Redwood Empired Pipe Dream Bourbon:

“This whiskey was on sale for $29 at a local liquor store, and all the other Readwood offerings were also on sale for the same price. It is 45% (90 proof) with a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% barley. According to their website: "Named for the 14th tallest tree on the planet, Pipe Dream is our first Bourbon whiskey. Pipe Dream Bourbon is made from a high corn mash-bill and blended from barrels aged between four and twelve years. Smooth and complex, it is a true sipping whiskey." The reviewer and his wife both did a little tasting, and here was the verdict: In general we liked this whiskey, and it is an easy drinker, but it doesn't have a lot of depth, so it is definitely smooth, but we would not describe it as complex. My sense was that they lean more towards the younger barrels with the "young bourbon" flavor arriving a little later in the tasting, so it doesn't taste like a 4 year old, but it also doesn't taste like a more complex 6+ year old. This may have something to do with being aged in northern CA where the temperature does not swing as much (i.e., 40 degree swing vs. almost 60 in Bardstown, Ky), so the whiskey doesn't get into the wood as much. On the nose we noticed vanilla, cinnamon, butterscotch, candied cherry, and a hint of toffee. The finish is short, and I would describe the mouth feel as dry, but not dusty the way some bourbons can be. Overall this is a good bourbon, but at 21% rye and 12 year old barrels in the mix I would have expected more. Note: We went into the tasting with no information re: the formulation other than what was on the bottle, so we had no expectations. It seems like other reviewers had similar impressions with descriptions that said "youngish" to "very young" tasting; not sure we agree with very young. Average rating appears to be 6/7 out of 10 or B-, and that seems about right." At $29 this was a good deal, and it might be OK at $10 more, but I'm not sure it is worth $45 which appears to be the normal price. On the other hand this might make a good gift especially if you don't know what the person really likes since it is good, easy to drink, and there is nothing offensive about it. Also, the labeling is cool and it sports an excellent quote: "The power of imagination makes us infinite." - John Muir”