bourbon

Bernie Lubbers and Steve Cooley playing bluegrass

Want a little bluegrass with your bourbon?

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Bernie Lubbers and Steve Cooley playing bluegrass
Bernie Lubbers and Steve Cooley host “Bourbon Through Bluegrass.” | Photo by Sara Havens

Is it just me, or does it seem like every week there’s a new bourbon experience coming to Louisville? I’d say we have definitely earned our moniker of Bourbon City. And I welcome it all and feel like bourbon tourism hasn’t slowed a bit.

But when I experience something bourbon-related that is truly one-of-a-kind, I feel like I need to shout it from the rooftops — or just write about it on this here website because I’m afraid of heights. A few weeks ago, I was invited to a top secret event after-hours at the Frazier History Museum, and it involved bourbon (of course) and bluegrass music.

A glass of bourbon
Sip bourbon and enjoy bluegrass. | Photo by Sara Havens

Called “Bourbon Through Bluegrass,” the fun, informative and very entertaining event featured a bourbon tasting and history lesson that was told through bluegrass music. Led by the walking bourbon encyclopedia that is Bernie Lubbers, as well as his sidekick and bluegrass icon Steve Cooley, the event is part concert, part bourbon tasting and part Kentucky History 101.

Lubbers is known as “The Whiskey Professor” and has been a respected brand ambassador for Heaven Hill for more than 13 years. He’s a champion for bottled-in-bond whiskeys, all of which you can find tattooed on his arms.

And Cooley has played bluegrass since the ’70s, sharing stages with the likes of Grandpa Jones, Bill Monroe, Sam Bush and so many others — plus he has some Grammy nominations under his belt as well.

How Can You Go?

The good news is, it wasn’t just a one-time gig. “Bourbon Through Bluegrass” will be ongoing and open to the public (for ages 21+) on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. Tickets are $125 and include a welcome cocktail, four whiskey and bourbon pours, the 90-minute experiences and a self-guided tour of the Frazier History Museum afterward.

If you’re a history buff who isn’t into bourbon, don’t worry — you’ll get just as much out of the session as the person you gift your samples to (pick me!). Lubbers and Cooley effortlessly weave stories of Kentucky’s heritage and bourbon traditions throughout traditional bluegrass songs of the 1800s and 1900s.

The stage at "Bourbon Through Bluegrass"
“Bourbon Through Bluegrass” will entertain both whiskey warriors and bluegrass buffs. | Photo by Sara Havens

Since I’m more of a bourbon aficionado than a bluegrass buff, I enjoyed the whiskey that was chosen specifically to highlight the ups and downs of Kentucky’s bourbon industry. And Lubbers enchanted the audience with stories behind the brands, why he chose them, and how they play an important role in the past, present and future.

This would be the perfect thing to take your mom or dad to, and if they don’t drink whiskey, well then I guess it’s your lucky day. “Bourbon Through Bluegrass” is the exact thing Louisville needs to further brand itself Bourbon City, and it’s a great alternative to the plethora of tasting rooms and distillery tours.

For tickets, click this link.

Bardstown sign: Bourbon Capital of the World

Celebrate National Bourbon Week in Bardstown

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Bardstown sign: Bourbon Capital of the World
Bardstown is hosting National Bourbon Week from June 9-15. | Courtesy of Visit Bardstown

Since National Bourbon Day falls on Saturday, June 14, it only makes sense that the city known as “The Bourbon Capital of the World” extends that one day into a full week. Bardstown plays host to National Bourbon Week from June 9-15, and there are many events that still have availability.

The bourbon-soaked week is organized by the Bourbon Capital Alliance, a nonprofit focused on bringing events, experiences and the visual presence of all things bourbon to Bardstown. They work closely with the nine distilleries in the area as well as Visit Bardstown, Bardstown Mainstreet, and the Bourbon Capital Guild.

If you’re not familiar with the Bourbon Capital Guild, it is an esteemed bourbon club based in Bardstown that includes the industry’s top advocates, enthusiasts, distillers and staff, etc. I was fortunate to join the Guild this year as a member of the media, and I’m looking forward to experiencing all there is to do during National Bourbon Week — along with secret handshakes, backroom pours and classified industry intel.

