Redwood Empire: The Hyperion American Whiskey Review (2026)

 

In Graton, California, there was a distillery called Graton Distilling Co, founded in 2014 by Derek Benhem and Master Distiller Jeff Duckhorn. It was a small operation, and while the duo crafted whiskey, they also wanted to offer mature spirits. From that came Redwood Empire Whiskey, the spirits arm of Purple Wine & Spirits.

 

Beginning with a production capacity of just four barrels each day, Redwood Empire stated that for every bottle sold, they’ll plant a tree. When I first reviewed Redwood Empire in 2023, they planted 1.02 million trees. By September 2026, that number had jumped to 1.84 million. That’s a lot of bottles sold!

 

The Graton Distilling Co has since been shuttered, but Redwood Empire Whiskey lives on. Benham and Duckworth outgrew what that small operation could produce and, in 2025, moved everything to Mare Island, just north of San Francisco. They’ve brought in Master Blender Lauren Patz, formerly of Spirit Works Distillery.

 

While Redwood Empire Whiskey has more than tripled its capacity, it isn’t what you’d consider production at industrial levels; the current capacity is now 14 barrels a day.

 

Redwood’s whiskeys are all named after iconic redwood trees in the area. Today, we’ll explore the inaugural release of The Hyperion, named for a 919-year-old, 380-foot-tall Redwood tree in Redwood National Park, which, in turn, was named for one of the 12 Greek titans. It also happens to be the tallest known tree on Earth!

 

The Hyperion is an American Whiskey blended of 32% Bourbon, 32% American Rye, 25% Wheat, and 13% American Single Malt whiskeys sourced from Indiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Redwood Empire distilled the American Single Malt component. In all, 79 barrels were married, yielding 1000 cases.

 

“The Hyperion is an exercise in artistry. Regal, refined, bold. A collaboration of spirit types that fully brings to light the depth and diversity of our barrel inventory. Wheat Whiskey, Bourbon, Rye, and American Single Malt find both balance and transformation and demonstrate what can emerge when curiosity is matched with patience and purpose.” - Lauren Patz, Master Blender

 

At 55% ABV (110°), a 750mL bottle has a suggested price of $99.99. The Hyperion is slated to become an annual release.

 

Normally, I don’t talk much about packaging because it is merely a vessel. Occasionally, someone does something eye-catching, and I’ll point it out. When I unpacked the box, the first thing I noticed was the cork. My first thought was that it was somehow damaged during shipping. A second later, I realized the design was purposeful: a crown celebrating the tree that stands above all others.

 

When I showed the bottle to Mrs. Whiskeyfellow, she said something along the lines of, “That’s so cool. I would definitely buy it just for that!” So, kudos, marketing team; you did well.

 

I’m more interested in what’s beneath the cork, and that’s why we #DrinkCurious. This opportunity is possible because Redwood Empire provided me with a sample of The Hyperion in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s get started, shall we?

 

• Whiskey Type: American Whiskey
• Distiller: Redwood Empire and undisclosed distilleries
• Age: 7 years
• Mashbill: Undisclosed blend of 32% Bourbon, 32% American Rye, 25% Wheat, and 13% American Single Malt whiskeys
• Cooperage: 79 – 53-gallon new, toasted, #3 charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 55% ABV (110°)
• Price per 750mL: $99.99
• Unfiltered

 

Appearance: I drank this whiskey neat from a Glencairn glass. The rust-colored liquid formed a fragile rim, producing a mishmash of tears: some thick, thin, fast, slow, and randomly spaced. It was certainly different!

 

Nose: I patiently waited for 15 minutes before engaging with the aroma. Caramel, toffee, and leather were the first to hit my olfactory sense. As I delved deeper, I smelled milk chocolate, apricots, fried plantains, and walnuts. I drew the air through my lips only to discover more apricots.

 

Palate: A dense mouthfeel left behind a palate shock of clove and toasted oak. I took a second sip; this time I identified stewed apricots, milk chocolate, and vanilla on the front. Toffee, cinnamon, and allspice jumped from my mid-palate; the back featured French oak, intense clove, and toasted rye.

 

Finish: Long, bold, and spicy, the finish included French oak, clove, allspice, cinnamon, rye spice, and nutmeg, which didn’t quite do away with the toffee and apricot notes struggling to stay relevant. Just as everything fell off at 2:18, there was a kiss of creamy vanilla.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume that the Rye component is MGP’s 95/5 mashbill. While only 32% of the blend, it tried to hog the spotlight. At the same time, the French oak influence and allspice were likely a byproduct of the Wheat whiskey. The fruity notes likely come from the American Single Malt, while everything else probably comes from the Bourbon.

 

The Hyperion is a master class of blending different whiskey categories. While Redwood Empire isn’t even close to the first to attempt it, Lauren Patz certainly proved how skilled she is.

 

The Hyperion is easily my favorite expression out of Redwood Empire. I can’t wait to see what future releases taste like. My Bottle rating is undeniably the only option. Cheers!  

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.