Sips and Secrets

Hi everyone! 

I am back with another bourbon blog, and this week I am going to let you in on a couple of secrets, including where Rockpile Bourbon originates from, and where it gets its name. 

A lot of folks ask whether or not our bourbon begins its life in California, and the answer is no! It actually starts in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and is put to sleep in charred American oak barrels. 

In order to get the bourbon to the West Coast, where we turn it into what you know as Rockpile, those same barrels have to travel across the country! They begin the journey on an 18-wheeler container truck and make it alllll the way from Indiana to California in about a week.

The bourbon gets to travel without a seatbelt, because unlike with wine, oxidation is encouraged. No one is worried about the liquid getting sloshed around too much, which is nice because we don’t have to worry about crazy drivers. (Although if I was on the road the bourbon still might not make it). Sometimes a few barrels show up empty because they are leaked, stolen, or who knows? The Big Parm is Italian after all…🫢 But the rest are dropped off at our distillery. There, we measure the proof and exact gallonage, and transfer the bourbon back into our very own wine casks. 

This is where our West Coast charm comes in, and the part of the process that is most special to us! It should be special to you, too! Why? There aren’t many bourbons that are bottled in California. More so, ours is likely the only one on the market with specific Sangiovese and Montepulciano finishes. 

The name, “Rockpile,” embodies everything this bourbon is. Of course, Henry Belmonte wanted to represent tenacity, resilience, and grit- adjectives that you may associate with whiskey. But he also wanted something that said “sophisticated” and “classy”- words often used to describe wine. So “Rockpile” comes from “Rockpile Appalachian,"- a mountain range overlooking Lake Sonoma, whose soils produce world-class wines. It is a tribute to Henry’s roots, his upbringing, and his aspirations all in one. 

So, next time you drink Rockpile, remember how much intention and detail went into crafting a bourbon THAT good. I hope you enjoyed this little history lesson, and if I bored you, go pour yourself a glass of RPB on me. 😉

Cheers,

Brie 

P.S. 

Uncle Jason, if you are reading this, thanks for the idea and hope you feel very informed! ;)