Only kidding about the last three, but wouldn’t that be cool?

National Bourbon Week sign

Let’s dive into the schedule for the week, and maybe you’ll see something you want to join me at.

Monday, June 9

Vintage Connoisseur Experience at Preservation Distillery — 2 p.m.

The Beam Backyard Luau — Sold Out

Tuesday, June 10

Vintage Connoisseur Experience at Preservation Distillery — 2 p.m.

Whiskey & Science at the Brindiamo Penthouse — Sold Out

Tailgates & Toasts: A Celebration with Elijah Craig at Heaven Hill — 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 11

Vintage Connoisseur Experience at Preservation Distillery — 2 p.m.

Old SteelHouse Distillery: Proof is in the Proof at the Brindiamo Penthouse — 4 p.m.

Master Distiller’s Dinner at Lux Row — 6 p.m.

Thursday, June 12

Vintage Connoisseur Experience at Preservation Distillery — 2 p.m.

Ham & Whiskey Pairing with Steve Coomes at Preservation Distillery — 4:30 p.m.

Log Still’s Pour & Paired: A Bourbon Social at the Brindiamo Penthouse — 6 p.m.

Clermont Supper Club at James B. Beam Distilling Co. — 6 p.m.

Friday, June 13

Vintage Connoisseur Experience at Preservation Distillery — 2 p.m.

Summer Patio Series at Bardstown Bourbon Co. — 5 p.m.

Bourbon Capital Mash Up at Bespoke In Bond — 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 14

Bourbon & Brunch at Preservation Distillery — 9:30 a.m.

Vintage Connoisseur Experience at Preservation Distillery — 2 p.m.

Maker’s Mark Totally Bourbon Bash at the Brindiamo Penthouse — 2 p.m.

Sunday, June 15

Vintage Connoisseur Experience at Preservation Distillery — 2 p.m.

_________________

Bourbon Capital Mash Up event poster
If you can only come to one event, make it this one!

As I mentioned, there are still tickets available to some of these events. The one I’m most looking forward to is the Bourbon Capital Mash Up on Friday at the new venue Bespoke In Bond next to Bardstown’s Neat Bourbon Bar. The inaugural event will feature special pours from the area distilleries as well as paired food from local chefs and restaurants.

There will also be a DJ and a charitable bottle pull, as well as a cash bar. And if you want to spring for the VIP ticket, you get “very special” pours (like a pre-fire Heaven Hill and vintage Maker’s Mark) and your party starts an hour earlier at 6 p.m.

Hopefully I’ll see some of you at these events! And remember, if you don’t like a bourbon, just find me and I’ll be your human dump bucket. It won’t be the first time.

Milam & Greene's The Answer bottles

How does bourbon age differently in Texas? Milam & Greene has ‘The Answer’

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Milam & Greene's The Answer bottles
Texas vs. Kentucky bourbon via Milam & Greene is “The Answer.” | Courtesy

Of course bourbon ages differently depending on its environment. We know this to be true, especially if you’ve ever tasted a young Texas bourbon that appears to be the color of a 10-year-old. Milam & Greene, one of my favorite Texas distilleries, has conducted an experiment along these lines to find “The Answer,” and perhaps it has spawned even more questions.

The experiment was simple: Take the same Kentucky-made distillate and put it into barrels. Some of the barrels will age in Kentucky and some in Texas’ Hill Country (Blanco, Texas, to be exact). Check back in five years and share the two bourbons with the public. The 375ml bottles are now being sold as a set called “The Answer” for $149.99.

“We wanted to better understand how temperature fluctuation between the two environments influences flavor extraction in our whiskey, so one of the first activities we did together as a team was lay down these barrels in two states in 2019,” said Heather Greene, CEO and Master Blender at Milam & Greene, in a news release. “The popular hypothesis that the hotter, drier climate significantly differentiates Texas bourbon across the board with higher oak extraction compared to a Kentucky bourbon is a good one, and now you can taste it.”

