Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast Bourbon 750ML

Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast Bourbon 750ML is a bottled-in-bond straight bourbon whiskey from Sonoma County, California, bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof) in a 750ml bottle. It earned a Double Gold medal at the 2024 Whiskies of the World Awards and 92 points from Tastings.com on Batch No. 004, establishing it as one of the more compelling craft bourbons coming out of the West Coast.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 Proof)  |  Origin: Sonoma County, California, USA  |  Age: 5 Years, Bottled-in-Bond  |  Distillery: Redwood Empire Distilling

Production & Heritage

Redwood Empire Distilling operates out of Sonoma County, California, a region better known for wine but increasingly respected for craft spirits. Grizzly Beast is produced under the strict requirements of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, meaning it is the product of a single distilling season, aged at least five years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at exactly 100 proof. What makes each batch distinct is that the barrels must come from within a six-month production window, creating genuine seasonal variance from release to release. The mashbill is a blend of several grain recipes — most built around approximately 70% corn but incorporating high-rye and wheat-forward mashbills where corn dips closer to 51%. Batch 004, for example, listed 68% corn, 18% rye, 9% wheat, and 5% malted barley. This blending approach gives the distillery unusual flexibility in shaping each batch's character, and no two releases are identical.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Cherry cola and rhubarb pie lead the nose, followed by warmer layers of cinnamon and vanilla. There is a subtle almond quality underneath that adds depth without heaviness.

Taste: The entry is rich with sticky toffee and light caramel, building quickly into a spice-driven mid-palate of nutmeg and white peppercorn. Cedar emerges toward the peak, lending a dry, woody structure that keeps the sweetness in check. At 100 proof, there is genuine weight here without excessive heat.

Finish: The finish runs shorter than expected for a bottled-in-bond expression, with gentle rye spice, faint caramel chew, grapefruit peel, and lingering oak. A hint of ginger and white peppercorn carries through the close.

How to Drink Grizzly Beast

At 100 proof, Grizzly Beast handles a single large ice cube well without losing its structure, though tasting it neat first rewards the drinker with the full range of its toffee-to-spice arc. A few drops of water open up the cherry cola aromatics noticeably.

• Old Fashioned: The cedar and nutmeg notes play naturally against an orange peel garnish and a touch of Demerara syrup.
• Boulevardier: The high rye spice and 100-proof backbone stand up to Campari and sweet vermouth without being buried.
• Gold Rush: Lemon and honey soften the peppercorn finish, producing a bright, balanced cocktail that highlights the bourbon's caramel core.

Best For

• Collecting limited, batch-variable bottled-in-bond releases
• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who values California craft distilling
• Building a home bar with distinctive high-proof mixing bourbons
• Side-by-side tastings comparing seasonal batch differences

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Grizzly Beast taste like? Grizzly Beast delivers sticky toffee, nutmeg, and cedar on the palate with cherry cola aromatics on the nose and a peppery, oak-driven finish. It drinks bold at 100 proof but stays balanced rather than hot.

How does Grizzly Beast compare to Basil Hayden's 10 Year? Basil Hayden's 10 Year is a Kentucky bourbon with a lighter body and lower proof (80 proof), leaning more toward dried fruit and subtle spice. Grizzly Beast runs hotter at 100 proof with more pronounced toffee sweetness and cedar, and its blended-mashbill approach produces a noticeably different grain character.

Is Grizzly Beast good for sipping neat? Yes — the bottled-in-bond proof of 100 gives it enough weight and flavor concentration for straight sipping, though a drop of water helps open the aromatics for those sensitive to higher-proof spirits.

Where is Grizzly Beast made? Grizzly Beast is distilled and bottled by Redwood Empire Distilling in Sonoma County, California. The distillery is located in one of the state's premier agricultural regions, and all barrels are aged in federally bonded warehouses per bottled-in-bond requirements.

What foods pair well with Grizzly Beast? Smoked brisket complements the cedar and toffee notes. Dark chocolate with sea salt mirrors the sweet-spice balance. Aged cheddar plays well against the rye spice. Pecan pie echoes the nutmeg and caramel, and grilled stone fruit highlights the cherry cola aromatics.

What sizes does Grizzly Beast come in? Grizzly Beast is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Grizzly Beast worth the price? Grizzly Beast positions as a mid-premium craft bourbon, and its bottled-in-bond designation, five-year age statement, and batch-specific character offer strong value in the 100-proof bourbon category. The Double Gold medal at the 2024 Whiskies of the World Awards and 92 points from Tastings.com reinforce its quality credentials at this tier.

Why Grizzly Beast?

The defining trait of Grizzly Beast is its batch-to-batch unreproducibility. Because each release draws only from barrels produced within a single six-month window, and because the underlying mashbills are blended from high-corn, high-rye, and wheat-forward recipes rather than a single fixed grain bill, every batch carries a distinct fingerprint. The bottled-in-bond designation guarantees a baseline of quality and transparency that many craft bourbons at this price level do not provide. With a Double Gold at the 2024 Whiskies of the World Awards and consistent critical recognition, Grizzly Beast has earned a reputation as one of the more serious bourbon offerings from a California distillery — a state still working to prove itself outside of wine country.