America’s Best Bourbon Bars 2022 – SOUTH

Best Bourbon Bars 2022 South

The SOUTH REGION is major player on the Bourbon Bar scene! Terrific variety of ambiance ranging from dive style joints like Little Dipper in Houston, TX to ultra premium swanked out destinations like Warren in Del Ray, FL. All with one common denominator – INCREDIBLE BOURBON SELECTIONS! Yardbird Southern Table and Bar, Miami Beach, FL Brick […]

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Best Bourbon Bars 2022 South

The SOUTH REGION is major player on the Bourbon Bar scene! Terrific variety of ambiance ranging from dive style joints like Little Dipper in Houston, TX to ultra premium swanked out destinations like Warren in Del Ray, FL. All with one common denominator – INCREDIBLE BOURBON SELECTIONS!

Warren. Del Ray, FL, best bourbon bars
Warren in Del Ray, FL. Recently Opened.

Yardbird Southern Table and Bar, Miami Beach, FL

Brick City Southern Kitchen & Whiskey Bar, Ocala, FL

Haven, Tampa, FL

Old Hickory Whiskey Bar, Pensacola, FL

Warren, Del Ray, FL

Teddy’s Bourbon Bar, Prattville, AL

Permission Whiskey, Houston, TX

Poison Girl, Houston, TX

Eight Row Flint, Houston, TX

The Standard Pour, Dallas, TX

Whiskeys, Dallas, TX (NEW)

The Golden Rule, Georgetown, TX

Nickel City, Austin TX

Little Dipper, Houston, TX

Kinfolk Lounge & Library, Austin, TX (NEW)

Moonshine Grill, Austin TX (NEW)

Vault, Fayetteville, AR

Valkyrie, Tulsa, OK

Mac McGee, Decatur, GA

Southern Art & Bourbon Bar, Atlanta, GA

Local Three Kitchen & Bar, Atlanta, GA

The Whiskey Project, Roswell, GA

McCormack’s Big Whisky Grill, Tuckahoe, VA

Vault and Cellar, Middleton, VA (NEW)

Virtue Feed & Grain, Alexandria, VA

Crimson Diner + Whiskey Bar, Washington, D.C.

Jack Rose Dining Saloon, Washington, D.C.

Front Street Brewery, Wilmington, NC

Rebellion, Wilmington, NC

Tribeca Tavern, Carry, NC

The Crunkleton, Chapel Hill, NC

The Trophy Room, Winston-Salem, NC

Bourbon, Columbia, SC

Husk, Charleston, SC

Paddock & Whisky, Charleston, SC

Bourbon Steak, Nashville, TN

Husk, Nashville, TN

Gertie’s Bar at The 404 Kitchen, Nashville, TN

The Patterson House, Nashville, TN

Whiskey Kitchen, Nashville, TN

Stock & Barrel, Knoxville, TN (NEW)

Barrel Proof, New Orleans, LA

Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House, New Orleans, LA

Cure Nola, New Orleans, LA

Social Southern Table & Bar, Lafayette, LA

BACK TO ‘ALL REGIONS’ HOME PAGE

Crunkleton, Charlotte, NC.
The Crunkleton in Charlotte, NC. Enough said.

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America’s Best Bourbon Bars 2022 – MIDWEST

Best Bourbon Bars Midwest 2022

Our Midwest Region is home to some of our favorite long standing concentration of bars in Chicago, our best-represented region on the list outside Kentucky. From Chicago’s 20+ year old Bourbon institution Delilah’s to our newly introduced One Bourbon of Grand Rapids, OH, the Midwest has an incredible range of heavenly bourbon spots! Big Star, […]

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Best Bourbon Bars Midwest 2022

Our Midwest Region is home to some of our favorite long standing concentration of bars in Chicago, our best-represented region on the list outside Kentucky. From Chicago’s 20+ year old Bourbon institution Delilah’s to our newly introduced One Bourbon of Grand Rapids, OH, the Midwest has an incredible range of heavenly bourbon spots!