Yesterday I was fortunate to sit in a Zoom conference with Greene and Master Distiller Marlene Holmes where we tasted both the samples and also blended them together. It was surprising to see that just about everything about both samples were different: different proofs (KY 108 | TX 117); different colors (KY lighter | TX much darker); and vastly different tastes (KY fruit-forward, sweet | TX oaky, rich).

Greene said she enjoyed seeing how “nature writes itself into whiskey,” and she wasn’t too surprised with the results. She even coined the term “Texification” to label how the Texas heat rapidly ages bourbon distillate to produce quicker flavors and colors than the slower aging process in Kentucky.

While she doesn’t say she has a favorite between the two, she recommends getting the best whiskey by blending them together, which is what she does on a daily basis at the distillery in Blanco. Milam & Greene make some of their proprietary distillate on a column still at Bardstown Bourbon Co. and age barrels in Kentucky, and they also produce distillate on a copper pot still in Texas and age barrels there. The magic is in blending them together.

“Individually, each bourbon is delicious, and batched together, the combined bourbons also create gorgeous, complex whiskey,” said Greene. “This experiment puts a spotlight on everything we do at Milam & Greene as we bring together the best casks aged in different states.”

Marlene Holmes and Heather Greene of Milam & Greene
Marlene Holmes (top) and Heather Greene of Milam & Greene

Greene and Holmes mentioned they have a few other experiments up their sleeves that might include aging barrels in other parts of the Lone Star State, because, after all, you could fit about six Kentuckys into Texas, and the climates are also vastly different.

My 2 cents: I enjoyed both bourbons, but I found the Kentucky to be richer and more complex. Yes, the Texas showed great color at 5 years old and was tasty as well, but it didn’t have those fruity/cherry notes found in great bourbons and the finish was quick and dry. It also came off a little hot to me. But as Greene mentioned, the beauty was in the blend of the two.

It’s a fascinating experiment, and I love how they’re letting the consumer in the lab to experience and taste the differences for themselves. I have a feeling some will prefer the big oak of Texas and some will enjoy the soft subtleties of Kentucky.

To find “The Answer” at a store near you, check out this link.

Top bottles of bourbon

My 10 most memorable bourbons

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Top bottles of bourbon
Here’s a handful of some of the best bourbons I’ve ever had. The list is always changing and rotating.

To commemorate International Whiskey Day, I’ve decided to list the top 10 most memorable pours of bourbon I’ve ever had. It’s hard to narrow this down to 10, but people always ask me for my favorites, so here they are in no particular order. 

1) William Larue Weller — I was still new to unicorn bourbons, but I was able to try the 2016 WLW the year it came out for $28 an ounce. I was blown away that a whiskey at 135.4 proof tasted as smooth as butter. 

2) Four Roses Al Young 50th Anniversary — I’m lucky to have called Al a friend, and he signed this bottle to me personally. It’s a memory I will keep forever. And the bourbon inside is a masterpiece in blending.

3) King of Kentucky — I’m not really sure I have a favorite year of this Brown-Forman release because they’re always solid pours. I just wish it didn’t cost the price of a castle to worship the King.

4) Old Crow Chessman Decanter — I was fortunate to get a pour of this rare bourbon from the late 1960s at the secret Vintage Library inside Bardstown Bourbon Company. I spent at least 30 minutes sipping less than an ounce of whiskey, and I’ll never forget it. 

5) Michter’s 20 Year Bourbon — Michter’s president Joe Magliocco isn’t afraid to pull out some amazing stuff sometimes, especially if you’re visiting with other members of the media. This 20-year bourbon blew my mind and my taste buds. It continues to haunt me in dreams — in a good way.

6) Belle Meade Honey Bourbon — Back when Belle Meade used MGP bourbon, this nectar of the gods featured straight bourbon finished in Trubee honey casks. The bottle I have is 116.4 proof, so it packs quite a punch. But that faint whisper of honey is perfection. 

