Redwood Empire Devils Tower High Rye Bourbon 750ML

Redwood Empire Devils Tower High Rye Bourbon 750ML is a 99-proof (49.5% ABV) four-grain bourbon from Sonoma County, California, bottled at 750ml. This single-lot release earned a Gold Medal at the 2024 Sunset International Spirits Competition, where judges noted its allspice character and full, rich body — a testament to what happens when a genuinely high rye content meets slow coastal aging.

Quick Facts: ABV: 49.5% (99 Proof)  |  Origin: Sonoma County, Northern California  |  Minimum 5 Years Old  |  Distillery: Redwood Empire Distilling

Production & Heritage

Redwood Empire Distilling operates as a grain-to-glass distillery on the Northern California coast, a region known more for wine than whiskey. Devils Tower stands apart from the rest of the Redwood Empire lineup through its aggressive four-grain mashbill — 51% corn, 45% rye, 2% wheat, and 2% malt — pushing the rye content about as high as legally permissible while still qualifying as bourbon. The liquid is blended from 25 hand-selected barrels aged at least five years in toasted and char #3 barrels, with the temperate coastal climate encouraging a slower, more even extraction of wood sugars and tannins than the temperature swings typical of Kentucky rickhouses.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with honeysuckle and vanilla before shifting into kettle corn sweetness and green apple. Beneath that, black pepper and baking spice announce the high rye influence clearly.

Taste: The entry is surprisingly honeyed, with caramel and brown sugar giving way quickly to a rye-driven mid-palate of black pepper, cinnamon, and cardamom. Oak structure builds steadily toward the peak, where grapefruit pith and a flash of mint add complexity without bitterness.

Finish: Medium-long and warming, with lingering tobacco leaf, licorice, and dry hay. The pepper and subtle sweetness hold in balance through the fade, leaving a clean, spice-forward close.

How to Drink Devils Tower

At 99 proof, Devils Tower has enough backbone for neat sipping but opens up meaningfully with a few drops of water, which draws out the honeysuckle and softens the pepper. A single large ice cube works well for warm-weather drinking without drowning the grain character.

• Manhattan: The 45% rye content gives this bourbon enough spice to stand in for a traditional rye whiskey, producing a Manhattan with more body and caramel depth.
• Boulevardier: The brown sugar and baking spice notes complement Campari's bitterness, creating a rich, layered cocktail.
• Gold Rush: Honey syrup and lemon amplify the bourbon's existing honeycomb sweetness while the high rye keeps the drink from turning cloying.

Best For

• Rye whiskey drinkers exploring bourbon without sacrificing spice
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who values unusual mashbills
• Building a California craft spirits collection alongside established Kentucky bottles
• Hosting a bourbon tasting focused on high-rye versus traditional mashbills

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Devils Tower taste like? Devils Tower leads with black pepper, cinnamon, and cardamom from its 45% rye content, balanced by caramel, honey, and brown sugar sweetness. The finish carries tobacco, licorice, and dry hay with a persistent warmth.

How does Devils Tower compare to Remus Highest Rye Straight Bourbon? Both occupy the high-rye bourbon space, but Devils Tower uses a four-grain mashbill (adding 2% wheat) and is aged on the temperate Northern California coast rather than in the Midwest. Remus Highest Rye tends to lean more heavily into classic Indiana bourbon character with a drier profile, while Devils Tower carries additional honeyed sweetness from its coastal maturation.

Is Devils Tower good for sipping neat? At 49.5% ABV, Devils Tower is bottled at a proof that delivers full flavor intensity without excessive heat, making it well-suited for neat sipping. A few drops of water will further unlock its floral and honeyed aromas.

Where is Devils Tower made? Devils Tower is distilled and aged at Redwood Empire Distilling in Sonoma County, along the Northern California coast. The maritime climate of the Redwood Empire region provides cooler, more stable temperatures than traditional bourbon-producing states.

What foods pair well with Devils Tower? Smoked brisket or pulled pork benefits from the bourbon's pepper and spice; sharp aged cheddar mirrors its caramel and oak notes; pecan pie echoes the brown sugar and vanilla; dark chocolate with sea salt draws out the tobacco and licorice on the finish; and grilled stone fruit plays well against the honeysuckle and green apple aromatics.

What sizes does Devils Tower come in? Devils Tower High Rye Bourbon is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Devils Tower worth the price? Devils Tower positions as a mid-premium bourbon, competing with well-established high-rye expressions while offering a genuinely unusual four-grain mashbill, a minimum five-year age statement, and single-lot blending — factors that represent strong value in the craft bourbon segment.

Why Devils Tower?

The 45% rye mashbill is the headline here — it places Devils Tower among the most rye-forward bourbons commercially available while a small percentage of wheat rounds out the grain bill in a way few competitors attempt. Coastal aging in Sonoma County produces a distinctly different barrel interaction than landlocked distilleries, yielding a smoother extraction and more integrated oak influence over its minimum five years of maturation. The 2024 Gold Medal from the Sunset International Spirits Competition confirms what the liquid suggests: this is a serious bourbon from a region still proving itself. For drinkers who find standard bourbon mashbills too sweet and straight rye too lean, Devils Tower occupies an increasingly rare middle ground with genuine character.