Untitled Supper Club. Chicago, best bourbon bars
Untitled Supper Club. Chicago

Big Star, Chicago, IL

Longman & Eagle, Chicago, IL

The Office, Chicago, IL

Delilah’s, Chicago, IL

Milk Room, Chicago, IL

Twisted Spoke, Chicago, IL

Mordecai, Chicago, IL

Untitled Supper Club, Chicago, IL

Butter Run Saloon, St. Clair Shores, MI

Charlie’s Still on Main, Milford, MI

One Bourbon, Grand Rapids, MI

The Sugar House, Detroit, MI

Cask & Ale, Madison, WI

MatchStick Restaurant and Spirits, Stillwater, MN

The Monarch, Wichita, KS

Single Barrel, Lincoln, NE

BBQ Saloon, St. Louis, MO

Sanctuaria, St. Louis, MO

J.O.B. Public House, Springfield, MO

Julep Cocktail Club, Kansas City, MO

Buckeye Bourbon House, Columbus, OH

Oak And Embers Tavern, Chesterland, OH

The Century Bar, Dayton, OH

OPA Grill & Tavern, Delaware, OH

BACK TO ‘ALL REGIONS’ HOME PAGE

Julep Cocktail Club.
Julep Cocktail Club. Kansas City, KS

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America’s Best Bourbon Bars 2022

Best bourbon bars 2022

September is National Bourbon Heritage Month. That’s something we don’t take lightly at The Bourbon Review. Who’s ready to do one heck of a bar crawl to the Best Bourbon Bars in America to celebrate it?!…Now that’s the spirit;) Every year since 2013, our editorial board has combed the country as we continuously listen to […]

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Best bourbon bars 2022

September is National Bourbon Heritage Month. That’s something we don’t take lightly at The Bourbon Review. Who’s ready to do one heck of a bar crawl to the Best Bourbon Bars in America to celebrate it?!…Now that’s the spirit;)

Every year since 2013, our editorial board has combed the country as we continuously listen to our social media followers to find the places that have the most expansive whiskey lists, mix the most exciting cocktails, select the best single barrels, and most importantly – have a team of hardworking, passionate, and knowledgeable bourbon lovers behind the sticks.

We thank our friends at Buffalo Trace Distillery for their wonderful partnership support of this special September salute, now lets do our due diligence in showing our favorite Bourbon spots just how much we appreciate what they do for us!

Without further adieu, pull up a Bourbon, cheers to all the amazing Bourbon bars out there…and lets get to celebrating!

Best Bourbon Bar
The Crunkleton Charlotte (NC) – South Region

FIVE REGIONS: America’s Best Bourbon Bars

BOURBON COUNTRY (Kentucky)

NORTHEAST

SOUTH

MIDWEST

WEST

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America’s Best Bourbon Bars 2022 – NORTHEAST

Best Bourbon Bars Northeast

America’s Best Bourbon Bars in the NORTHEAST REGION has a range of coveted Bourbon staples like brown water mecca Flatiron Room and the gorgeous and elegant Brandy Library. New to our list are Analogue in Greenwich Village and Southern Kin Cookhouse in Somerville, MA. Analogue, New York, NY (Greenwich Village) (NEW) Brandy Library, Manhattan, NY […]

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Best Bourbon Bars Northeast

America’s Best Bourbon Bars in the NORTHEAST REGION has a range of coveted Bourbon staples like brown water mecca Flatiron Room and the gorgeous and elegant Brandy Library. New to our list are Analogue in Greenwich Village and Southern Kin Cookhouse in Somerville, MA.