7) Jack Daniel’s 14 Year — Just released this year, the buzz is real. I love that they kept it at barrel strength, as my sample I was fortunate to try was a whopping 126.3. It should taste like fire, but instead it’s Grandma’s country biscuits lathered in honey, butter and banana.

8) Russell’s Reserve 15 Year — I’ll always be a Wild Turkey girl at heart, so this latest unicorn release from the legendary distillery doesn’t disappoint. I just wish my last name was Russell and I had keys to their rickhouses. 

9) Maker’s Mark Denim Bottle — Made to celebrate the University of Kentucky basketball team winning the NCAA Championship in 1996, this highly sought-after prize is a butterscotch bomb through and through. I don’t know what they did back then that they don’t do now, but it is simply marvelous. 

10) Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year — Yes, I’ve had the complete vertical of Pappy products, but my favorite to this day remains the 15-year-old. Perfectly balanced and intricately nuanced, the wheated bourbon has just enough oak influence you want without going overboard. 

Woodford Double Double Oaked bottle

Woodford’s Double Double Oaked doubles in size

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Woodford Double Double Oaked bottle
Woodford Double Double Oaked 2025 comes out Monday, Jan. 13. | Courtesy

If you’ve followed my bourbon journey at any point along the beaten path, you know I’m a big fan of Woodford Reserve‘s annual release, Double Double Oaked. And I’m not alone, since it flies off shelves every January when it’s released.

But that might be changing.

Woodford announced today that the beloved Double Double Oaked will no longer be sold as part of its 375 ml Distillery Series (available only at the distillery for the most part), but will instead become a permanent line extension of the brand and sold in 700 ml bottles all over the United States.

That’s great news for bourbon fans who don’t reside in Kentucky, as they had to often purchase DDO on secondary market sites at a high cost. The news release that came out today did not indicate how many cases were being released, so I’m still not convinced the bourbon will be readily available wherever you shop. But at least it’s moving in that direction.

Oh, and there’s also a premium price tag on the 700 ml bottle: $199.

What’s so special about Double Double?

“Rare and revered, this handcrafted double-barreled bourbon has a deep richness, unlike any other American whiskey on the market,” said Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall in the news release. “Resting five to seven years in the first barrel, then up to two years in a second barrel, this liquid features extraordinary flavor notes. It is unexpected and complex.”

DDO first debuted in the summer of 2015, and I know that because I wrote about it way back when. I also have a bottle from every year it has been released because it quickly became one of my favorites to hunt down each year.

2015 bottle of Double Double Oaked
DDO used to be sold in 375 ml bottles. | Courtesy

I believe that first year the story was that they “accidentally” forgot about an aging barrel of Woodford Double Oaked in the rickhouse, and by the time they found it, it had aged an additional two years in the second lightly charred, heavily toasted barrel.

We’ll never know if that was a marketing ploy or a true story, but the Double Double mystique was born and has continued to pick up steam ever since.

I remember one year, not too long ago, DDO sold out within hours of its release at the distillery. I was also there trying to nab my own two bottles, and traffic was a nightmare.

And I also recall another year where there wasn’t a limit on how many you could buy, so my friends and I went in on some cases. Those were the days.

How can I get one?

The bigger, badder Double Double will be released today at the distillery in Versailles starting at 10 a.m., or you can go online and try your luck there. And you might get lucky at your local liquor store, because technically they’re supposed to be sold across the U.S.

Once I get my hands on one, I will post some tasting notes here. Wish me luck!

King of Kentucky 2024

This year’s King of Kentucky is sweet 16 again

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King of Kentucky 2024

This year’s King of Kentucky release — the seventh since its relaunch in 2018 — will once again be bottled at 16 years old. It’s highly unlikely you’ll even see this bourbon unicorn on a shelf, because it disappears faster than Malört at a bartending convention.

King of Kentucky is a premium, single-barrel, ultra-aged bourbon released by Brown-Forman each year, and whiskey collectors go absolutely bananas about it — rightly so. The King is usually in my top 5 each year, and I beg Santa that he’ll deliver one under my tree. It has yet to happen, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have hope.

