Redwood Empire Distilling – Haystack Needle Straight Bourbon 8 Year Single Barrel Mare Island, Vallejo, California, USA NOSE: Caramel, vanilla, honey, toasted oak — classic warm bourbon scents. PALATE: Rich caramel and toffee with layers of dark honey and roasted nuts/vanilla custard. Reviews often describe baking spice and brown sugar notes alongside fruit hints like apple or citrus brightness in some single barrels. FINISH: Medium to long, with oak spice, vanilla, and a lingering bright citrus/baking spice tone on some barrels. NOTES: 🌾 Haystack Needle Rye (8-Year Single Barrel): Similar depth with caramel, warm spice, dried fruit, and oak, intensified by higher proof — often with more spice, baking spice, and rye character. Haystack Needle 8 Year Straight Bourbon (and its rye counterpart Haystack Needle 8 Year Single Barrel Rye). This expression is a limited “Haystack Needle” single barrel release from Redwood Empire Distilling — highly collectible; very small batches.