Author: BourbonBlog News

Bardstown Bourbon Co. tells BourbonBlog.com they are releasing the 12^th iteration of their award-winning Discovery Series #12. Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #12 is presented at 115.2 proof (57.6 percent alc. by vol.), and available for a suggested retail price of $139.99. The Discovery Series highlights the Art of Blending creates exciting expressions with blends together are greater than the sum of their parts.

For Discovery Series #12, the Bourbons range from a 6-year-old from Bardstown Bourbon Co. up to a 14-year-old Kentucky.  Please see below for the full breakdown of mashbills, ages of whiskey, origins, and percentages)

Bardstown says through artfully combining rare and exemplary whiskies we discover from all over the world, this series pushes the boundaries of innovation by creating completely unique flavor profiles and styles.

Bardstown describes the flavors as follows: Baked cherry, toasted oak, vanilla cream, and hazelnut create a decadent, complex aroma. On the palate, a balance of wood sugar and spice gives way to a lasting finish of coconut, red fruit, and caramel.

Discovery Series #12 is a thoughtfully blended collection of four whiskies, including a 6-year-old four grain recipe distilled and aged at Bardstown Bourbon Co. With each release, the Discovery series releases will include an increased percentage of Bardstown Bourbon’s estate distilled whiskies.

Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #12 Details

 

BLEND	ORIGIN	AGE	MASHBILL
48%	Kentucky	14 year	Corn 75% Rye 13% Malted Barley 12%
29%	Kentucky	10 year	Corn 78% Rye 10% Malted Barley 12%
15%	Kentucky	10 year	Corn 78% Rye 13% Malted Barley 9%
8%	Bardstown Bourbon Co. Kentucky	6 year	Corn 60% Rye 26% Wheat 10% Malted Barley 4%

The post Bardstown Bourbon Co. Releases Discovery 12 Bourbon Whiskey During Bourbon Heritage Month first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Wild Turkey Distilling Co. tells BourbonBlog.com they are raising a glass to legendary Master Distiller, Jimmy Russell, who today celebrates his 70^th anniversary with the distillery.  At just 18 years old, Jimmy first stepped foot in the distillery on September 10, 1954. Over the years, his steadfast—and sometimes stubborn—dedication to making bourbon the pre-Prohibition way has cemented Wild Turkey as an American icon, driving the success the bourbon industry enjoys today

To thank him, the team at Wild Turkey is marking the milestone with a celebration including the release of Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70^th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon, crafted just the way Jimmy likes it.

It will be available on shelves in select global markets starting this fall, for a suggested retail price of US $50 per 750ml bottle.

In honor of Jimmy, please share your favorite Wild Turkey bourbon or a story of meeting him in the comments below and linked here. Thank you!

Jimmy’s Earliest Days at the Distillery

Jimmy’s earliest days at the distillery were spent sweeping the floors at age 18, and he rose through the ranks to become Master Distiller by remaining committed to crafting bourbon one way – the right way – even when it wasn’t popular. In the 1970s and 80s when the bourbon industry was close to collapse, Jimmy stayed the course.

Consumers were favoring lighter spirits, but he refused to dilute his bourbon; embracing the pre-prohibition style that he learned from his mentor and predecessor Bill Hughes, Jimmy “didn’t change a damn thing.” His approach helped propel the popularity of many of the distillery’s classic bourbons, including Jimmy’s favorite, Wild Turkey 101.

That’s why the distillery is proud to celebrate Jimmy’s milestone and legacy with a collection-worthy and commemorative 101-proof bourbon tailored to his taste.

Fans can learn more about Jimmy’s legacy and history at the newly renovated Jimmy Russell Wild Turkey Experience in picturesque Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Reopened in spring 2024 and named in dedication to Jimmy, each element of the new visitor center was designed to evoke his mentality, conviction, and strength. With any luck, visitors might even catch Jimmy himself, often found in his favorite chair sharing his wisdom, cracking jokes, and telling stories.

“In my eyes, I’ve never worked a day in my life. The day I do, I’ll retire,” jokes Master Distiller Jimmy Russell. “Until then, I’m going to continue making the bourbon I love.”

About Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon

Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70^th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon features Jimmy’s signature 8-year-old, 101-proof bourbon, along with an additional blend of 8- to 9-year-old whiskeys that were hand-selected from a few of his favorite rickhouses. Wild Turkey tells us this bourbon offers rich aromas of oak, honey, cinnamon and tobacco and tasting notes marked by sweet cream, butterscotch and black tea notes that transition to bitter chocolate, dark cherry, and burnt sugar. The limited-edition release was made for Jimmy, but it’s also meant to share his incredible legacy with the world.”

