Distilled in Indiana and California, and aged in Northern California, the Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye shows how climate plays into the aging of whiskey. It’s not just what you distill, where you distill it and how you distill it, it’s also about where and how you age it.

A blend of 3-5-year-old MGP and their own “in-house distilled grain-to-glass Rye”, it’s lighter and less spicy than most young MGPs I’ve tried. They’re not saying how much of the blend is theirs or how much is MGPs, but the distinct dill note that often come along with MGP is missing.

Emerald Empire currently makes several different rye mashbills, all of which are blended into this whiskey. Their main two are 90% Rye, 5% Wheat and 5% Malted Barley and 51% Rye and 49% Malt Barley. Combined with the MGP 95/5 this is a whiskey that’s definitely not light on rye.

So will the missing dill be a deal killer? Let’s dig into this rye whiskey review and find out!

Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye Review: Details and Tasting Notes

In Redwood Empire’s Words:

“John Muir once said “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than one seeks.” The Northern California Coast is a unique place, one of the few in the world where Giant Redwood trees grow. A place of inspiration and renewal. This same cool climate makes it a perfect place to produce sublime whiskey. Aging barrels here allows for a slow and even extraction of flavor, producing a whiskey of exceptional balance and complexity. Taste what our Redwood Empire inspires. DRINK AMONG GIANTS.”

Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)

Region: California and Indiana, USA

Distiller: MGP
Bottler: Redwood Empire Whiskey
Mash Bill: At least 51% Rye + Corn + Malted barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 3 Years
ABV: 45%

Price: $45*

Tasting Notes

EYE
Light caramel

NOSE
Fresh rye bread, dill, clove, toffee, citrus and some vanilla pudding and fruit.

PALATE
Toffee, spice, oak, citrus, rye bread, vanilla and some raw grain, char and a bit of fruity sweetness.

FINISH
Medium -> Spice, vanilla, citrus and oak

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good sense of balance, medium body and an even soft feel.

Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye Review: Overall and Score

Not bad. The Aroma is not overly complex, but well balanced with the cereal notes, spice and sweet notes working well together; Palate is Sweeter than the aroma, but good all around and becomes a bit spicier as it opens; Finish carries a candy sweetness that grows stronger as the spice fades out. The MGP dill kick is noticeably absent.

Starts out sweet and builds spicy as it opens. The sweetness itself evolves and moves from a dessert/candy sweetness to a grain sweetness. A youthful fruity note whispers through the whiskey and becomes more noticeable as it opens. Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye is an ok sipping whiskey with fantastic packaging that works quite well in a cocktail.

SCORE: 83/100 (B)

*Disclosure: This Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

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