This year’s release is 16 years old, the same as the previous year’s iteration, and it comes from two lots of barrels distilled in 2007 (July 19, 2007 & Nov. 15, 2007). I was confused by the 2007 date, because that would make them 17 years old if they were bottled in 2024, but apparently they were bottled in 2023 — or at least put into a stainless steel holding tank, thus ending the aging process. I did ask, but it’s a little unclear.

Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris helped choose these barrels for the release, and he said in the news release that it’s a job he doesn’t take lightly due to the brand’s reputation.

“But reputations must not only be earned but defended,” he added. “This year’s release is sure to please the palate of every bourbon aficionado.”

A little bit more about this year’s release: Approximately 5,100 bottles were produced from 63 barrels, and they will ship out starting in October mostly to Kentucky outlets, but also 10 other lucky states (Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas). The suggested retail price is a whopping $349.99! Ouch.

How Does the King Taste?

I received a small media sample last week and immediately opened it to try. Perhaps this is the closest I’ll get to a Christmas bottle, and I’m content with that. My sample was 130.4 proof, and these bottles can range anywhere from 125-135 proof.

King of Kentucky 2024

This year’s seemed a little hot to me compared to previous releases. Normally these don’t drink like the high proof they are, so I had to let this one sit a while to open up.

The aroma is that wonderful banana nut bread I often get from the King, with a thick layer of caramel drizzled on top. Once I got past the heat, the palate opened up to some really complex flavors.

I get tobacco and dark chocolate; a sprinkle of baking spices, especially black pepper and nutmeg; a little citrus peel; and a plethora of oak. The finish is long, with bursts of butterscotch and brown sugar.

Having gone back to the sample several times since, it has definitely opened up more on the palate. I can’t say it’s my favorite of the King of Kentucky releases, but it’s definitely worth the hunt.

New bourbons at KBF

KY Bourbon Fest bound? Keep an eye out for these new releases

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New bourbons at KBF

The sold-out Kentucky Bourbon Festival (KBF) starts today and continues through Sunday. If you are lucky to have scored tickets, here are some special new bottles to keep an eye out for. They might be at each distillery’s booth for a taste, or some might even choose to sell them there as well.

I’ll be posting from the KBF every day on the Bourbon Country social media platforms (@justaddbourbon), so be sure to follow my bourbon-soaked shenanigans. I will try and behave myself for the most part, and if you’re there on Sunday, Sept. 15, stop by the Bourbon:30 panel discussion on bourbon journalism with myself and some very cool writers in the industry. It runs from 1:30-2 p.m.

Four Roses 2024 Limited Edition Small Batch

OK, so this one will most likely NOT be at the KBF, but it is being released at the nearby Cox’s Creek Four Roses Warehouse & Bottling Facility as well as the Lawrenceburg distillery on Saturday, Sept. 14. It’s first-come, first-serve, so you’ll have to line up early. I believe they’ll start letting people in line around 3 a.m. Shoo!

This year’s release features bourbon aged 12-20 years old and is bottled at 108.2 proof and non-chill filtered. I received a media sample and can say with 100% certainty that it’s delicious and worth the time in line. I get a lot of citrus and vanilla notes from this one, as well as a lovely baked cherry note, some of that Four Roses spice, and also an underlying flavor of toffee and creme brûlée.

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024

This one WILL be for sale each morning at the KBF while supplies last. This year’s Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged release clocks in at 119.3 proof and comes from a blend of 12- and 13-year-old bourbons.

If you recall last year’s inaugural release, it’s created from taking fully mature barrels of Maker’s Mark (4-6 years old) and then relocating them inside the Maker’s cellar for extra aging. The moderate conditions inside the cellar allow the bourbon to age gracefully, and in turn, they’re not losing as much to the angels.

It’s tasty, as always, and is everything I wanted added to my standard Maker’s Mark: age and proof.