While it’s hard to put Jimmy’s impact on the bourbon industry into words, I can’t think of a more fitting way to mark this milestone than with Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70^th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon,” says Wild Turkey Associate Blender and Jimmy’s grandson, Bruce Russell (pictured below along with Jimmy and Eddie Russell). “We chose a special blend of choice whiskies from a few of his favorite rickhouses, and at 101 proof, it’s meant to be just what he loves most about bourbon. We can’t wait for fans around the world to enjoy it, and in the words of Granddad himself – if you don’t like it, he’ll drink it.”

Jimmy Russell’s Accomplishments and Accolades in the Industry

Jimmy’s list of accomplishments is as long as his career to date. He was one of the first to introduce many innovative whiskeys that are now industry mainstays, including a barrel-proof bourbon with the release of Wild Turkey Rare Breed and a single barrel release with Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit. He was also the first to introduce a honey flavored bourbon liqueur, American Honey.

However, he’s most known for perfecting the recipe for Wild Turkey 101, the heart and soul of the Wild Turkey portfolio. Jimmy was named to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2000 and has been honored with countless titles during his tenure. He was anointed a Kentucky Colonel by three standing Commonwealth of Kentucky Governors, honored with a Resolution by the Kentucky State Assembly and the Governor, and received the key to Lawrenceburg. Jimmy is also famous for traveling the world with the other titans of the bourbon industry, as they spread the word of bourbon and helped fuel the industry.

Jimmy has received many accolades throughout the past seven decades, but Wild Turkey wanted to celebrate him in a new way on his 70^th anniversary.

In addition to creating the limited-edition bourbon, Wild Turkey honored Jimmy just as many of history’s greatest artists, musicians, athletes and heroes have been immortalized before – by commissioning a portrait of Jimmy to personify his icon status within American culture. Award-winning and renowned photographer Danny Clinch, who has photographed some of the world’s most influential celebrities, rock stars and performers, captured the portrait of Jimmy in Kentucky.

“I’m proud to have added the legendary Jimmy Russell to my portfolio in honor of his 70^th anniversary at Wild Turkey.  I typically shoot with entertainers – rock stars and world-class athletes – so the opportunity to work with a different kind of rock star, in an industry that has so much history and heritage, was a unique and incredible honor,” says Clinch. “Jimmy’s passion, dedication and craft is simply unmatched in the world, and it was a pleasure to spend time with him in Kentucky capturing these photographs. Cheers to 70 years of Jimmy Russell.”

Photography of Jimmy, Eddie and Bruce by Photographer Danny Clinch.

The post Jimmy Russell Marks 70 Years with Wild Turkey Bourbon: 70th Anniversary Limited Edition Bourbon to Be Released in His Honor first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Bardstown Bourbon Co. tells BourbonBlog.com they are releasing the new Silver Oak Finish bringing together innovators in American wine and whiskey to create a singular whiskey that celebrates American craft launching September 6, 2024.

Bardstown Bourbon’s Silver Oak finish is an expert blend of six 9- to 15-year-old bourbons, finished in Silver Oak California Cabernet barrels for 17 months. (Please see below for the full breakdown of mashbills, ages of whiskey, origins, and percentages). Bardstown Bourbon’s Silver Oak finish is presented at 108 proof (54% alc. by vol.) and is offered at a suggested retail price of $159.99.

Silver Oak Cellars honors a more than 50-year tradition in California of aging Cabernet Sauvignon exclusively in American Oak barrels. Like Bardstown Bourbon Co., Silver Oak vows that their best bottles are ahead, never settling and always looking to improve and innovate.

Silver Oak is one of the most sought-after brands in the global wine industry.

“In age-old crafts like winemaking and distillation, creating something new requires curiosity,” Nate Weis, Vice President of Winegrowing, Silver Oak tells BourbonBlog.com. “This is an ethos that Silver Oak and Bardstown share, be it in the way we connect with our customers in the Napa Valley or Kentucky, or exploring the horizons of our shared passion, American oak.”

The brand says that on the nose, there are layers of baked strawberry, plum, and roasted nuts are highlighted by cinnamon and cocoa. A full-bodied palate of caramel and fig leads to an exquisite, lightly tannic balance of oak, spice, and blackberry, striking a noteworthy balance of fruit and barrel notes.