The Flatiron Room, best bourbon bars
The Flatiron Room. NYC
Brandy Library, best  bourbon bars
Brandy Library. Tribeca, NYC

Analogue, New York, NY (Greenwich Village) (NEW)

Brandy Library, Manhattan, NY

The Flatiron Room, Manhattan, NY

Fine & Rare, Manhattan, NY

Copper & Oak, Manhattan, NY

Sanfords Restaurant, Astoria, NY

Al’s Wine & Whiskey Lounge, Syracuse, NY

Travel Bar Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY

Lucky Day Whiskey Bar, Buffalo, NY

DRY 85, Annapolis, MD

Citizen Public House, Boston, MA

Southern Kin Cookhouse, Somerville, MA (NEW)

Village Whiskey, Philadelphia, PA

BACK TO ‘ALL REGIONS’ HOME PAGE

Travel Bar Brooklyn, best bourbon bars
Travel Bar Brooklyn with owner/operator Mike Vacheresse.
Lucky Day Whiskey Bar
Lucky Day Whiskey Bar. Buffalo, NY Photo: FB Courtesy

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America’s Best Bourbon Bars 2022 – BOURBON COUNTRY

Best

Kentucky is The Bourbon State as it has the Bourbon Bar prowess to match its distilling chops. Here’s your insider’s look at the best watering holes in the Commonwealth including one of the country’s oldest bourbon bars, the Old Talbott Tavern & Inn in Bardstown (it’s said to be haunted – make a special trip […]

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Best

Kentucky is The Bourbon State as it has the Bourbon Bar prowess to match its distilling chops. Here’s your insider’s look at the best watering holes in the Commonwealth including one of the country’s oldest bourbon bars, the Old Talbott Tavern & Inn in Bardstown (it’s said to be haunted – make a special trip for spooky season).

Newcomers to the list include Louisville’s Watch Hill Proper with a staggering list of near 1,900 American Whiskies. The décor more than lives up to the last part of its name, having sleek eye catching leather couches/chairs, whiskey lockers (duh), and even a rickhouse façade hovering above. NEAT Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop, another new Lou spot, is a must see with a warm cozy vintage vibe to match its outstanding vintage whiskey collection. Reasonably priced. And the Bungalou directly behind the bar is where Bourbon heaven meets AirBnB – a collection of Bourbon décor themed rooms to lay your head after a long day (and night) of Bourbon Country immersion. And check out the rooftop view, trust us.

If you find yourself in Northern Kentucky’s “B-Line” district, check out Smoke Justis who specializes in smoked meats with a massive 400+ Bourbon collection. Goodfellas Mainstrasse has you covered with mouth watering Brooklyn style pizza on the 1st floor and a cool speakeasy vibe lounge on the 2nd armed with a world class Bourbon selection and cocktails. Rich’s Proper is at the top of our list crushing both food & drink. Oysters, huge sammies, massive Bourbon selection, fantastic cocktails.

Come to Kentucky for the distilleries, stay for the bars and restaurants!

Watch Hill Proper – Louisville, KY

The Amdsen Bourbon Bar, Versailles, KY

Belle’s Cocktail House, Lexington, KY

Bluegrass Tavern, Lexington, KY

Bourbon on Rye, Lexington, KY

Carson’s Food & Drink, Lexington, KY

Goodfellas Distillery, Lexington, KY

OBC Kitchen, Lexington, KY

Merrick Inn, Lexington, KY

Justins’ House of Bourbon, Lexington, KY

Whiskey Bear, Lexington, KY

Bourbon’s Bistro, Louisville, KY

Doc Crows, Louisville, KY

Justins’ House of Bourbon, Louisville, KY

Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen, Louisville, KY

Proof on Main, Louisville, KY

Repeal Oak-Fired Steakhouse, Louisville, KY

The Silver Dollar, Louisville, KY

Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar @ Galt House Hotel, Louisville, KY

Brown Hotel Lobby Bar, Louisville, KY

Brendan’s Catch 23, Louisville, KY

Goodfellas Pizzeria Baxter, Louisville, KY (NEW)

NEAT Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop, Louisville, KY (NEW)

North of Bourbon, Louisville, KY (NEW)

Watch Hill Proper, Louisville KY (NEW)

