The first batch of this series was an overlooked gem. Not in the “it didn’t get quite the acclaim it deserved” way. It’s underrated in the “so under appreciated that they bailed on this line after two batches” way. Which is a real shame considering the first batch was fantastic. I thought that was all the ever made, but I was able to find a single bottle that proved the second batch exists. The recipe seems to be identical to Batch 01. 4, 5, and 11 year-old bourbons and 2 and 3 year-old ryes comprise the blend. Bottles 7/18/2018, 45% ABV. Nose: Orange and tangerine citrus. Mint chocolate and pistachio. Vanilla, caramel, and toffee. Black cherry. Date and fig. Vick’s Vapor Rub. Golden raisin. Cinnamon, white pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Palate: More of the mint chocolate and pistachio. Almond as well. Caramel, honey, vanilla, and toffee. Lemon-flavored candy. Orange and tangerine citrus. Cola. Fig and date. Nougat. Graham cracker and vanilla frosting. Sweet potato. Dried apricot. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Lemon candy again. Orange and tangerine citrus. Cherry and gala apple. Pistachio and mint chocolate. Red hot tamale. Cocoa and pipe smoke. Cinnamon, white pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Moderate length. This measures up to my memory of Batch 1. It’s got such a unique profile. The bourbon-rye blend really does give this the best of both worlds. It’s a damn shame that this was discontinued. At $40, this was well worth the juice. It’s actually $10 less than I paid for the first batch. I gave that one a 4.5, and I feel like that’s the right score for this as well. Redwood Empire has revamped their line, and I’m looking forward to getting into it in the future. With that being said, I think that they should seriously consider re-exploring this line. Well done.