Earlier this year, Bardstown Bourbon announced the full suite of collaborations planned for the year including Tennessee’s Blackberry Farm, set to be released regionally this fall, and Amrut Distillery, pioneer of Indian single malts. Bardstown’s Amrut Distillery Collaboration marked a first-of-its-kind finish for American whiskey.

BLEND	ORIGIN	AGE	MASHBILL
25%	Kentucky	14 year	Corn 75% Rye 13% Malted Barley 12%
23%	Tennessee	12 year	Corn 84% Rye 8% Malted Barley 8%
22%	Kentucky	10 year	Corn 78% Rye 13% Malted Barley 9%
15%	Indiana	9 year	Corn 75% Rye 21% Malted Barley 4%
10%	Kentucky	10 year	Corn 78% Rye 10% Malted Barley 12%
5%	Georgia	12 year	Corn 80% Rye 10% Wheat 5% Malted Barley 5%

The post Bardstown Bourbon Co. Silver Oak Bourbon: New Collaborative Series Release Finished in Cabernet Barrels first appeared on BourbonBlog.

From Pond to Bottle: In a first-ever feat, Hard Truth Distilling Co. tells BourbonBlog.com that Grounded in Truth Straight Rye Whiskey, aged in the ‘world’s smallest floating rackhouse,’ will be bottled and auctioned off with 100% of sales going to Farm Aid in support of sustainable family farming in America.

“For more than three years, hundreds of thousands of visitors have seen and asked about the mysterious lone barrel floating on the pond at our distillery,” Bryan Smith, Hard Truth Master Distiller tells us.

“Even though it holds just one barrel, it is, indeed, a federally bonded and registered whiskey rackhouse,” Smith explained. “We filed the same paperwork and adhered to the same regulations as we have for our other on-site rackhouses that, in total, can hold more than 23,000 barrels.”’

About the Whiskey

The whiskey was crafted with Hard Truth’s RW-1 mash bill, which features 94 percent rye and 6 percent malted barley, and was bottled at 53.75 percent ABV (107.5 proof).

The floating barrel will produce approximately one hundred 750 mL bottles of Grounded in Truth Straight Rye Whiskey. The majority of those bottles will be given to bourbon societies and Hard Truth partners to be auctioned off among their members, with 100 percent of the sale price going directly to Farm Aid.

Smith says, “Due to the unique nature of this aging environment, the interaction between our sweet mash whiskeys and their surroundings help to connect the natural world with something you can actually taste, and it is delicious. This was a perfect opportunity to support family farmers through Farm Aid.”

Smith said the idea of putting a precious barrel of sweet mash rye whiskey on the pond was part experiment, part guest attraction

Hard Truth tells us that Grounded in Truth Straight Rye Whiskey offers an aroma with coffee, peanut brittle, and bold baking spice. On the palate, it features notes of rich cherry syrup, brown sugar, and rye spice
that lead to orange zest and custard. The finish blooms with dark sweet cherry and subtle mocha that give way to cracked black pepper, leather, and oak.

Be first to learn about releases like Grounded in Truth by subscribing to our whiskey newsletter on this link.

How to Get A Bottle

Beginning immediately and running until September 8th, auctions are taking place in both public and private bourbon clubs in states from Indiana to Florida and beyond. Some of the
participating groups include Indiana Bourbon, St Louis Bourbon Society, The Chicago Bourbon Club, Southwest Florida Bourbon Society, and Lexington Bourbon Society, as well as influencers like My Bourbon Journey.

A partial list of auction locations will be shared, along with more details, at this publicly shareable link: https://hardtruth.com/grounded-in-truth/

Each auction bottle will be encased in a commemorative Farm Aid box. Any remaining bottles, without the commemorative box, will be made available at a later date as a top-shelf purchase at Hard Truth’s distillery in Nashville, Indiana.

“We knew that by leaving this barrel to benefit from the movement from the waves of the pond and the unique temperature and humidity shifts from mother nature season after season,
we would create a totally unique flavor profile in the resulting whiskey,” he noted.

“The parallels between this project and how our farmers work with the natural environments to create great grains, make this the perfect whiskey to be part of our Grounded in Truth
campaign, which supports family farmers.”

The post World’s Smallest Floating Rackhouse Aged Grounded in Truth Rye Whiskey: Supporting Farm Aid and Family Farmers first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. tells BourbonBlog.com that they are releasing a new and limited Kentucky Peerless Cognac Barrel Finished Bourbon Whiskey.

