If the concept of a Japanese blender behind a bourbon sounds familiar, that’s because Jim Beam introduced this concept with Legent a few years ago, a collaboration between master distiller Fred Noe and Suntory blender Shinji Fukuyo. Now Kentucky Owl has gotten in on the action as well, combining the forces of master blenders John Rhea and Yusuke Yahisa of Japan’s Nagahama Distillery. So how does this new release differ?

Obviously, the bourbon at the core of the release is entirely different. Kentucky Owl is a brand started by Dixon Dedman in 2014, a revival of his family’s whiskey legacy that sourced bourbon and rye from undisclosed distilleries, and often ended up selling for hundreds of dollars. Dedman left the company last year and has since embarked upon new endeavors. Stoli Group, which owns Kentucky Owl, is currently building a massive new distillery-cum-themepark in Bardstown, KY, but in the meantime there’s been some limited-edition releases with Rhea (formerly of Four Roses) as head blender.

Takumi Edition Bourbon (“takumi” means “master” in Japanese) is the latest, a blend of four-, five-, six- and 13-year-old Kentucky bourbon made from mash bills containing corn, wheat or rye, and malted barley.

Tasting notes include rye bread and caramel on the nose, followed by cinnamon, apple and pear on the palate. 

ABOUT THE BRAND

A truly special whiskey is the culmination of a few key characteristics: Experience. Teamwork. Quality in every step. And last but not least, passion.  At Old Carter Whiskey Co, it’s our promise to ensure you can taste our expertise and inspiration with every unique release, and in every sip.

Old Carter is the passion project of “flavor chaser” partners Mark Carter and Sherri Carter, whose beverage industry roots trace back to award-winning careers in the California wine business. After resurrecting the long-dormant bourbon brand Kentucky Owl in 2011, the two were irreversibly hooked on the art of whiskey making and blending. Kentucky Owl sold unexpectedly in 2017, but by then Sherri & Mark were so enamored with the vibrant spirit of Kentucky’s whiskey community, they made a commitment to carry on their love affair with whiskey by making a statement of their own, right in the Bluegrass. And Old Carter Whiskey Co was born.

Headquartered in Louisville, the Old Carter team produces Straight Ryes, Bourbons and American Whiskies in locations throughout Kentucky. Each bottle is personally crafted by Mark and Sherri, who create every blend and select every single barrel program release together.

ABOUT THE BRAND

A truly special whiskey is the culmination of a few key characteristics: Experience. Teamwork. Quality in every step. And last but not least, passion.  At Old Carter Whiskey Co, it’s our promise to ensure you can taste our expertise and inspiration with every unique release, and in every sip.

Old Carter is the passion project of “flavor chaser” partners Mark Carter and Sherri Carter, whose beverage industry roots trace back to award-winning careers in the California wine business. After resurrecting the long-dormant bourbon brand Kentucky Owl in 2011, the two were irreversibly hooked on the art of whiskey making and blending. Kentucky Owl sold unexpectedly in 2017, but by then Sherri & Mark were so enamored with the vibrant spirit of Kentucky’s whiskey community, they made a commitment to carry on their love affair with whiskey by making a statement of their own, right in the Bluegrass. And Old Carter Whiskey Co was born.

Headquartered in Louisville, the Old Carter team produces Straight Ryes, Bourbons and American Whiskies in locations throughout Kentucky. Each bottle is personally crafted by Mark and Sherri, who create every blend and select every single barrel program release together.

OUR STORY

Our story starts with our people. Big Stick is owned by Mike Ryan and Joe Baker. Mike is an engineer and inventor. His best friend, Joe, is a retired USMC Lieutenant Colonel of 21 years, and for the last 16 years was with the Navy in the Department of Defense. These friends of 40 years decided to follow through on a shared passion to create a world-class bourbon of their own called Big Stick.

Big Stick begins in the traditional bourbon making method. We source the finest ingredients and age them in charred New American White Oak to our exact specifications.

After experimenting with traditional mash bills and dozens of variations, we opted for a unique blend to offer an unmatched flavor profile.

Big Stick Bourbon is ultra-smooth because before bottling, we add a c­harred New American White Oak Stick into every bottle. The bourbon to stick in bottle ratio is 99.8% equivalent to that of bourbon in a 53-gallon barrel. Similar to a “Double Oaked” whiskey, this added step allows our bourbon to gracefully integrate with new oak for a second time.