Angel’s Envy Triple Oak

For the first time in over 10 years, Angel’s Envy is adding a third bottle to its signature, everyday lineup, in the form of a Triple Oak bourbon. It’s a is a blend of whiskeys finished in three types of barrels: Hungarian Oak from Hungary, Chinkapin Oak from Kentucky, and French Oak from — you guessed it — France. It’s bottled at 92 proof.

This bottle will eventually be distributed throughout the U.S., but if you just can’t wait, it’ll be available at the Louisville distillery on Saturday, Sept. 14, as well as at the KBF that morning, too. Master Distiller Owen Martin will be at the festival as well, and I hear he’ll be doing a tasting of it on Friday. So if you’re interested, head to the AE booth and ask for details.

The Triple Oak bourbon is rich and nuanced, and I seem to taste something different every time I try it. (Full disclosure: I was given a media sample to review.) Sometimes I get milk chocolate and coffee, while other times I get a nice oak toast and cinnamon.

Booker’s Bourbon “The Reserves”

If you’re a fan of Booker’s, this release is like a “very special episode” of Booker’s. It blends bourbons that are 8-14 years old and will be released in smaller quantities because of the rare nature of these bourbons. The 2024 release spans eight production dates and eight different warehouses, and it is bottled at 125.9 proof.

I’d like to get a taste of this before I commit to buy, but deep down I know it’s going to be amazing — especially since I’ve never met a Booker I didn’t like. Hopefully I can taste it at KBF, where I’ll be stalking Freddie Noe for his country ham.

Little Book “The Infinite: Edition 1“

And speaking of Freddie Noe, he has a new Little Book release just in time for the KBF and National Bourbon Heritage Month: “The Infinite: Edition 1.” This is the first-ever brand extension from Little Book that features whiskey laid down by three generations of the Noe family: Booker, Fred and Freddie.

The whiskey ranges in age from 7-20 years old, and each is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon. It’s bottled at 119.3 proof. I haven’t tried this one yet either, but here are some details from the news release:

“Edition I: The bourbon distilled by Booker Noe lays the groundwork with notes of oak, char, and smoke. Fred Noe’s bourbon brings in rich flavors of dark fruit, cherry, and brown sweets. And it’s all rounded out with bourbon Freddie Noe made where caramel, vanilla, and spice notes really shine through. Perfectly balanced yet unlike anything made before.”

I’m hoping they’ll have both the Booker’s and Little Book at the KBF, but I don’t have confirmation. So we’ll just mosey on over there and pray for a miracle.

Other bottles to look out for …

Now that distilleries can sell bottles at the KBF, I’d say most of them will come with something special. My advice would be to head to your favorites as soon as you get in the gate and find out what they have. Heaven Hill always brings some great bourbons, as does Bardstown Bourbon Company, Green River and Lux Row.

Also, remember that the KBF has partnered with most of the distilleries involved and picked special single-barrel releases in honor of the festival. These will also be for sale at each distillery each day. So your chances of scoring a great bottle of bourbon are extremely high. Hopefully higher than the rain chances this weekend!

See you there!

five different bottles of the first DeHart Whiskey

DeHart Whiskey is a family affair

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five different bottles of the first DeHart Whiskey
There are five different bottles of the first DeHart Whiskey release. | Photo by Sara Havens

This bottle might be a little tough to find (unless you’re in Kentucky), but don’t you love the look of it? DeHart Whiskey is a new toasted-barrel bourbon created by a Louisville-based family that shares a passion for great bourbon, art, design and fulfilling lifelong dreams.

Brothers Mike and Dan DeHart always had a dream to create their own bourbon together, and it was fodder for many Thanksgivings spent around the table talking about names, mash bills, styles, finishes, and proofs. Growing up in Louisville, they were no stranger to the whiskey industry and spent most of their adult years “researching” all types of bourbons.

Mike DeHart (middle) with Doreen (left) and Jeaneen Barnhart
Mike DeHart (middle) with Doreen (left) and Jeaneen Barnhart | Courtesy

Finally in 2019, they purchased some slightly aged bourbon barrels from MGP in Lawrencburg, Ind., and moved them to Stanford, Ky., to age gracefully among the Kentucky countryside.

