beginning on the palate before going into spice, oak, and leather. The leathercontinues with spice. Finishes a bit dry. Some great flavors come through with this bottle. It's a bit on the darker side and even more so on the spicy. A worthwhile bottle for the 40$ price I paid.