This innovative process creates an exceptional and extremely smooth whiskey with rich, enhanced flavors. With no evaporation in bottle versus in barrel; we like to say, “We Make The Angels Thirsty!™” All Big Stick Bourbon is small batch.

MISSION FOCUSED

With a strong respect for tradition combined with innovation, we are dedicated to creating world-class bourbon.

We intentionally make Big Stick Bourbon at 47.5% ABV or 95 proof. We do so symbolically for our pledge to donate 5% of our profits to charitable organizations that support our military and their families. We love the United States of America and support with gratitude to those that serve to protect and defend our nation.

We realize we cannot solve all the issues that affect our service members and their families from these donations. But if by aiding these organizations in some way eases the lives of the honorable men and women that have served, then we believe it is the least we can do. Please visit our Operation Gratitude page to view a list we have supported and if you are able join our efforts to contribute.

OUR PASSION

HONORING ALL WHO SERVED

 Our drive for creating a great bourbon is only matched for our devotion to giving back to the military community.

We are blessed to live in the greatest country in the world and recognize the many sacrifices members of the military have made to allow us to pursue our love of making a great whiskey.

To help direct support to service members, Big Stick Bourbon will dedicate five percent of our profits to military organizations.

Semper Fi — It’s not just a name, it’s a way of life.

TASTING NOTES

Big Stick Bourbon is the only whiskey that adds a charred American white oak stave in every bottle which continually improves the flavor and smoothes out the drinking experience.

COLOR: Saddle brown leather

NOSE: Fresh cut oak, spearmint, clove with a touch of cigar box

PALATE: Black currant, vanilla wafers, raisins, caramel toffee, and glazed honey

FINISH: Well-balanced, integrated seasoned oak, blueberries, blackberries, stone ground crackers, and a mix of citrus

This 15 years straight bourbon features rye spice, hints of cherry, vanilla, and oak.

The Bond and Lillard brand has a long and storied history dating back to 1820, when brothers John and David Bond founded their distillery in what is now the city of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The distillery quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality bourbon, and in 1869, the Bond family sold the business to Colonel C. C. Lillard, a prominent local businessman.

Today, Bond and Lillard Batch 2 Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon pays homage to the brand's heritage with a blend of carefully selected barrels of whiskey, each aged for at least 10 years. The whiskey is made from a mash bill of corn, rye, and malted barley, which gives it a complex and well-rounded flavor profile.

On the nose, Bond and Lillard Batch 2 Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon offers notes of caramel and vanilla, followed by hints of toasted oak and spice. On the palate, the whiskey is rich and full-bodied, with flavors of dark fruit, caramel, and a subtle smokiness that lingers on the finish.

What sets Bond and Lillard Batch 2 Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon apart from other bourbons is its exceptional smoothness and balance. The whiskey has been carefully crafted to be enjoyed neat or on the rocks, and its versatility makes it a great addition to any whiskey collection.

Lucky 7 Spirits brings together a complex mix of qualities; each flavor highlighting our unique tone of voice. We are classy, confident and curious. We always tip our hats, invite the outsider to join our table and embrace the notion that life is a precious gift. We are quirky, fun and relaxed yet we know our stuff, inside and out. We are professionals, connoisseurs, fanatics, friends and ultimately family. We love good bourbon, good people and good times.

Chicken Cock Whiskey's newest limited release Chanticleer is fine Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in premium French Cognac Barrels. Limited to only 32 barrels, Chanticleer celebrates the long time French-American friendship dating back to the 1700s and to Paris, Kentucky where Chicken Cock was founded in 1856. With vibrant notes of ripened peaches and delicate sweet cream the flavor bursts of vanilla and cherry with compliments of softened plums and candied dates. This is the second edition in a collectible series of limited holiday releases.

An image defined by an ICONIC music career. A career composed of timeless songs about life, love and heartache by a man of integrity with a signature look.

Silverbelly – the color of his iconic cowboy hat – a premium spirit distilled exclusively for and hand-selected by Alan Jackson.

Every detail of Silverbelly Whiskey has been carefully crafted to create a brand worthy of celebrating a career and countless memories for all to enjoy.

TASTES LIKE '90S COUNTRY

An image defined by an iconic music career. A career composed of timeless songs about life, love and heartache by a man of integrity with a signature look.

FOR THE GOOD TIMES

Silverbelly – the color of his iconic cowboy hat – a premium spirit distilled exclusively for and hand-selected by Alan Jackson. Every detail of Silverbelly Whiskey has been carefully crafted to create a brand worthy of celebrating a career and countless memories for all to enjoy.

