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Whiskey Review: Redwood Empire Rocket Top Batch 2

We review Redwood Empire Rocket Top Batch 2, a bottled in bond whiskey out of California that's aged for 5 years.

OVERALL RATING

8
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Redwood Empire Rocket Top Batch 2 review

Tasting Notes

About:

Aged 5 years, 100 proof, $90 MSRP
Appearance:
This looks very nice in a glencairn. Clean caramel coloring with a soft orange hue, and light but noticeable viscosity.
Nose:
Not what I expected from all that rye. Very sweet aroma of cherry, caramel, and dates. All that sweetness isn’t cloying though, it is balanced by something herbaceous that I honestly can’t place and a solid backbone of baking spices.
Palate:
Rich, creamy mouthfeel delivers caramel corn and the cinnamon from the nose. That earthy, ground cinnamon note is perceptible from beginning to end of the Rocket Top experience. The sweetness of the first impression fades into tannic dried fruit and lands on big vanilla and oak for the finish which fades slowly with the omnipresent rye spice.
Finish:
Comments:
I tasted spices the whole time, but wouldn’t call this “spicy.” The rye is assertive, but more as earthy and tannic notes that play a near perfect contrast to the sweeter side of the glass. Unique among high ryes I’ve tasted for the heavy weighting of sweetness over spice in a way that brings out the best in both.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Jacob Wirt

Jacob Wirt, whose past lives as a cook and cultural studies researcher, continues to shape his deep appreciation for fermented grain beverages. His understanding extends beyond the mere enjoyment of the drink; he recognizes the knowledge, labor, and rich history behind every glass. With a passion for homebrewing beer, Wirt finds a similar fascination in whiskey, exploring how techniques, ingredients, and nuanced variables create the distinctive character of each expression.

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