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Please read and drink responsibly.
Classification: Straight Bourbon Finished with Oak and Maple Barrel Staves
Company: RD1 Spirits
Distillery: Sourced from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery(ies)
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 99.9
Age: NAS (Aged at least 4 years per company website)
Mashbill: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley
Color: Amber
MSRP: $70 / 750mL (2024)
Maple syrup | Graham cracker | Honey | Full
Maple sugar candy | Brown sugar | Molasses | Light oak | Easy-drinker
Burnt caramel | Brown sugar | Maple syrup | Sweet overall
A sweet, easy-drinking whiskey with a pleasant maple syrup flavor throughout.
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.
To accomplish this finish, RD1 Spirits takes French Oak staves (referred to as the first finish) that are steeped in a patented process of pressure, oxygen, time and temperature with maple syrup (referred to as the second finish). After aging 4 years, RD1 Spirits finishes this bourbon by inserting these staves into the barrels for an undisclosed amount of time. Notably, the whiskey’s name is a bit misleading as staves are used for finishing rather than transferring to different finishing barrels as the name implies.
The whiskey’s flavor profile is pleasant and well-integrated overall. Sweet flavors abound, with notes of maple syrup, graham cracker, honey, molasses, brown sugar, and burnt caramel intertwined at various points throughout the sip. The maple syrup note is present throughout, beginning with the aroma and finally trailing off at the end of the finish. However, it’s never overpowering and integrates naturally with the whiskey. It’s a light, easy drinker that lacks the typical spicy side of the bourbon flavor profile spectrum, resulting in a whiskey that drinks lower than its proof.
Overall, RD One Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Oak and Maple Barrels is a nice sipping bourbon that’s geared towards consumers who enjoy a sweet, maple syrup enhanced flavor profile. It’s well balanced, but its overall lightness will leave those who typically gravitate towards more flavorful higher proof finished whiskeys wanting more.
