Wood Finishing: Early Explorers of South America

While Amburana is a commonly harvested tree in South America, this was a new find for a craft distilled spirits producer like us. Amburana is known as “Brazilian Oak” and often used in South America for making essential oils, crafting luxury furniture and barrel aging Brazil's most popular spirit, Cachaça.

Our partner cooperage uses a patented technique to honeycomb drill small holes into the Amburana staves, allowing more wood surface interaction with the Bourbon. After aging RD1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon for 4+ years, we insert the Amburana staves into the barrel. It doesn’t take long for Amburana’s character to beautifully influence the bourbon. The end result represents RD1's curiosity to learn, experience, explore.

The Experience: A Step Beyond Bourbon

The best of baking spices – apple cinnamon, nutmeg and light brown sugar – come alive on the nose and are followed by pine, vanilla, peaches and apricots. Flavor galore with spice cake, and ginger snaps in a rich mouthfeel. Try a drop of water to open up hints of herbal black tea, dark berry jam and pineapple pepper. Finish is long and warm, and ends with allspice and sweet oak.

If traditional tasting notes aren’t your style, you may…

See – Family heirloom coin collection

Smell – Sugar-cookie decorating party

Taste – Sweet and savory, begging for a Hot Toddy

Feel – Snowed in for the holidays

The Buzz: What Others Are Saying

Alcohol Professor: “This is essentially Thanksgiving in a glass. There’s spicy gravy, there’s candied yams, there’s fresh-baked pecan pie — and it all comes together under the guise of a finished Kentucky bourbon. Think cinnamon, spiced apple, molasses cookies and black pepper, and you have the first sip of this strange but true whiskey!” March 2024

The Tasting Panel: “Amburana wood staves are used in the making of this whiskey, which add a distinct cinnamon spiciness on the nose and palate that persists throughout. The spicy components take on additional intensity over time, adding notes of apple, nutmeg and brown sugar that are warm and inviting.” November 2023

USA Ratings: “A small batch bourbon with balanced honey-spice nose, light-bodied caramel-toffee palate. Impressive pepper-cinnamon spice and long finish.” August 2023

Bourbon Junkies: “I give this the highest grade. Personally, this is a keep-on-my-shelf for eternity. A+.” July 2023

John Barleycorn Awards: “A deep and inky whiskey with hints of bubble gum and candy cinnamon mingling with apple cinnamon oatmeal. Earthy, fun, and delicious.” June 2023

Ultimate Spirits Challenge: “Dense and woodsy on the nose, with undercurrents of orange marmalade, dates in syrup, strawberry compote, and apple blossom. Luscious and slightly sweet on the palate, opulent touches of dried fig, burnt brown sugar, cigar smoke, and vanilla bean swirl together and last forever.” June 2023

Fred Minnick’s Ascot Awards: “This is a floral, funky sip with a spicy fruitcake and gingersnap vibe. The complex menthol and apricot finish lasts forever. Fantastic.” May 2023