The new expression is coming to the Peerless Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky on September 7, 2024. Due to the nature of the barrels, the latest expression will be extremely limited and released in Kentucky only.

About the Barrel Finish Process

Cognac Barrel Finished Bourbon consists of Peerless Small Batch Bourbon that undergoes an additional aging process in barrels that previously held a premium Cognac from France. Peerless says the finishing process imparts unique flavors to the bourbon, blending the rich, sweet, and spicy characteristics of bourbon with the fruity, floral, and nutty notes from the cognac-soaked barrels.

The Peerless team says they strategically select bourbon barrels that will create the perfect blend, highlighting the traits received from the Cognac barrel.

“We have taken our barrel finishing program to the next level with a Cognac barrel finished bourbon. This expression has been in the works, and the barrels, for many years and has truly exceeded our expectations. I am
extremely proud of our team for balancing our bourbon with the Cognac barrel properties in the way that they have. It was perfectly executed,” Fifth Generation and President, Carson Taylor tells BourbonBlog.com.

Be the first to learn about more new whiskey releases like this one by subscribing to our Bourbon Newsletter.

Kentucky Peerless Cognac Barrel Finished Bourbon Whiskey Tasting Notes

“The additional aging in Cognac barrels leads to a smooth, silky mouthfeel that offers a rich and rounded finish,” John Wadell, Head Taster tells us.

Peerless says that the bourbon’s flavor profile with an added layer of complexity, introduces flavors of dried fruit, raisins, figs, citrus, honey, and subtle oakiness. The bourbon’s inherent vanilla, caramel, and spice are
complemented by the delicate sweetness and floral notes of the cognac barrel. They say the bourbon takes on a beautifully dark hue, with a golden amber tint.

Kentucky Peerless continues with the following tasting notes:

Nose: Fresh raisins, sweet herbs, and spices, toffee pudding, sweet rich tobacco, caramel apple, plums, fruit market,
toasted honey, vanilla bean, and maple syrup
Palate: Cranberry raisin bread, muscadine grapes, port wine, chocolate, leather, freshly baked apricot, and crisp
lingering pear.

The post Kentucky Peerless Cognac Barrel Finished Bourbon Whiskey first appeared on BourbonBlog.

Bardstown Bourbon Company tells BourbonBlog.com they will expand their core offerings with the addition of the new High Wheat Bourbon. This Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, slated for release soon, features one of the highest percentage wheated mashbills in the bourbon category.

This 6-year-old expression is presented at 106 proof (53% alc. by volume) and will be offered at a suggested retail price of $49.99 (750mL).

About the Wheated Bourbon

Origin High Wheat, the second wheated bourbon in the Origin Series has the following mashbill.

• 53 percent corn
• 39 percent wheat
• 8 percent malted barley

Combined with a low barrel entry proof, meant to extract maximum wood sugars, Bardstown Bourbon Co says that the result is imbued with ripe apricot and lemon, resting on leather and crème brûlée on the nose. A bold palate of oak and pastry leads to a lightly spiced, yet full-bodied finish.

Nick Smith, Director of Distillation and Head Distiller for Bardstown Bourbon Co. has worked alongside Master Distiller Steve Nally since the company’s founding. When the Hall of Fame “Wheat King” lauded Smith’s distillate, they knew they’d found a winner.

“Once we perfected the distillate, we focused on the aging modifications that would make this whiskey best-in-class,” said Smith. “The lower barrel entry proof of 108 pulls more wood sugars in from the onset,leading to a drinking experience that is elegant and complex.”

The Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Series was first introduced in Jaunary, 2023.

The post Bardstown Bourbon Co. High Wheat Bourbon Whiskey: A New Addition to the Origin Series first appeared on BourbonBlog.

 

Although the hunt for Old Forester has grown more challenging, this year brings an exciting opportunity to acquire their most sought-after expression, Birthday Bourbon. And yes, while winning means you’ll still need to purchase the bottle, we believe you’ll find it well worth it.

Have you ever tried one of the Old Forester Birthday Bourbon expressions? If so, tell us which one and how you liked it under the comment section below.

About Birthday Bourbon Bourbon and Release Date:

This year’s release is a 12-year-old, 107-proof bourbon, and consumers can enter a national sweepstakes for a chance to purchase this rare gem. Old Forester honors the legacy of its founder, George Garvin Brown, with this limited-edition, vintage-dated bottle, released each year on September 2.

