Four whiskey styles, more than 10 mash bills, and nearly 80 barrels come together in a 110-proof blend that brings together traditional bourbon sweetness and a surprisingly woodsy, spicy character.
Stats
- Type: Blended Whiskey
- Age: 7-14 years
- Proof: 110 (55% ABV)
- Mashbills: Not disclosed
- Origin: Redwood Empire and undisclosed sourced distilleries from Indiana (MGP assumed), Kentucky & Tennessee
- Additional Aging: Redwood Empire — Cloverdale, California
- Blend Composition:
- Bourbon: 32%
- Rye whiskey: 30%
- Wheat whiskey: 25%
- American single malt: 13%
- Release: Limited release
- MSRP: $99 / 750 mL (via Redwood Empire)
Tasting Notes
- Nose: The initial impression leans toward classic Kentucky bourbon, with brown sugar and cherry sweetness leading the way. Given time in the glass, the nose becomes more intriguing, revealing raw pine, woodsy notes reminiscent of Redwood Empire’s namesake trees, dried walnut, pomegranate, coconut flakes, floral earthiness and older leather.
- Palate: A rich, buttery viscosity gives the palate an inviting start, with brown sugar oatmeal, deep toffee and occasional hints of peach. A good swirl brings forward a more pronounced wave of rye-driven baking spice, adding energy to an otherwise approachable, bourbon-forward profile.
- Finish: Cinnamon spice quickly gives way to a hot, peppery character that calls to mind American single malt, followed by a touch of spearmint. The moderately long finish leaves milk chocolate, espresso and a persistent layer of cake frosting lingering over the spice. For me, this lingering combination is the most satisfying part of the whiskey and one of its strongest distinguishing features.
Redwood Empire The Hyperion is an ambitious blend of four American whiskey styles, combining bourbon, rye, wheat whiskey and American single malt into a single 110-proof release. Batch 001 brings together approximately 79 barrels, more than 10 mash bills, and whiskey aged between seven and 14 years. It’s an intriguing approach to blending, especially for a bottle that openly shares its component percentages rather than hiding behind a single mash bill or vague description.
Despite that diversity, The Hyperion drinks more like a traditional, bourbon-forward whiskey than its unusual composition might suggest. Brown sugar, cherry, toffee and baking spice provide familiar comforts, while a developing woodsy character, dry nuts, coconut and a lingering single-malt-like spice give it a personality of its own. The beautiful presentation and thoughtful transparency add to the appeal, though I found the experience a little less distinctive than I expected from such an unconventional blend.
Presentation
The Hyperion earns nearly full marks for presentation. The tree-crown topper, the sequoia-inspired design details and the prominent blend percentages on the front label make this a bottle that feels thoughtfully designed rather than merely dressed up. I particularly appreciate how the visual identity connects to the whiskey’s woodsy character and the world’s tallest known tree.
The bottle also looks fantastic on a shelf. That’s not enough to make a whiskey worth buying on its own, but here the presentation complements a genuinely interesting liquid and reinforces the thought behind the release.
Distinctiveness
Blending four whiskey styles across more than 10 mash bills gives The Hyperion plenty of potential for individuality. The woodsy, earthy nose, dry nuts and coconut provide an unusual counterpoint to its familiar bourbon sweetness, while the peppery, single-malt-like finish adds another layer of character.
Still, I expected the whiskey to feel even more unconventional than it does. The individual components ultimately settle into a fairly traditional bourbon-like profile, and the palate occasionally lacks the complexity suggested by the nose. It’s distinctive without being as transformative as its blend composition might lead you to expect. That doesn’t make it less enjoyable, but it does temper the sense of discovery.
“The beautiful presentation and thoughtful transparency add to the appeal, though I found the experience a little less distinctive than I expected from such an unconventional blend.“
Transparency
Redwood Empire deserves credit for sharing meaningful details about The Hyperion. Rather than offering a single mash bill that cannot accurately describe the blend, the brand discloses the proportions of bourbon, rye, wheat whiskey and American single malt, along with the age range, approximate barrel count, number of mash bills, proof and filtration status.
The remaining limitation is that the specific origins of the individual whiskey stocks aren’t fully identified. The blend spans Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee, and I occasionally picked up a familiar MGP-like character that briefly pulled me out of the experience. I would love to see even more specificity about where each component was distilled, but the level of disclosure here is a meaningful strength.
