Redwood Empire Rocket Top Rye 750ML

Redwood Empire Rocket Top Rye 750ML is a bottled-in-bond, 5-year-old California rye whiskey bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof) in a 750ml format. One of the few wheated rye whiskeys on the market, Rocket Top earned 90 points from Whisky Advocate and a Double Gold at the Sunset International Spirits Competition.

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

Production & Heritage

Redwood Empire Distillery operates out of Sonoma County, California, and names each of its expressions after iconic trees in the Northern California redwood forests. Rocket Top stands apart from most American ryes through its unusual mashbill of 87% rye, 7% malted barley, and 6% wheat — making it one of a very small number of wheated rye whiskeys in the category. The addition of wheat alongside a generous proportion of malted barley contributes a distinctive softness and buttery mouthfeel rarely found in high-rye expressions. Produced under the strict requirements of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, the whiskey is the product of a single distillery, a single distilling season, aged a minimum of five years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at exactly 100 proof.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with concentrated crème brûlée sweetness, then gives way to bergamot, sage, and a buttery warmth. Deeper inhalation reveals clove, brown sugar, and a subtle hint of pancakes with maple syrup.

Taste: The entry is surprisingly soft for a 100-proof rye, arriving with fig jam, caramel corn, and toasted brown sugar. The mid-palate develops peanut brittle, vanilla ice cream, and orchard fruit before cracked pink peppercorn, nutmeg, and ginger push through. A plummy sweetness weaves between the spice, keeping the whiskey balanced and lively.

Finish: Long and creamy, the finish lingers with maple syrup sweetness, milk chocolate, and allspice warmth. A light touch of red fruit and subtle oak tannin bring it to a clean, satisfying close.

How to Drink Rocket Top Rye

At 100 proof, Rocket Top holds up beautifully neat but also rewards a few drops of water, which amplify the buttery sweetness and open up those bergamot and stone fruit notes. Its wheated softness and bold proof make it an exceptional cocktail rye as well.

• Manhattan: The fig jam and crème brûlée richness stand up to sweet vermouth without being drowned out.
• Sazerac: Pink peppercorn spice and brown sugar depth pair naturally with absinthe and Peychaud's bitters.
• Old Fashioned: The inherent caramel and maple sweetness means you can pull back on added sugar and let the whiskey do the heavy lifting.

Best For

• Rye whiskey enthusiasts exploring wheated mashbill variations
• Gifting to a whiskey collector who values bottled-in-bond transparency
• Anchoring a home cocktail bar with a versatile, 100-proof rye
• Side-by-side tastings comparing traditional rye spice against softer, wheat-influenced profiles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rocket Top Rye taste like? Rocket Top delivers fig jam, caramel corn, and crème brûlée sweetness balanced by pink peppercorn, nutmeg, and ginger spice. The wheated mashbill gives it a notably soft, buttery mouthfeel uncommon in high-proof rye whiskey.

How does Rocket Top Rye compare to Smoke Wagon Bottled in Bond Rye? Both are bottled-in-bond at 100 proof, but Rocket Top's 6% wheat in the mashbill creates a softer, creamier profile, while Smoke Wagon leans into more traditional rye grain spice and dry oak character. Rocket Top is aged five years, and its Sonoma County origin gives it a distinctly Californian identity compared to Smoke Wagon's Nevada-based production.

Is Rocket Top Rye good for sipping neat? Yes — the wheated mashbill tempers the heat you might expect from a 100-proof rye, resulting in a smooth, approachable sipper with enough complexity to keep experienced palates engaged.

Where is Rocket Top Rye made? Rocket Top Rye is produced at Redwood Empire Distillery in Sonoma County, California. The distillery is located in Northern California's wine country and takes its naming inspiration from the region's iconic coastal redwood trees.

What foods pair well with Rocket Top Rye? Smoked pork ribs complement the whiskey's caramel and brown sugar sweetness. Dark chocolate truffles echo the milk chocolate finish. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the buttery mouthfeel. Pecan pie mirrors the peanut brittle and maple notes. Charcuterie with fig preserves plays directly into the fig jam palate character.

What sizes does Rocket Top Rye come in? Rocket Top Rye is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Rocket Top Rye worth the price? Rocket Top positions as a mid-premium bottled-in-bond rye, and its five-year age statement, 100-proof strength, and rare wheated rye mashbill deliver strong value within that tier — especially given its 90-point score from Whisky Advocate and Double Gold medal recognition.

Why Rocket Top Rye?

What makes Rocket Top genuinely unusual is its status as one of very few wheated rye whiskeys commercially available. That 6% wheat softens the grain-forward intensity typical of high-rye mashbills without sacrificing the peppercorn spice and herbal complexity rye drinkers expect. The bottled-in-bond designation guarantees transparency in age and production — five full years of maturation at a single distillery, bottled at an honest 100 proof. Backed by a 90-point rating from Whisky Advocate, a spot on Fred Minnick's Top 100 American Whiskeys list in 2022 at #37, and a Double Gold from the Sunset International Spirits Competition, Rocket Top has earned serious critical attention that matches its distinctive place in the American rye landscape.