Redwood Empire Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
94 proof (47% ABV) | 750mL | Four-grain wheated bourbon | 30% wheat mash bill | Sonoma County, CA — Redwood Empire Colonel Armstrong is the distillery's "Ode to Wheated Bourbon": its first expression built around wheat instead of rye, launched June 2026 as a core, nationwide addition to the portfolio — not a limited release.
The whiskey blends Redwood Empire's own grain-to-glass California distillate with hand-selected 4- to 14-year-old high-wheat bourbons from Kentucky and Indiana, all aged in Northern California's cool, foggy coastal climate. The mash bill runs 30% wheat — more than double many traditional recipes — for a soft, rounded bourbon layered with ripe stone fruit, honeyed grain, and vanilla, a nostalgic hint of a strawberry jam sandwich, gentle baking spice, and a smooth oak finish. It's named for Colonel James Armstrong, who in the 1870s preserved the land that became Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve — each bottle carries GPS coordinates leading to the 1,400-year-old Colonel Armstrong Tree, continuing the brand's conservation tradition of over 1.8 million trees planted since 2019. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting notes
Per the brand's official release notes: a rich, rounded body layered with vibrant fruit, spice, and integrated oak; ripe stone fruit, honeyed grain, and vanilla unfold on the palate alongside a hint of strawberry jam, balanced by gentle baking spice; a soft, rounded mouthfeel with a smooth oak finish.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 30% wheat mash bill — Redwood Empire's first wheat-forward, four-grain bourbon
- 94 proof — California distillate blended with 4- to 14-year-old Kentucky & Indiana high-wheat bourbons
- Core nationwide release (not limited); every bottle maps to the 1,400-year-old Colonel Armstrong Tree
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat or with a single cube — the soft wheat profile shines unadorned. It also makes a gentle, fruit-forward Old Fashioned or a wheated-whiskey Manhattan.
Frequently asked questions
Is Colonel Armstrong a limited edition?
No — the brand launched it as a permanent, nationwide addition to the core range, not a one-time release.
What does "wheated" mean?
Wheat replaces rye as the secondary grain in the mash bill (here 30% wheat), giving a softer, rounder, sweeter whiskey than rye-recipe bourbons.
Who was Colonel Armstrong?
Colonel James Armstrong, who in the 1870s preserved the redwood land that became Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Sonoma County.