Hi Bourbon enthusiast
You must be 21 or over to enter this website. If you're not old enough to drink, then you're not old enough to read Breaking Bourbon.
Please read and drink responsibly.
You must be 21 or over to enter this website. If you're not old enough to drink, then you're not old enough to read Breaking Bourbon.
Please read and drink responsibly.
Classification: Straight Bourbon Finished with Amburana Staves
Company: RD1 Spirits
Distillery: Sourced from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery(ies)
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 110
Age: NAS (Aged at least 4 years per company website)
Mashbill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
Color: Honey
MSRP: $70 / 750mL (2024)
Baking spices | Graham cracker | Gingerbread cookie | Spicy
Apple pie | Cinnamon sugar toast | Caramel | Dark chocolate | Seasoned oak | Gingerbread
Baking spices | Cinnamon | Toasted oak | Long
A well-integrated, perfectly proofed Amburana finished bourbon.
RD1, which stands for Registered Distillery One, was founded in 2020 and is located in Lexington, Kentucky. Originally known as Ashland Distillery, it later changed ownership and became the William Tarr Distillery, which, coincidentally, was Lexington’s first federally registered distillery. Earlier this year, the company announced it plans to build a new $4.8 million brand destination, which will allow the brand to produce whiskey onsite.
Amburana finished whiskeys are on the rise, with producers finishing a variety of different ways. RD1 Spirits takes an uncommon approach, inserting honeycomb-drilled Amburana staves into the whiskey for an undisclosed amount of time. Increasing the surface area the liquid comes into contact with allows for faster interaction between the whiskey and the Amburana staves. However, it’s important to point out Amburana wood is known to interact with whiskey very quickly, resulting in a more dramatic impact on the flavor profile within a short amount of time.
As I’ve tasted more and more Amburana finished whiskeys, I’m finding those aged with staves being inserted into the whiskey often more balanced than those transferred to Amburana barrels. RD1 Spirits hits it right with this release, maintaining the base bourbon flavors with well-integrated Amburana influence in tune with the high level of balance struck by Barrell Craft Spirits with their Cask Finish Series: Amburana release. RD1 Spirits maintains a high level of traditional bourbon-inspired spice notes throughout, along with caramel, seasoned, and toasted oak complements, and then layers in Amburana-driven flavors such as graham cracker, gingerbread cookie, cinnamon, and dark chocolate. The proof hits right at 110, making for a full-flavored and enjoyable sip. It’s hands down the best release from RD1 Spirits I have experienced so far.