Barn8 Restaurant, Goshen, KY

Bourbon Barrel Tavern, Elizabethtown, KY

The Miller House, Owensboro, KY

The Blind Pig Bourbon Speakeasy, Bardstown, KY

Bottle and Bond, Bardstown, KY

The Old Talbott Tavern, Bardstown, KY

The Rickhouse, Bardstown, KY

The Old Owl Tavern, Harrodsburg, KY

Prohibition Bourbon Bar, Newport, KY

Purple Poulet, Newport, KY

Tousey House Tavern, Burlington, KY

Bourbon Haus 1841 , Covington, KY

Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar, Covington, KY

Goodfellas Mainstrasse, Covington, KY

Libby’s Southern Comfort, Covington, KY

Rich’s Proper Food & Drink, Covington, KY

The Globe Covington, Covington, KY

Smoke Justis, Covington, KY

Revival Vintage Spirits & Bottle Shop, Covington, KY

Midway Cafe, Fort Thomas, KY

Bourbon on Main, Frankfort, KY

Barrel & Bond, Paducah, KY

Freight House, Paducah, KY

BACK TO “ALL REGIONS” HOME PAGE

Revival Vintage Spirits & Bottle Shop, Best Bourbon Bar
Revival Vintage Spirits & Bottle Shop in Covington, KY. Where whiskey dreams come true.
Best Bourbon Bars, Newsberry Bros Coffee and Prohibition Bourbon Bar
Newberry Bros Coffee & Prohibition Bourbon Bar – Newport, KY


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Daviess County Lightly Toasted Barrel Finished Bourbon

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Lux Row for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Lux Row for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: a partially full bottle of Daviess County Lightly Toasted Barrel Finished Bourbon

As we are in the middle of the Autumn Bourbon Special Release season, I find myself getting increasingly crabby with producers putting out bottles far outside a regular consumer's price range. Old Man Eric remembers when limited editions were limited in quantity, not limited to the wealthy. But that ship has long since passed us by. And all this site's frugal readers (and writers) need to remember that these bourbons are no longer for us. As my grandfather used to say, they are for people with more dollars than sense.

Or do we need to remember that? Last week, I had a Limited Edition Bourbon land on my front step. And it breaks the trend of Limited Editions being limited to people of wealth. Look, I get it. Market forces being what they are means that as more people want something that is of limited quantity, prices go up to what the market will bear. It’s just that, unfortunately for those of us in the frugal category, what the market as a whole can bear is more than we want to bear personally. But some producers seem ok with putting out a special edition bourbon that is only about $10 or so more expensive than their standard releases. And I think that should be celebrated.

So let’s pour a drink of the newly released Daviess County Lightly Toasted Barrel Finished Bourbon to celebrate and learn what there is to learn about this Limited Edition bourbon. I did a very deep historical dive into the history of the brand back in 2020 when they initially released bourbon under the Daviess County name, so I will let you go read that if you wish. But today, I’ll let the press release talk for itself.

I mean, I’m out here yelling at clouds. I might as well let someone with some sense take over.

Daviess County Lightly Toasted features its namesake brand family’s signature combination of ryed and wheated bourbon mashbills, which is aged four-plus years in charred-oak barrels and comes in at 96 proof (48% ABV). The lightly toasted barrel finish is what gives this limited-edition release its own unique flavor profile, while giving consumers additional options within the Daviess County family. “I’m proud to honor the rich history and tradition started in 1874 by the Daviess County Distilling Co. with this latest expression of our Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon,” said Lux Row Distillers master distiller John Rempe.

Eighteen thousand bottles of Daviess County Lightly Toasted, the “first in a series of annually offered toasted-barrel finishes” for the brand, will be hitting store shelves soon, if they haven’t landed already. The suggested retail price is $49.99. But now, I suppose that you want to know if it is any good, don’t you? Well, let’s get on with it, then.