A BOURBON OF THE LAND

A true farm-to-table bourbon, Frey Ranch Four-Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey is 100% sustainably grown, malted, distilled, matured, and bottled on the Frey Ranch. Aged for 5 years, this 90-proof bourbon is smooth yet complex with oak and citrus aromas followed by vanilla, caramel, banana chips, and dried hay on the palate. With a 4-grain mash bill of non-GMO corn, winter cereal rye, winter wheat, and two-row barley-malted on site, this is a flavorful bourbon that can easily be enjoyed on its own, yet also holds up in any whiskey-based cocktail.

Awards

Whiskies of the World 2020 - Gold

USA Spirits Ratings 2020 - Gold

Los Angeles International Spirits Competition 2022 - Best of Category - Gold

MASTER'S KEEP UNFORGOTTEN

A masterful blend of 13-year-old bourbon and 8- and 9-year-old ryes, finished in rye casks

HOW WE MAKE OUR MASTER’S KEEP UNFORGOTTEN

The idea of marrying the straight bourbon and rye whiskies of Wild Turkey Distilling Co. was born in 2010 when a crew member accidentally mixed a batch of young rye with a barrel of mature bourbon. Over a decade later, Master Distiller Eddie Russell has leveraged his years of distillation experience to craft Master’s Keep Unforgotten, a high proof, extra-aged variation of the harmonious blend of straight bourbon and rye whiskies, this time finished in rye casks for a secondary aging period in the pre-prohibition Rickhouse B – the favorite rickhouse of Eddie’s father, Master Distiller Jimmy Russell.

TASTING NOTES

TASTE: Caramel, and sweet oak, complemented by flavors of dried fruit and honey

AROMA: Fruit-forward with notes of caramel and oak

FINISH: Black pepper and warm baking spices

PROCESS: 105 proof, 13-year-old bourbon blended with 8- & 9-year-old rye, finished in rye casks

Born and bred in Kentucky, Ezra Brooks has been filling glasses with genuine American bourbon since 1957. In 2018, it found a new home in Bardstown, aka the Bourbon Capital of the World. Known as Lux Row Distillers, so named because of the distinct row of trees on the historic property, the distillery boasts more than 18,000 square feet, six barrel warehouses at capacity, and a 43-foot custom copper still for Ezra Brooks and its bourbons-in-crime Rebel Bourbon, David Nicholson, and Blood Oath. Come see Lux Row Distillers for yourself and discover why Ezra Brooks is as authentic as they come.

Ezra Brooks 99 Proof bottled at an elevated 99 proof for an enhanced flavor profile, this pure, oak-barrel-aged Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey is charcoal filtered for a smooth, mellow finish and features a spicy, ryed bourbon mash bill.

TASTING NOTES: Smooth and drinkable with hints of caramel, vanilla, chocolate, and spice.

INGREDIENTS: Corn, rye, and barley

As the United States was recovering from the American Civil War in 1865, Col. Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. was ready to embark on a new business venture, having profited from the trading of grains such as corn during the war. Taylor purchased a small distillery on the banks of the Kentucky River with a vision of producing top quality whiskey distinguished from all others of that time. Taylor knew exceptional whiskey could only be crafted by using the finest ingredients, and his time selling grains during the war taught him that grains often varied tremendously from different farmers and harvests. This special edition Four Grain bourbon is crafted just as Taylor would have wanted. Using the highest quality grains and a distinct combination of corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley, to create a flavor that is sweet with hints of caramel and vanilla, yet spicy with notes of clove and pepper. After twelve years of aging, this impeccably balanced bourbon embodies the character of the man that would expect no less.

TASTING NOTES

Opens with an inviting aroma, with the first sip bringing a lot of character. Caramel notes are touched by sweet vanilla and caramel corn, then underwritten by slightly smoky flavors and oak tannins. It maintains a smooth evenness between the four grains interacting with the charred oak barrel. Overall, a nice balance, and unique.

Most Recent Awards

2018 World Whisky of the Year Jim Murray's Whisky Bible

2018 Bourbon of the Year Jim Murray's Whisky Bible

2018 Best American Whiskey 10 Years and Over (Multiple Barrels) Jim Murray's Whisky Bible

2017 4 Stars - Highly Recommended F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal

In 1974, when A. H. HIRSCH first imagined his now legendary bourbon, he set the gold standard for thoughtful American whiskey. Today, HIRSCH continues to pursue whiskey as an explorer might consider uncharted territory. We believe the world is full of possibility, there’s always room for discovery, and craft is best balanced with experimentation. With obsessively discerning selections, HIRSCH continues to blaze trails for the adventurous.

The Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is an exclusive HIRSCH release finished in 30-Year-Old Hine Cognac XO barrels, in Bardstown, Kentucky. It’s rich, complex, and a well-rounded whiskey. This expression was brought from a collaboration between HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys and Hine Cognac.

HINE COGNAC Internationally acclaimed for its blends, vintage and extra old cognacs, the 259-year-old cognac house takes pride in its unequalled collection of exceptional cognacs dating back to the 1800s. For us at HIRSCH, this is a unique collaboration with one of the most prestigious Cognac distilleries.

​54 barrels of our 6-year-old bourbon were selected to finish in 30-year-old XO Hine Cognac casks for 18 months, adding subtle yet noticeable character of Cognac to our bourbon. This unique expression has a mash bill of 72% corn, 13% rye, 15% malted barley. On the nose, it offers notes of dusty cherry and charred citrus with a palate of over ripe stone fruit, fresh raisin, soft heat, and finishes dry yet flavors continue to develop.

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This is a Special Polish Release produced in 2021. Only five barrels were produced. The Proof Varies and the label design may vary as well depending on the release.

The Limited Edition Woodford Reserve Holiday Bottle is made-to-gift and ready to dazzle. This season, wrap up 200 flavor notes for every holiday home bar, Christmas party, and hard-to-shop-for friend. Just like the holidays, Woodford Reserve is a Spectacle for the Senses.

TASTING NOTES

APPEARANCE: Clean, brilliant honey amber.

NOSE: Heavy with rich dried fruit, hints of mint and oranges covered with a dusting of cocoa. Faint vanilla and tobacco spice.

TASTE: Rich, chewy, rounded and smooth, with complex citrus, cinnamon and cocoa. Toffee, caramel, chocolate and spice notes abound.

FINISH: Silky smooth, almost creamy at first with a long, warm satisfying tail.

Scotti’s Original Springs Private Stock is a limited production, double-barrel bourbon that builds on the brand’s initial 2021 release: Scotti’s Original Springs Straight Bourbon Whiskey. To augment the flavor, the bourbon was aged for one year in a new, charred American white oak barrel and then aged two years in a 4-year-old Rittenhouse Rye barrel. No water was added during the bottling process to keep the bourbon in its purest form and bring out the most intense flavors and aromas possible. As a result, Scotti’s Original Springs Private Stock is barrel strength at 63% ABV.

Flavor Profile

Full mouth feel with layers of vanilla and cocoa, a hint of white pepper and black licorice, and a lingering bold finish of sweet chocolate and caramel. 

Very Old Barton Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a well-regarded bourbon known for its classic flavor and rich heritage. Distilled in Bardstown, Kentucky, it features a deep, robust profile with notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak. This bourbon is celebrated for its smoothness and balance, making it ideal for sipping neat or enjoying in cocktails. Its age and craftsmanship contribute to its full-bodied character and exceptional quality.

THE 1893 CHICAGO WORLD’S FAIR PRECEDED THE US BOTTLE-IN-BOND ACT BY 4 YEARS IN 1897.  THIS WHISKEY IS BOTTLED UNDER THE STRUCT RULES OF THE ACT, WHICH WAS ESSENTIALLY AMERICA’S FIRST CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW AND GUARANTEE OF QUALITY.  THE RELEASE OF THIS BOURBON COINCIDES WITH THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSAGE OF THAT ACT.  BOTTLED AT 50% ALC. / VOL., DISTILLED IN THE SAME SEASON AT FEW, AND AGED A MINIMUM OF FOUR YEARS IN AMERICAN OAK IN A FEDERALLY BONDED WAREHOUSE, FEW BOTTLED IN BOND BOURBON FEATURES THE BELOVED SPICE OF FEW STRAIGHT BOURBON, WITH CHERRY, SMOKED VANILLA, OAK AND CARAMEL UNDERTONES.  

Turkey Tom is an incredible work of art, to sum up, the fall season. A gorgeous hand-painted bottle represents the season everyone falls in love with. Pumpkins, maple leaves, and of course our Turkey Tom is presented in this bottle’s design.

And to match the fall-inspired design we made the spirit inside in accordance. An American Bourbon with a toasted barrel, caramel, oak, and cherries dominate the palate. A perfect dram to pair with the season.

A bourbon that will keep you happy in the fall, and keep you warm in the winter.