Value
At $99 for a 110-proof whiskey aged 7 to 14 years, The Hyperion lands in a reasonable place. With an age profile averaging around a decade, the price feels fair and could even be slightly favorable, depending on the quality and cost of the component stocks. The unusual blend, unfiltered presentation and substantial proof all help support the asking price.
The bottle design is an added bonus, particularly for collectors who appreciate distinctive packaging. The main consideration is whether the liquid itself fits your palate: drinkers who love traditional bourbon sweetness with woodsy, nutty and spicy accents will likely find more to appreciate than those expecting a radically different whiskey experience.
Buy if:
- You enjoy bourbon-forward blends with extra layers of spice and earthiness.
- You appreciate complex, woodsy aromas, including pine, coconut and dried nuts.
- You want a 110-proof whiskey with a substantial age range and a lingering finish.
- You value transparent blending details and standout bottle design.
Skip if:
- You prefer bright, fruit-forward whiskey over dry, earthy and woodsy profiles.
- You want a blend that tastes wildly unconventional from the first sip.
- You dislike peppery spice, especially the hotter character that develops on the finish.
- You expect every component’s specific distillery of origin to be disclosed.
Verdict
Redwood Empire The Hyperion is an ambitious, well-made whiskey that succeeds more through balance and texture than through sheer novelty. The blend’s composition is genuinely fascinating, and the whiskey rewards patience: what initially comes across as a fairly straightforward bourbon nose develops into something woodsy, earthy and layered. On the palate, its buttery viscosity and deep toffee are inviting, while the finish delivers a satisfying combination of peppery spice, chocolate, espresso and sweetness that stays with you.
My main reservation is that the liquid doesn’t fully capitalize on the possibilities of its four distinct whiskey styles. I expected more contrast and complexity throughout the palate, and the occasional familiar sourced-whiskey character makes the overall experience feel a little less immersive than I’d hoped. Still, those are relative criticisms of a whiskey I enjoyed, not fundamental flaws. The Hyperion remains an interesting blend with good transparency, an exceptional presentation and a price that feels justified for its age and proof.
At $99, I’d recommend it to drinkers who appreciate a thoughtful blend and a more wood-driven, spicy take on bourbon. It’s not necessarily the revelation its unusual composition might suggest, but it’s a compelling bottle that demonstrates how different American whiskey styles can come together without losing their individual character entirely.
Bourbon Bishop Bottom Line:
A beautiful, transparent, 110-proof blend that leans traditional on the palate but finishes with enough woodsy spice and lingering sweetness to make it worth exploring at $99.
For those who prefer numbers, here’s the full score breakdown:
- Nose: 4.25 / 7
- Palate: 5 / 7
- Finish: 5.75 / 7
- Presentation: 7 / 7
- Distinctiveness: 5.25 / 7
- Transparency: 5.5 / 7
- Value: 6.25 / 7
Bourbon Bishop Rating: 5.4 / 7 – Divine
Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style.
| Score | Descriptor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Hell No | Drain pour. Seriously undrinkable. |
| 1.1–2 | Purgatory | Bad, but could be worse. Only in extreme cases. |
| 2.1–3 | Only Earthly | Just okay. Best used as a mixer. |
| 3.1–4 | Bliss | Passable to Good sipper. Works well in cocktails. |
| 4.1–5 | Angelic | Good to great. Often high value for the price. |
| 5.1–6 | Divine | Top-shelf. Must-buy for fans of the style. |
| 6.1–7 | Holy Heaven | Out-of-this-world. A true unicorn. |
Disclosure: This bottle was provided to me free of charge for review. All opinions are my own.
About Redwood Empire Whiskey
Founded in 2013, Redwood Empire Whiskey is a Northern California whiskey producer built around the character of its home region. Named for the historic Redwood Empire and the towering trees that define the landscape, the brand combines its own grain-to-glass distillate with thoughtfully sourced whiskey from across the country. Today, Master Distiller Jeff Duckhorn and Master Blender Lauren Patz lead the production team, balancing traditional whiskey-making with a willingness to experiment across styles, ages and mash bills.
Redwood Empire has built one of the largest aging whiskey inventories on the West Coast while maintaining a deliberately hands-on approach to distilling, maturation and blending. Its portfolio spans bourbon, rye, wheat whiskey and American single malt, with an emphasis on expressive, approachable whiskey and California character. The brand also puts conservation at the center of its identity, supporting redwood restoration and reforestation efforts as part of its commitment to the forests that inspired its name.
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