KQED reported that Redwood Empire, a whiskey brand known for honoring Sonoma County’s iconic conifers, moved into Mare Island, the oldest naval base on the West Coast. Mare Island is a naval base that dates back to 1854 and became one of the busiest naval bases in the world during World War II, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command.
The California whiskey brand announced that it acquired the distillery and the Savage & Cooke whiskey brand on Mare Island in December. All the necessary distilling infrastructure remained in the building, and the facilities at one point produced spirits for the company formerly owned by California winemaker Dave Phinney.
“Our goal has always been to produce exceptional spirits, and with this new distillery, we’re positioning ourselves to do just that on a larger scale,” said Owner of Redwood Empire Whiskey Derek Benham in a statement.
About California’s Whiskey Brand Redwood Empire
Redwood Empire pays homage to the 420-mile forest of California’s Redwoods that once spanned the majority of the Sonoma coast. The brand names its whiskeys after some of these legendary trees, including the 14th largest redwood in the world, “Pipe Dream” or “Emerald Giant,” the fastest-growing tree on the planet.
The distillery doesn’t just take its name from the Redwoods; it actively works on saving these endangered forests. Redwood Empire donates funds to Save the Redwoods League and has helped plant over 1.7 million trees since its inception.
The company made the move to the former naval shipyard on Mare Island a decade after it laid down its first barrel.
A Sip of the Past — The History of Mare Island
According to the National Park Service, Mare Island was discovered when a Spanish ship captain, Don Juan Manuel de Ayala y Aranza, touched down in 1775. A little less than 100 years later, Mare Island became a naval base in 1854, making it the first naval base in the United States on the West Coast.
The base became extremely active during World War II, and many naval ships and submarines were built there. At the war’s end, Mare Island made 17 submarines, four submarine tenders, 31 destroyer escorts, 33 small craft more than 300 landing crafts. The island itself is home to hundreds of historic buildings, including officer’s mansions, chapels and bomb shelters.
In 1993, the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission recommended that the base close down, and in 1996, Congress accepted the commission’s suggestions and did exactly that.
In 2020, Mare Island began to make waves in media outlets like The Press Democrat when the “Prisoner” winemaker, Dave Phinney, partnered with a billionaire to turn Mare Island into a gastronomic and spirits destination.
The Northern California news outlet shares that Phinney is no stranger to building lucrative spirits businesses, and the entrepreneur made over $150 million from selling his spirits companies.
Phinney shared that he fell for Mare Island’s rich history, so he started purchasing buildings on the island to build his Savage and Cooke Distillery. Phinney shared that at the time, he envisioned opening a winery, an artist’s studio and a coffee roaster on the island.
It appears Redwood Empire intends to continue picking up where Phinney left off, and the brand has a whiskey bar and restaurant in the space.
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