Daviess County Lightly Toasted Barrel Finished Bourbon

Purchase Price: This sample was sent by the producers for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $49.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.33

Details: 48% ABV. A blend of wheated bourbon and bourbon that uses rye as its flavoring grain.

Nose: Warm, buttered toast, Christmas spices, brown sugar, vanilla, and roasted nuts.

Mouth: Spicier than I'd have guessed from the nose. Notes of Christmas spices, almond, and oak.

Finish: Warm and long with lingering notes of cinnamon and almond.

A smiley face because I really like this.

Thoughts: Dry and spicy without a ton of sweetness. The added wood and the cinnamon notes really come through when you compare it to standard Daviess County. I tend to like sweet, fruity bourbons as my go-to’s, but on those days I want something dry and spicy, I'm going to reach for this one. I really like it.

This is a very tasty limited edition bourbon that doesn’t cost much more than the standard release. I like it quite a bit better, though, so if I see it, I will also buy it. Not to shit on the standard release. I’ve enjoyed quite a few bottles of that over the last year or so. Lightly Toasted is just really good.


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Two Big Names at MAKER’S MARK are DEPARTING

Maker's Mark

September is National Bourbon Heritage Month as you may have noticed the flood of fantastic upcoming Bourbon releases that commence along with it. Admittingly, we could not have predicted this news bit – Maker’s Mark Master Distiller, Denny Potter, and Master of Maturation, Jane Bowie, have announced they are departing their longtime employer this Friday, […]

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Maker's Mark

September is National Bourbon Heritage Month as you may have noticed the flood of fantastic upcoming Bourbon releases that commence along with it. Admittingly, we could not have predicted this news bit – Maker’s Mark Master Distiller, Denny Potter, and Master of Maturation, Jane Bowie, have announced they are departing their longtime employer this Friday, Sept 2nd.

Potter first joined the brand in 2003, working his way quickly to Assistant Master Distiller before venturing into other related distilling roles within the parent company (now Beam Suntory). He would then leave to become Heaven Hill’s Master Distiller for 5+ years (2013 – 2017) before returning back to Maker’s in 2018 as their MD.

Bowie is a 16 year veteran of Maker’s, making a distinguished name for herself in the art of blending and being integral to Maker’s rapid expansion into the innovating world of barrel finishes, specifically Maker’s Mark Private Barrel Select Program.

Per Shanken News Daily , Maker’s COO Rob Samuels kindly noted that their departure won’t change their “Family Status” at the Lebanon, KY based distillery.

Their next move has not been made public. Is their simultaneous departure a sign of them joining forces and combining their liquid talents for their next career play? It certainly is a possibility. We will keep you informed with the lasted news.

For weekly industry updates, check out our WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER, left hand side of the page for sign up.

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Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021 Review

There are so many shady, sourced, whiskeys out there it’s tough to keep track, but that’s also why I’m all about honest whiskeys like the Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021. They distill it, it’s labeled as “straight” and they give you most of the deets on the site. This is how whiskey should be. I don’t […]

The post Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021 Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.

There are so many shady, sourced, whiskeys out there it’s tough to keep track, but that’s also why I’m all about honest whiskeys like the Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021. They distill it, it’s labeled as “straight” and they give you most of the deets on the site. This is how whiskey should be.

Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021 Review

I don’t know why people feel like they have to make up a bunch of BS, or hide what they’re doing, to sell whiskey. I imagine, like most things, it boils down to insecurities that run deep in our psyche. But that’s not an excuse and this is a whiskey that’s quite secure in what it is because the people behind are secure in what they’re creating.

