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
New Orleans Spirits Competition: “The Brazilian oak is way out front in the aroma. Its unique perfume mingles with the vanilla and baking spice notes from the American oak to create a new aroma of toffee and honeysuckle... probably not for everyone but I fell completely under the spell.” August 2024
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
110 Proof (ABV 55%)
MAY ONE ALWAYS PUSH YOU FURTHER
RD1 crafts impressive Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon to celebrate the firsts in our lives – those who were first to create, first to believe, first to remove barriers. Just like the gutsy mavericks who built Lexington’s first registered distillery in the late 1800s, RD1 was started in 2020 by modern-day entrepreneurs who have the spirit to dare, a gift all firsts possess.
History & Innovation
In 1865, Ashland Distillery became the first federally registered distillery in Lexington, Kentucky, and was assigned the distinction of RD#1. Later renamed the William Tarr Distillery, it was a powerhouse producer in the state until prohibition.
In 2020, Lexington entrepreneurs – awe-struck by the stories of these bourbon firsts – formed a new brand, RD1 Spirits, to keep the history alive and to help write the next chapter by specializing in wood-finished bourbon.
Today, RD1 has earned a spot on the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. All are invited to visit our current home in Lexington’s Distillery District and our new R&D distillery, under construction just a few miles away.
Nose
Rich baking spices: apple cinnamon, nutmeg, and light brown sugar. Hints of pine, vanilla, peaches, and apricots.
Palate
Full-bodied with flavors of spice cake and ginger snaps. Layers of herbal black tea, dark berry jam, and pineapple pepper (especially with a drop of water).
Finish
Long and warm, ending with allspice and sweet oak.
*SHIPPING NOTICE- If possible, please use a business address for shipping. All shipments require an adult signature which is much more reliable at a place of business.
All orders usually ship within 24-48 hours unless noted otherwise