Travel & Pour: The Wooded Wonderland of Redwood Empire
At The Good Pour, we love nothing more than connecting our guests with the stories behind the bottles on our shelves. Through our Travel & Pour series, we’re taking you along with our team members and franchise owners as they visit top distilleries, vineyards and breweries around the world — bringing home exclusive picks and firsthand travel tips just for you.
Recently, Joe & Amber Velasco, owners of The Good Pour Longwood, headed out to Northern California to visit Redwood Empire Whiskey in their destination distillery that opened in 2025. As long-time fans of the brand, they went on a mission to hand-select an exclusive single barrel of Haystack Needle Bourbon.
Here’s a peek inside their trip, what makes Redwood Empire so special, and why this new bottle deserves a spot on your home bar.
A Historic Island Sanctuary
The journey to Redwood Empire takes you on a peaceful drive through Northern California farmland and wine country — or you can take a scenic ferry ride from San Francisco. Located on historic Mare Island, a former Naval shipbuilding facility, the area is steeped in character.
"Taking a stroll through the area, you really get to feel the history," says Joe. "You see old officer quarters, heavy concrete barriers, classic brick warehouses, and St. Peter’s Chapel, which houses one of the largest collections of Tiffany stained-glass windows under one roof."
When you arrive at the distillery, that historic backdrop meets creative, modern flair. The team preserved the original architecture while adding personality with artwork and fun, fire-breathing sculptures.
Lunches, Legends, and a Legendary Selection
The experience kicked off at the Redwood Empire Bar, where guests can enjoy a wine-country-inspired menu with a distinct whiskey twist. (Joe’s pro tip: Don’t sleep on the cookies!)
After a tour of the production floor, Joe and Amber headed to the tasting room for the main event: choosing their barrel. They were joined by Master Distiller Jeff Duckhorn and Master Blender Lauren Patz, and even the distillery’s owner, Derek Benham, popped in to say hi.
"Lauren explained that the five whiskies pulled for our selection represented the full spectrum of what they use for their blends," Joe recalled. "I’ve participated in many private barrel selections, and I can say with absolute certainty this was the hardest choice I’ve ever had to make. It’s a true testament to the incredible quality of what they’re doing out there."
Crafted with Intention & Fun
Beyond the tasting, the trip highlighted the incredible care that goes into every batch. Learning how different expressions are blended with deliberate purpose — like dialing in the finish of Screaming Titan to match a specific flavor profile versus crafting Colonel Armstrong for broader appeal — showed just how passionate and intentional the team remains. They take the craft seriously but still allow room to experiment and have fun.
Bringing the Pick Home to Florida
After much discussion, Joe and Amber selected an 8.5-year-old, 119.2-proof Haystack Needle Single Barrel Bourbon. Featuring a unique High-Rye mash bill (51% corn, 44% rye, 2.5% malted barley, 2.5% wheat), it stands as the only High-Rye Haystack Needle pick in the entire Southeast.
"It’s an adventure on your palate that you won't forget," says Joe. "Redwood Empire is doing some of the best work in whiskey right now, making products that drink well above bottles that are twice the price."