Let’s get to drinkin’


Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021- Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Style: American Whiskey (Straight)
Region: Wyoming, USA
Distiller: Wyoming Whiskey

Mash Bill: Whiskey 1 = 48% Winter Rye, 40% Corn, 12% Malted Barley | Whiskey 2 = 68% Corn, 20% Winter Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: NAS (~5 Years)
ABV: 50%

Batch: 2021

Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021 Price: $70

Related Whiskey

Wyoming Whiskey Eclipse
Wyoming Whiskey Batch 37
Wyoming Whiskey Double Cask
Wyoming Whiskey Outryder First Release
Wyoming Whiskey Single Barrel

White background tasting shot with the Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021 bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“This Straight American Whiskey is a blend of two distinct mashbills, an almost Rye Whiskey and a High Rye Bourbon, that represents Wyoming Whiskey’s first use of Rye.” – Wyoming Whiskey

 

Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021 Tasting Notes

EYE
Medium caramel

NOSE
Cereal sweetness, oak, spiced apples, caramel, graham crackers and a slight bit of vanilla.

What’s there is nice and fresh, but it’s super light. Much lighter than the previous Outryders I’ve had.

PALATE
Grainy sweetness, candy sweetness, oak, cinnamon, dried fruit and a subtle toffee and vanilla.

Woah, this is kind of weird. The spice starts light, but builds till it starts battling the sweetness yet remains balanced.

FINISH
Medium -> Grainy-candy sweetness, cinnamon and vanilla fade out oaky.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Balanced, medium body and a warm soft feel.


Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021 – Overall Thoughts and Score

The oak truly shows up on the finish where it started under the sweetness but continued on long after the sweetness faded out. This is a more nuanced Outryder than previous versions, but it’s far from being spineless or weak.

It’s fascinating to think about how far WW has come. The first edition I reviewed from them was… awful. Just awful. Over releases, they got better and better to where, now, they put out whiskey that’s consistently good and varied. Building diversity while maintaining quality in releases like this Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021 isn’t easy, but they’re doing it quite well these days.

SCORE: 3.5/5 (tasty, worth checking out ~ B | 83-86)

*Disclosure: The bottle for this whiskey review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021 Review $50
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$50+ Million Dollar NEW DISTILLERY Coming to Central Kentucky

Blue Run $50 Million Dollar

The butterfly Bourbon has decided its time to settle down in a home – a projected home of $50,976,430 to be precise….Blue Run Spirits LLC (est. 2020) has declared it will be building a new distillery operation in Georgetown (Scott Co.), KY. The project will include a 35,000 squ-ft distillery and a 20,000 squ-ft rickhouse, […]

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Blue Run $50 Million Dollar

The butterfly Bourbon has decided its time to settle down in a home – a projected home of $50,976,430 to be precise….Blue Run Spirits LLC (est. 2020) has declared it will be building a new distillery operation in Georgetown (Scott Co.), KY.

The project will include a 35,000 squ-ft distillery and a 20,000 squ-ft rickhouse, serving as a fully vertical integrated facility and home headquarters for the burgeoning brand.

“When we started Blue Run Spirits in October of 2020, we never imagined a distillery would be in our future, but our unprecedented growth has deemed that a necessity, which is an incredibly exciting prospect for our entire team,” said Blue Run Spirits CEO and co-founder Mike Montgomery. “The generous support of the commonwealth is making this a reality. We look forward to becoming a dynamic contributor to the economic vibrancy of Scott County and Georgetown and deepening our connection to an area so significant in the rich history and the promising future of bourbon in Kentucky.”

New Distillery, Blue Run
Mike Montgomery, CEO and Co-Founder of Blue Run Spirits

About the Company

The slick “shiny penny” modern artistic bottle labels are unlike anything else on the whiskey market. Whether its your style or not, you have to admit, it grabs your attention. And each bottle release has its own unique label design. And when that release is gone, its gone for good. It almost sounds like they are creating the “Air Jordans” for whiskey. And for good reason.

Mike Montgomery (CEO & Co-Founder) and the fellow founding brain trust members have zero prior experience in the booze industry but they do have what one may call a robust background in marketing including Nike design and Facebook executive.

Co-Founder Devon McKinney, elite lifestyle designer at Nike, is credited with using the Jordan sneaker magic model in designing the butterfly embodied label for Blue Run Spirits. There is symbolic meaning behind the beauty of butterfly, that being change and evolution. Personally, I had that “ahhhhh” moment when discovering the actual context and meaning.

