Redwood Empire Foggy Burl American Single Malt Whiskey is a 27-barrel blend of seven malt styles, distilled from 100% malted barley. Bottled at 94 proof, it is a non-age-stated expression with a suggested retail price of $99.99.
The finish offers more balanced sweetness, vanilla, and oak. The wood influence is strong, but aged and flavorful; not overdone, providing power beneath its flavors of honeyed sweetness.
The nose oozes malty honey, toasted cereals and caramel, with a note of butterscotch. That sounds like the whiskey should come across as syrupy, but the palate is a good deal lighter than that, as well as taking a surprisingly spicy turn.
This is an expressive American single malt, there is no doubt. I’m not entirely mesmerized by it, however. I find it a little over malt-forward, wanting a little more roundedness in the glass.
Fans of Irish whiskey will find a lot to love in this bottle. This could very well serve as a solid gateway for bourbon drinkers to explore the American single malt category. My only complaint is that it is, for the most part, a bit of a one-trick pony. It has a small wheel of flavors, but it does everything on that wheel really well.
