A Toast to Earth Day with Redwood Empire Whiskey. The company’s name is an homage to the majestic towering redwoods of northern California.
Redwood Empire honors the collaboration of man and nature with its sustainably produced line of highly regarded handcrafted whiskeys and a dedication to environmental stewardship that includes an innovative tree planting program.
Taking inspiration from conservationist and Sierra Club founder John Muir, the distillery has put sustainability at the core of everything it does.
The company’s partnership with Trees for the Future to plant one tree for each bottle sold dates back to day one, says Brand Manager Elliott Sneen. “Trees for the Future thoughtfully plants trees where they make the largest impact,” he says. “Over several countries, they’re restoring degraded land, and as a result allow for further growth of forest gardens which provide nourishment to families that would have otherwise been on the pathway to hunger.” Redwood Empire has already planted over 350,000 trees with the goal of hitting half a million by this summer.
We spoke to head distiller Laruen Patz and master distiller Jeff Duckhorn to learn more about this eco-friendly distillery.
What does it mean to be a California Whiskey?
Duckhorn: California whiskey to us means the freedom to push the boundaries of what traditional whiskey has been. We get to take the knowledge of distillation handed down from the past and add our own wrinkle to it through tweaks in grain selection, different barrel maturation techniques and blending of aged whiskey stocks. I like to think of it as Slow Whiskey, equivalent to the slow food movement. Taking more time throughout the process to create something more complex and nuanced at the finish.
Tell us a bit about your Grain to Glass philosophy—why is this important to you?
Patz: Every element of spirit production is an endless rabbit hole of perusable knowledge. Proofing alcohol to the correct abv percentage and playing with aspects of solubility, maturation manipulation via barrel selection and defining an aging program, distillation concentrations and duration, and of course grain selection and fermentation. Grain to glass production allows distillers to explore all the aspects of their craft and is the only path to true mastery of the process we all share a passion for.
Duckhorn: A grain to glass program at a distillery is where distillers really get to flex their creative muscle and put an individual stamp on the whiskies being created. Local grain and malt sourcing and utilization of the unique marine climate here in Sonoma County leads to a softer and more delicate spirit.
What should bartenders know about the process of making Redwood Empire Whiskey?
Patz: Every barrel lot of whiskey we harvest is tested via sensory perception, at CASK strength with a well-trained olfactory you can scent an imperfection straight from the barrel. This ensures we maintain the quality and integrity of each blend, also it’s fun.
Duckhorn: We take a very hands-on approach to making our whiskey. A lot of time was spent early on deciding which raw materials to use, mash bills, barrel type and char level, proof at barrel entry and many more decisions leading to the finished product. We believe in creating subtlety and complexity through blending different mash bills and ages of spirit.
Distillers are coming up with innovative ways to attract new drinkers, where does Redwood Empire fit in?
Patz: Interest in spirits has shifted away from simply drinking to enjoying. By sharing the biological and chemical magic of high proof alcohol through process transparency and education we can act as a resource for our community of consumers. In fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for distilling’s unique blend of art and science we can transform a drinker into a spirit enthusiast.
Duckhorn: Bourbon has historically been king among whiskey here in the United States, but there are a lot of other grains available to play with. Rye whiskey has been experiencing explosive growth and American Single Malt is starting to take off. The American Whiskey category allows for a lot of creativity by blending several different whiskey types to create something new. Our Lost Monarch Whiskey is a great example of that. Not a Bourbon or a Rye technically, but a marriage of the two leading to a whiskey with the sweetness of a Bourbon but lots of great spice as well, perfectly suited for cocktails.
Fairy Ring
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz Lost Monarch Blend
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 6 large mint leaves
- 1 large ripe strawberry
Preparation: Muddle the mint and strawberry in a cocktail shaker. Add whiskey, lemon, simple syrup and ice to the shaker and shake hard for 15 seconds. Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh mint sprig.
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Source: Mixology News
