Redwood Empire Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon 750mL

Redwood Empire The Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon Whiskey

Wheated Bourbon Whiskey | 47% ABV | 94 Proof | 750mL | 30% Wheat Mash Bill | Blend Aged 4–14 Years

Process & Profile

Redwood Empire The Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon Whiskey is a high-wheat bourbon built for a softer, rounder style while retaining enough rye and oak to give the whiskey structure. The four-grain mash bill contains 59% corn, 30% wheat, 6% rye, and 5% malted barley, placing wheat at the center of its flavor profile.

The whiskey is created from a 122-barrel blend that brings together Redwood Empire’s own grain-to-glass whiskey with selected high-wheat bourbons from Kentucky and Indiana. Components range from approximately four to 14 years in age, combining younger whiskey for freshness and vibrancy with older barrels for greater oak depth and complexity.

Bottled at 94 proof, Colonel Armstrong emphasizes ripe fruit, honeyed grain, vanilla, gentle baking spice, and integrated oak. Its unusually high 30% wheat content contributes a soft mouthfeel and rounded sweetness without eliminating the subtle spice that keeps the bourbon balanced.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Ripe stone fruit, vanilla, honeyed grain, strawberry jam, sweet cereal, and gentle oak

Palate: Soft and rounded with peach, vanilla, honey, strawberry preserves, toasted grain, and mild baking spice

Finish: Smooth and balanced with lingering honey, soft fruit, baking spice, and seasoned oak

What Makes It Special

Colonel Armstrong stands out for its unusually high wheat content. At 30% wheat, the mash bill uses considerably more wheat than many traditional wheated bourbons, creating a notably soft texture and fruit-forward sweetness.

The blend also combines whiskey across a wide age range. Younger components provide fresh grain and fruit character, while older bourbon reaching approximately 14 years contributes deeper oak, vanilla, and mature spice.

The whiskey is named after Colonel James Armstrong, whose family helped preserve the ancient redwood forest that became Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Northern California. The Colonel Armstrong tree represented on the bottle is estimated to be approximately 1,400 years old, continuing Redwood Empire’s tradition of naming its whiskeys after notable redwoods.

How to Enjoy

Enjoy Redwood Empire Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon neat to experience its soft texture and combination of stone fruit, vanilla, honeyed grain, strawberry, and oak. Allowing the bourbon to rest briefly in the glass can help its sweeter fruit and cereal aromas become more expressive.

It also works well over one large ice cube, where gradual dilution can bring additional vanilla and honey forward. Its approachable 94-proof strength and fruit-driven profile also make it suitable for an Old Fashioned or Whiskey Sour without requiring a heavily sweetened cocktail.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Redwood Empire The Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon Whiskey?

Colonel Armstrong is a high-wheat bourbon from Redwood Empire made with a four-grain mash bill containing 30% wheat and a blend of bourbons ranging from approximately four to 14 years old.

2. What is the mash bill for Redwood Empire Colonel Armstrong?

The mash bill is 59% corn, 30% wheat, 6% rye, and 5% malted barley. The high wheat percentage contributes to its soft, rounded mouthfeel and sweeter flavor profile.

3. What proof is Redwood Empire The Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon Whiskey?

Redwood Empire Colonel Armstrong is bottled at 94 proof, which equals 47% alcohol by volume.

4. What does Redwood Empire Colonel Armstrong taste like?

It offers notes of ripe stone fruit, vanilla, honeyed grain, strawberry jam, sweet cereal, gentle baking spice, and smooth oak.

5. Where can I buy Redwood Empire The Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon Whiskey?

You can buy Redwood Empire The Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon Whiskey directly from The Barrel Tap, where you can shop bourbon whiskey and other premium spirits online.