Now it was time to activate the twin powers — twin sisters Doreen (Mike’s wife) and Jeaneen Barnhart — to help with the look and packaging.

Doreen is an award-winning graphic designer, while Jeaneen is a renowned equine artist in Louisville. Her artwork has appeared in television and movies, on Kentucky Derby Festival posters, and even on well-known bourbon brands like Woodford Reserve and Maker’s Mark.

Doreen got busy creating the logo and bottle design, and Jeaneen started conceptualizing an image on canvas.

The image she came up with features a sassy and sexy woman with a holster around her hips. The artist wanted a playful vibe and something that would be eye-catching on a shelf with other bottles. That goal has definitely been achieved.

The Whiskey is Frisky

As for the whiskey, I can attest to the quality and rich flavors. Full disclosure: I was invited by Doreen, Mike and Jeaneen to help write some of the tasting notes for the website, and I used it as a way to get the scoop on this new release and enjoy some great bourbon in the process. Win-win!

DeHart Whiskey
DeHart Whiskey is available in Louisville, Lexington, Bardstown, E-Town and Pikeville. | Courtesy

There are five different releases in DeHart’s first launch, and each is a cask-strength single barrel that was aged 7 years in new, charred oak barrels.

The bourbon was then transferred to a toasted barrel for an additional 9 months. The mash bill is 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley, and the proofs range from 108 to 112.

Mike explained that he and his brother love the toasted-bourbon category and wanted to play around with their own finishing techniques. This will be the first release of many planned, as the brothers have more inventory (and different mash bills) they’re tinkering with.

Just like fine bourbon, they’re in no hurry to flood the market with their brand. Instead, they plan on taking their time and getting it exactly right to their tastes.

Where to Find It

DeHart Whiskey is slowly trickling into local and regional liquor stores.

You should be able to find it in Bardstown, Lexington, Elizabethtown and Pikeville, and there are a handful of bars and liquor stores carrying it in Louisville as well, like Evergreen Liquors in Middletown, Neat Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop in the Highlands, and Taste Fine Wines & Bourbons in NuLu.

Check this link for all the places you can find the whiskey, which will continue to be updated. And stay tuned for more DeHart Whiskey releases in the future. I can’t wait to see the artwork on the next one!

DeHart Whiskey retails for a suggested price of $69.99.

Bardstown Bourbon Company High Wheat

Bardstown Bourbon Co. adds High Wheat to its Origin Series

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Bardstown Bourbon Company High Wheat
Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s High Wheat joins the Origin Series. | Courtesy

Wheated bourbon fans should be rejoicing. On the horizon in that bourbon category are releases of Pappy, Maker’s Cellar Collection, Larceny Barrel Proof, maybe another Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, etc. And now, Bardstown Bourbon Company is adding another wheated bourbon to its Origin Series roster in the form of High Wheat.

What does this mean? Well, first, let’s start with legendary Master Distiller Steve Nally and his 30+ year career at Maker’s Mark. The man worked with wheat for 30 years, so it’s a safe bet the “Wheat King” knows what he’s doing. He worked along side Head Distiller Nick Smith for this one, and the two came up with a low barrel entry proof of 108 — which I’m also a big fan of.

High Wheat bottle

“Once we perfected the distillate, we focused on the aging modifications that would make this whiskey best-in-class,” Smith said in a news release. “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 mash bill on this one is 53% corn, 39% wheat and 8% malted barley, and it’s aged for a respectable 6 years. The proof is 106, also in my preferred range. It retails for $49.99.

High Wheat is definitely one of the highest percentages of wheat in the category, but there are also some craft distillers doing some fun things with the secondary grain as well. Wilderness Trail’s wheated bourbon has 24% wheat in the mash bill, for instance.

This product joins BBCo’s Origin Series, which was launched in 2023 and includes a rye whiskey, wheated bourbon and rye bourbon.

So how does it taste?

What I noticed right away is the viscosity of this bourbon as compared to the other wheated bourbon in the Origin Series (68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley). The thicker texture likely due to the low entry proof and possibly the higher wheat content — but whatever the case, it’s a delicious sip.