They grabbed Bourbon legend Jim Rutledge to be their Whiskey Advisor – overseeing barrel selection, blending, and proofing. Mr. Rutledge has well over 50+ years in American Whiskey, spending the high majority of it with Four Roses.

Their first ever release was a 14 year Kentucky Bourbon at $169, followed by 13 Year Single Barrel Bourbon at $229. Both releases would go on to sweep the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition in their respective categories. This being a phenomenal achievement and substantial engine revver for the newly launched brand.

They have continued down the path of success as their method involves online sales of each upcoming limited release.

Inaugural 14 Year Aged Blue Run Spirits Release, 113 Proof

Excitement in the Community of Georgetown, KY

Scott County Judge/Executive Joe Covington said he can’t wait to build on the area’s rich tradition of Kentucky bourbon and bring quality jobs to the community.

“Blue Run Spirits’ proposed facility in Georgetown will have a substantial positive impact on jobs, local business revenue, tourism and raising the profile of Georgetown and Scott County worldwide,” Covington said. “Having the first distillery established in Scott County since prohibition based in Georgetown, the hometown of Elijah Craig and the birthplace of bourbon, is a significant milestone for the entire commonwealth of Kentucky, particularly the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. We can’t thank Blue Run Spirits enough for selecting this location to build the foundation for their very promising future.”

Scott County’s long running Bourbon history has specific ties to famed early Kentucky distiller and Baptist minister Elijah Craig of the late 18th century. Heaven Hill’s label namesake, yes, that Elijah Craig.

Extinct Bourbon producer “Buffalo Springs Distillery” had its run from the late 19th century all the way to the 1970’s.

Image from the Georgetown and Scott County Museum archive

Georgetown has a very strategically sweet location in Bourbon Country. It lies directly north of Lexington (Fayette County) and is less than 30 minutes from a slew of the Bourbon bigs including Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, Castle & Key, to name a few. The town sits directly on the cross hairs of both I-64 and I-75, making it a gateway of sorts for both East to West and North to South.

To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) recently approved a 10-year incentive agreement with Blue Run under the Kentucky Business Investment program. This agreement can provide up to $700,000 in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $50,976,430 and annual targets of:

  • Creation and maintenance of 45 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 10 years
  • AVG hourly wage of $31.92 and additional benefits

For more brand info, please visit www.bluerunspirits.com

We’ll keep you posted on more distillery related unveilings.

For our WEEKLY NEWSLETTER of Bourbon Industry news, please visit gobourbon.com, look on the left hand side for newsletter access.

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Bruichladdich Reveals Single Malts For Barley Exploration Series

Islay distillery, Bruichladdich, has released a trio of single malts – Bruichladdich Organic Barley 2011, Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2012 and Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2013 – to complete their unpeated 2022 Barley Exploration series. Bruichladdich Organic Barley 2011 is made with 100% Scottish barley cultivated at Mid Coul farm in Inverness, and has been farmed without […]

Islay distillery, Bruichladdich, has released a trio of single malts – Bruichladdich Organic Barley 2011, Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2012 and Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2013 – to complete their unpeated 2022 Barley Exploration series.

Bruichladdich Organic Barley 2011 is made with 100% Scottish barley cultivated at Mid Coul farm in Inverness, and has been farmed without the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides and is said to contain notes of cantaloupe, crème brulée, lemon, pear and vanilla.

Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2012 uses Bere barley, an ancient grain dating back to approximately 4,500 years ago, was matured for 10 years in first fill ex-bourbon casks and is said to contain notes of green apples, honeysuckle, lime and vanilla.

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2013 uses barley grown only on Islay, was matured in both first-fill American and second-fill European casks and is said to contain notes of apple, honey and marzipan.

Bruichladdich Organic Barley 2011, Bere Barley 2012 and Islay Barley 2013 are all being made available for $75 per bottle.