Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon Review

By Randall H. Borkus

Rating: C-

There is a distinctly Californian quality to Redwood Empire Whiskey Pipe Dream Bourbon, a quality not limited to its branding, rooted in the towering redwoods. Where many craft bourbons attempt to impress with sheer oak extraction, elevated proof, or complex finishing methods, Pipe Dream takes a more restrained approach. It pursues accessibility, while still carrying enough character to separate itself from the crowded field of sourced and blended bourbons.

Pipe Dream is a four-grain bourbon with a mash bill of 73% corn, 18% rye, 5% malted barley and 4% wheat. The blend incorporates whiskey 4 years to 14 years, bottled at 90 proof. While Redwood Empire often emphasizes sustainability and California imagery in its presentation, the whiskey avoids feeling like a branding exercise and instead, comes through as thoughtful everyday pour with an enjoyable profile.

What ultimately makes Pipe Dream stand out is how comfortably it wears its identity. Named after the tree “[d]eep in the Patriarch Forest of Humboldt Redwoods State Park, the coast redwood Pipe Dream rises 367-feet from the ancient forest floor.  Among the fastest-growing trees ever measured, its majesty and rise to prominence inspires us to reach higher in our pursuit of excellence”

Redwood Empire’s environmental initiatives include planting a tree for every bottle sold, a point that feels sincere rather than fabricated.

The Bourbon
The whiskey holds a warm amber color in my glass. The nose opens with a homemade oat bread crust, caramel-toffee and buttery shortbread cookies, followed by the emergence of a herbal note. There is a slight Eucalyptus-like aroma, coupled with a fresh morning earthiness indicative of damp grass clippings following a morning rain.  The aroma is simultaneously rustic and slightly polished, with a dominate herbal intensity to keep the sweeter notes from cloying.

The front and mid-palate leans squarely into dessert-driven flavors like a maple cream cookie, dusted with ginger spice and hints of toasted oak. The body is medium light at best with only a faint oily texture. The oak influence remains restrained throughout my palate allowing the sweeter bakery-style notes to persist rather than wandering into more tannins. Some will appreciate this softer approach, whereas others will long for more oak influence. The finish is moderate, fading gently with lingering hints of caramel, toasted oak, soft ginger root, and a hint of dried maple resin.

This bourbon is neither built for intensity, nor does it try. The whiskey is delicate considering the older stocks purportedly included in the blend. I surmise a bit more maturity in the younger barrels would give Pipe Dream additional depth and structure. Still, it appears the lighter presentation is also part of its appeal.

The bottom line is this bourbon is approachable, unpretentious and favors a soft balance and atmosphere over spectacle. I found it to be enjoyable yet very average for my taste.

The Price
The suggested retail price is $39.99.

Editor’s Note: Three years ago we wrote up a cask strength version of Pipe Dream.