Today, I am reviewing RD1 (Registered Distillery One) Spirits Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished With Brazilian Amburana Wood. This whiskey was released earlier this year and you can find more details on RD One’s website. We’ve heard some grumblings in the whiskey world that Amburana may be one of the most polarizing finishes around. So how does this one stack up? Let’s dive in!
About the Bourbon:
- Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Proof: 110
- Finish: RD1’s partner cooperage honeycomb drills small holes into Amburana staves, allowing more wood surface interaction with the Bourbon. After aging RD1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon for 4+ years, RD1 inserts the Amburana staves into the barrel for an undisclosed period of time.
- Age: 4+ years
- Suggested MSRP: $79.99
Scott’s Tasting Notes: RD1 KSBW Finished With Brazilian Amburana Wood
- Nose: Yeasty, bready, cinnamon, apples, and the iconic Biscoff “Airline Cookies”.
- Palate: initially, a nearly overwhelming cinnamon sweetness that buries most of the remaining flavors. With time in the glass and a second sip, a pop of apple and baked fruit emerge for a nice dessert-like whiskey. This reminds me a nice, warm apple cider doughnut.
- Finish: Finish was cinnamon heavy, but the bourbon was a bit thinner than anticipated given the flavor packed punch from the wood finish.
Closing Thoughts
It is clear that Amburana wood imparts a huge amount of fragrant cinnamon notes to any whiskey that it touches. While I understand that this may not be preferable for some, the folks at RD One seem to have finished this whiskey for just the right amount of time. I could easily see this whiskey being “over-finished” if it spent any more time interacting with this unique, Brazilian wood. However, for those looking for a nice, dessert-like whiskey, this hits a lot of high notes. With beautiful packaging and some unique finishes, we look forward to seeing what else is on the horizon for RD1 Spirits.
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