Again that release date this year will be September 2024 sold at retailers nationwide for a suggested $199.99 per bottle. (Please note: Birthday Bourbon will NOT be available for purchase at the distillery on September 2.)

Hand-selected by Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris and Master Taster Melissa Rift, with aid from Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo, the liquid came from 209 total barrels.

“Twelve years of maturation in Warehouses G and L has produced a rich and unique flavor profile perfect for this sought-after annual release, ” Trigo said.

At BourbonBlog.com, we’ve been covering Old Forester Birthday Bourbon for well over a decade, often being among the first to review and discuss this release with the brand. Below, we’ve included a couple of those videos from our YouTube.com/BourbonBlog channel.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon Sweepstakes: How to Enter

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon will be available through an online sweepstakes running on OldForester.com from now through August 21, 2024.

Anyone winning the opportunity to purchase a bottle through the sweepstakes must purchase and pick it up at the Old Forester Distillery in Louisville between September 5, 2024, and December 14, 2024. Each bottle of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon will retail for a suggested $199.99. Full rules on their website.

Video Coverage and Interviews of Previous Birthday Bourbon Releases 2019 and 2012

 

2019 Release

2012 Release

The post 2024 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon: Your Chance to Win in the Bourbon Sweepstakes first appeared on BourbonBlog.

The post Four Roses 2024 Small Batch: A Blend of 12 to 20-Year-Old Bourbons first appeared on BourbonBlog.

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Widow Jane Distillery tells BourbonBlog.com.com they are introducing Baby Jane Bourbon by Widow Jane, the brand’s newest, small-batch, hand-assembled blend of bourbons distilled both at Widow Jane’s home in historic Red Hook, Brooklyn, and in Kentucky.

This Bourbon is made using Widow Jane’s own, unique “Baby Jane” corn. While other distillers in the U.S. have crafted bourbons using heirloom corn, Widow Jane Distillery notes that their Baby Jane Bourbon may be the first to utilize a “proprietary” heirloom corn variety.

About Baby Jane Bourbon By Widow Jane:

Age: 4-6 years

Proof: 45.5% ABV (91 proof)

MSRP: $50/750 ml

Allocation: 15,000 total cases

Availability: Nationwide beginning in June 2024.

 

How The Bourbon Was Born

In 2013, Widow Jane Head Distiller Sienna Jevremov and the distillery’s long-tenured operations lead, Michele Clark, began a labor of love that would last a decade.

They had ordered heirloom corn seeds from seed banks across the country and turned to farmer John Gill, whose land was just a few miles north of the famed Widow Jane Mines from which Widow Jane sources limestone-rich water to proof its whiskeys, to plant several strains of heirloom corn. Of those, Bloody Butcher Red and Wapsie Valley Yellow proved the most successful.

Side by side, Bloody Butcher and Wapsie Valley grew. A byproduct of this growth was a cross-pollination that produced a natural, if inconsistent hybrid of the two.

For four years after that first meeting, Jevremov and Clark returned upstate where they painstakingly harvested the hybrid corn, plucking individual kernels with just the right medium-tone coloration, and replanting those kernels. Eventually, their efforts yielded an entirely new, proprietary strain of heirloom corn they christened “Baby Jane.”

The tightly-curated, raw heirloom materials are cooked low and slow, then fermented and distilled in Jevremov’s 1000-liter pot and column hybrid single pass still in the Brooklyn distillery, with the process mimicked in Kentucky as well, before being gently placed into new, charred American oak barrels. The result is a bourbon rich with notes reflective of the grain and the barrel, with the classic Widow Jane profile of stone fruits and the remarkably long finish Widow Jane whiskeys always deliver.

Clark tells us, “There are certainly easier ways to make whiskey that don’t involve actually developing and perfecting an entirely original strain of corn. Tasting the results of all that painstakingly detailed work – trial after trial after trial until we got the liquid where we wanted it before laying it down in barrels – is incredibly gratifying and we hope everyone enjoys this bourbon as much as we enjoyed the journey we took in making it.”

As is the case with all Widow Jane whiskeys, Baby Jane Bourbon is non-chill filtered and proofed with the pure limestone mineral water from the legendary Rosendale Mines of New York, just 100 miles north of the distillery, which contributes to the round mouthfeel and exceptionally long finish.

Widos Janes says that Baby Jane Bourbon will set a new standard for your everyday sipping bourbon.

The post Widow Jane’s New Baby Jane Bourbon: First Bourbon Ever Made from Proprietary Heirloom Corn Brand Says first appeared on BourbonBlog.