The nose reminds me of a Werther’s Original with a little apricot mixed in. And on the palate, the bourbon oozes with Grandma hugs. I get layers of rich caramel drizzle atop vanilla bean ice cream, milk chocolate and even some almonds sprinkled on top. The finish lingers with a little maple and brown sugar action.

One of my favorite wheated bourbons is the Weller Antique, at 7 years and 107 proof. This is 6 years and 106 proof — so we’re really not too far off from that. This could possibly become my everyday wheated sipper.

Angel's Envy Bottled in Bond

New Angel’s Envy Bottled in Bond shows off bourbon without port finish

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Angel's Envy Bottled in Bond
Angel’s Envy Bottled in Bond will be released June 14. | Courtesy

Many bourbon purists believe that when a bourbon is finished in a second barrel, it’s because the distiller is trying to cover up something or mask an unwanted flavor note. Sure, that could be true in some cases, but ever since Angel’s Envy debuted in the market in 2011, they’ve had to field this misconception time and time again.

Now, for the first time ever, Angel’s Envy is releasing a special product that shows off its bourbon without any port finish. The Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bottled in Bond will be available only at the distillery starting on National Bourbon Day, June 14.

Using an industry low barrel entry proof of 103, these barrels were made specifically for this release and came in right at 100 proof (the standard for Bottled in Bond releases). The bourbon is almost 6 years old and will be sold in .375ml bottles for $54.99.

Angel's Envy Master Distiller Owen Martin
Angel’s Envy Master Distiller Owen Martin | Courtesy

I caught up with Master Distiller Owen Martin earlier this week to sample the new product and find out how it came to fruition. Most of us would probably guess that releasing a product so unlike its core brand was likely Martin’s idea, since he was the newest person to join the team in 2022.

Not so, says Martin.

The idea to release an unfinished Angel’s Envy product actually came from founder Lincoln Henderson himself. Although he passed away in 2013, Lincoln left behind several notebooks full of ideas, processes and directions, and coming out with a bourbon that was not finished in ruby port barrels was up his sleeve all along.

“This was not my idea at all. This was an idea that was relayed to me of Lincoln Henderson’s,” says Martin. “It’s very cool for me to execute an idea from the founder of the company.”

The barrels were laid down in the spring of 2018 with that low barrel entry proof of 103. They were then placed on a lower floor of a cool warehouse in Henry County to help manage the angel’s share and proof level, since the goal was to keep them around 100 proof.

Here’s where Martin gets technical: “Instead of withdrawing them at 100 proof, we let them mature further to prioritize flavor,” he explains. “We drew the barrels at 98-99 proof and blended 27 low-proof barrels with two high-proof barrels from the same season to reach exactly 100 proof.”

He whipped out his phone and even showed me a picture the fancy proofing equipment that read 100.000 exactly. He was blown away, since most of the time there’s always a .006 margin. This was the first time he ever got a perfect proof, which surely has to be a sign that Lincoln approves.

Owen Martin shares a sample
Martin shares a sample and explains the concept behind the release. | Photo by Sara Havens

“Reframing and thinking outside the box is necessary for any brand,” Martin says. “If I’m innovating correctly, it should feel like a natural extension of the brand and still surprise people. A good example of that was the Rye Cask Strength we released last year. I think that surprised folks a bit, and I think an unfinished Angel’s Envy is really going to surprise some people. Hopefully in a good way. I think the bourbon will speak for itself.”

And speaking it will do. Since I got to try a sample with Martin, I can attest to its wonderful notes of brown sugar, cinnamon, honey and Animal Crackers. Yes, Animal Crackers. It’s in there, I swear! Bourbon purists definitely won’t be disappointed with this one, and hopefully it’ll quell the naysayers who might not be into finished products.

You can pick up your own bottle of Angel’s Envy Bottled in Bond on Friday, June 14. The distillery will be throwing a party that day from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., which will include cocktails, appetizers, live music and much more. Martin will also be on hand to sign bottles.