Redwood Empire Lost Monarch Cask Strength 750ML

Redwood Empire Lost Monarch Cask Strength 750ML is an uncut, unfiltered blend of bourbon and rye whiskey bottled at 58.6% ABV (117.2 proof) in a 750ml bottle. This expression takes the standard Lost Monarch concept — a marriage of straight bourbon and straight rye — and strips away dilution and filtration, delivering the blend at full barrel proof for maximum intensity.

Quick Facts: ABV: 58.6% (117.2 Proof)  |  Origin: Sonoma County, California  |  Blend of 3–12 Year Bourbon & Rye  |  Distillery: Graton Distilling Company

Production & Heritage

Lost Monarch Cask Strength was produced by Graton Distilling Company, originally located in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, California. The blend draws from two distinct whiskeys: a bourbon with a mashbill of 74% corn, 20% raw rye, 4.5% malted barley, and 1.5% wheat, and a rye whiskey built on 94% rye, 5% malted barley, and 1% wheat — the same recipes behind the distillery's Pipe Dream Bourbon and Emerald Giant Rye. All components are aged a minimum of four years, with some barrels reaching up to twelve years, matured in the temperate Northern California coastal climate that promotes slow, even oak extraction compared to the dramatic temperature swings common in Kentucky or Tennessee warehouses. The whiskey is bottled without chill filtration or water reduction. In 2025, Redwood Empire's operations relocated from Graton to Mare Island, just north of San Francisco.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with vibrant, earthy tones that give way to a distinctive mint chocolate ice cream character. A honeyed sweetness lingers underneath, consistent with the whiskey's rich, clover-honey appearance in the glass.

Taste: On entry, surprising mint notes float across the palate before settling into a core of treacle and milk chocolate at mid-palate. The full cask strength proof amplifies the interplay between the bourbon's corn sweetness and the rye's peppery backbone, with an astringent black pepper and asparagus note emerging toward the back palate.

Finish: The finish runs warm and persistent, carrying dried apricot, white pepper, and layered baking spices. There is genuine heat at 117.2 proof, but the lack of filtration gives the texture a full, oily quality that keeps the warmth from turning sharp.

How to Drink Lost Monarch Cask Strength

Neat with a few drops of water is the ideal starting point — the high proof rewards patience, and even a small amount of water opens up the mint and chocolate aromatics considerably. On the rocks, the blend mellows into a rounder, sweeter profile as dilution increases.

• Manhattan: The rye-forward spice and full proof stand up to sweet vermouth without getting lost, adding unusual mint and chocolate depth.
• Old Fashioned: The natural treacle sweetness means less simple syrup is needed, and the barrel-proof intensity holds its character through ice dilution.
• Boulevardier: The blend's dual bourbon-rye personality bridges the gap between sweetness and bitterness, pairing well with Campari's herbal edge.

Best For

• Barrel-proof enthusiasts seeking a bourbon-rye blend outside the Kentucky mainstream
• Fans of the discontinued High West Bourye looking for a similar flavor profile
• Building a California whiskey collection alongside other craft distillery releases
• Side-by-side tastings comparing the standard Lost Monarch to its cask-strength counterpart

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Lost Monarch Cask Strength taste like? The dominant profile centers on mint chocolate, treacle sweetness, and black pepper spice, with dried apricot and warm baking spices on the finish. At 58.6% ABV, the flavors arrive with considerable intensity and a full, oily texture from non-chill-filtered bottling.

How does Lost Monarch Cask Strength compare to High West Bourye? Both are blends of straight bourbon and straight rye whiskey, and multiple reviewers have noted profile similarities, though High West Bourye has been discontinued. Lost Monarch Cask Strength leans more heavily into mint and chocolate notes, while Bourye was typically recognized for honey and stone fruit characteristics.

Is Lost Monarch Cask Strength good for sipping neat? Yes, though the 117.2 proof means a few drops of water can help open the aromatics and tame the heat. Experienced barrel-proof drinkers will find it approachable neat thanks to its oily, unfiltered mouthfeel.

Where is Lost Monarch Cask Strength made? It was produced at Graton Distilling Company in Graton, within the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, California. As of 2025, Redwood Empire's distilling operations have moved to Mare Island, north of San Francisco.

What foods pair well with Lost Monarch Cask Strength? Dark chocolate truffles complement the mint-chocolate notes directly. Smoked brisket or pulled pork stands up to the high proof and spice. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the treacle sweetness. Pecan pie mirrors the caramel and baking spice tones. Charcuterie with dried apricot echoes the fruit on the finish.

What sizes does Lost Monarch Cask Strength come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle. No other size variants have been widely documented for this cask-strength expression.

Is Lost Monarch Cask Strength worth the price? It positions as a premium craft cask-strength whiskey, and the combination of aged components (up to 12 years), unfiltered bottling, and the relatively uncommon bourbon-rye blend format gives it strong value within the barrel-proof category from American craft producers.

Why Lost Monarch Cask Strength?

The bourbon-rye blend category remains remarkably thin — most American whiskey drinkers know only High West Bourye, now discontinued, as a reference point. Lost Monarch Cask Strength fills that gap with a different regional character shaped by slow coastal aging in Northern California, a process that yields a more gradual oak integration than the harsh seasonal swings typical of inland distilleries. The uncut, unfiltered format preserves every nuance of the 3-to-12-year-old blend, and the dual mashbill architecture — high-corn bourbon married with near-pure rye — creates an unusual push-pull between sweetness and spice that few single-whiskey expressions can replicate. For drinkers seeking barrel-proof complexity from outside the traditional whiskey belt, this bottle makes a compelling case for California as serious whiskey country.