Kentucky Owl is announcing two new whiskey releases just in time for the holidays — Kentucky Owl Batch #12 Bourbon and Kentucky Owl Mardi Gras XO Cask Rye Whiskey.
Kentucky Owl Batch #12 Bourbon continues the legacy that started back in 2014 with the first batch, the first Kentucky Owl bourbon released since Prohibition. Batch #12 is the latest limited batch release iteration carefully crafted by Master Blender John Rhea. These highly sought after, artfully blended, craft bourbons have become an instant sensation.
For the Batch #12 Bourbon, Rhea blended very particular well aged, bold bourbons: 7- to 14-year-old bourbons are blended with two different 4-year-old bourbons to create this unique blend. The nose has sweet spice and caramel notes, with a hint of butterscotch and a long bouquet pleasant aroma. The taste is a pleasant rush of warm spice with a robust caramel and cream sensation that melts into hints of passion fruit and spicy citrus. The finish is long and pleasant, with the caramel and cream lingering. Batch #12 is bottled at 115.8 proof (57.9% ABV) with a suggested retail price of $400.
The Kentucky Owl Mardi Gras XO Cask Limited Edition is an extremely small release created thanks to Stoli Group’s diverse portfolio. Beginning with a Kentucky Owl 11-year-old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, the product was then finished for over one year in Bayou Rum XO Casks. Created in celebration of the spirit of Mardi Gras and the pride of Louisiana, the rare Bayou XO Casks create a unique whiskey. The Mardi Gras edition is bottled at 102.8 proof (51.4% ABV) with a suggested retail price of $500.
As barrels rolled in from Kentucky one muggy, misty March morning, Bayou Rum Master Blender Reiniel Vicente Diaz thought to himself, “there’s a lot of good times rolling around in these barrels.” The thought was reminiscent of the Mardi Gras mantra, “laissez les bons temps rouler” — let the good times roll — and in that moment the flash of inspiration came to pour this beautiful rich rye liquor into 38 very special, freshly emptied, Bayou Rum XO Mardi Gras rum casks.
Diaz knew the humidity of the unique Louisiana climate worked wonders on his own Bayou rum and was curious how it would shape the rich Kentucky rye. He knew filling the barrels in March would give the whiskey a good long, hot, humid summer to extract lots of lovely flavor, and he was patient enough to wait a further year and another sizzling summer before allowing the rest of the world enjoy this unique expression.
On the nose, Kentucky Owl Mardi Gras XO Cask Limited Edition greets drinkers with robust toasted rye bread notes, smothered in farm fresh sweet butter, with hints of cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. The mouthfeel begins with a robust, flavorful Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, followed by a flurry of sweet butter whipped with allspice. The finish is smooth, with the sweet softness of butter and allspice giving way to a long and warming nutmeg coda.
These are the latest Kentucky Owl releases under Rhea, who previously served as Four Roses Distillery’s chief operating officer, where his responsibilities included quality control, maturation, evaluation and product blending. He was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2016 and served as chair of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association board of directors. Rhea also blended award-winning Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Straight Bourbon (San Francisco World Spirits Double Gold) and Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Straight Rye (San Francisco World Spirits Gold), as well as collaborated with Irish & Japanese master blenders to create 2 new international collaborations, Kentucky Owl St. Patrick’s and Takumi Editions.
Stoli Group, the leading global ultra-premium spirits and wine company, purchased Kentucky Owl in 2017. Originally founded by C.M. Dedman in 1879, the Kentucky Owl Bardstown distillery went dark during the Prohibition era and remained dormant until a descendant revived the brand in 2014.
About Kentucky Owl:
Founded in 1879 by C.M. Dedman, Kentucky Owl® offers an artfully blended line of craft Bourbon and Rye Whiskey, each bottled at a proof selected by the Master Blender to bring out the exceptional flavor profile of each product. Kentucky Owl® products are for those who appreciate high quality, attention to detail, artisanship, and authentic heritage. For more information, visit kentuckyowlbourbon.com.
About Stoli Group:
Stoli Group was established in 2013 and is responsible for the production, management, and distribution of a global spirits and wines portfolio. Mainly known for the Stoli® Vodka brand, Stoli® Group has expanded to appeal to luxury on-premises and more sophisticated global consumers. Signature brands are: Stoli® Vodka, elit™ Vodka, Bayou® Rum, Kentucky Owl™, Villa One™, Gator Bite™ Rum Liqueurs, Cenote™ Tequila, Tulchan Gin™, Se Busca™ Mezcal, and Stoli® Group’s wine division, Tenute del Mondo. With a presence across a network of more than 176 markets, Stoli® Group works with a passionate team of 200 distributors around the world. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Stoli® has production facilities in Spain, Italy, Argentina, and the United States, some of which are steeped in history dating back to the early part of the last century. For more information, visit stoli-group.com.
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