Redwood Empire Van Duzen Straight Rye Whiskey- Batch 1

NEAT NOSE - Toast with butter, cinnamon, vanilla, honey, and a lot of citrus PALATE - This is a very intricate and fascinating palate. It starts with a gentle rye spice, then a good amount of honey and vanilla. The texture is smooth, mild, and sweet. I also detect a touch of cinnamon, similar to the brown sugar kind found in Pop-Tarts. FINISH - The finish is quite intriguing; it begins with citrus that transforms into white chocolate. Completely unexpected! This is my first experience with any chocolate notes in whiskey, let alone white chocolate. The finish is lengthy and certainly the highlight of this spirit. BUY? - Definitely! Redwood Empire consistently delivers, though Pipe Dream and Emerald Giant from their core collection aren't my top picks. However, all their special releases have been excellent so far! Redwood particularly excels at rye whiskey. BUY AGAIN? - Like most craft distilleries, I feel the price is a bit high. Nevertheless, the Van Duzen is particularly distinctive, making me want to watch for future batches.

Dank, but pleasantly so, unlike other more dank whiskies I've experienced. It's likely a divisive drink, yet I found it enjoyable.

Feels like an 80 proof, yet the flavor remains robust. Adding a few drops of water enhances it slightly.

A dependable rye whiskey.