One on One with Kentucky Artisan Distillery and Whiskey Row Bourbon Whiskey

Kentucky Artisan Distillers is a small but growing distillery East of Louisville in Crestwood, Kentucky.  Many bourbon heads may know them as the home of Jefferson's Reserve but they also boast a quite tasty offering under the Whiskey Row label.  I had the opportunity to sit down with Jeremy Dever, the Facility Director at Kentucky Artisan to discuss the background, philosophy and future of the spirit.

Four Barrels: First tell us about the bottle.

JD: The label presents a picture of Main Street Louisville around the year 1864.  We are shooting for a nostalgic feel around the times when bourbon started flowing down the Ohio River.

FB: and the story?
JD: Keeping in line with others who are looking back at the heritage of the Kentucky native spirit, the thinking around this bourbon is to show its origins and how it used to be made.  Ships used to travel down the Ohio River and at each stop, additional distillate would be combined with the previous stop.  Eventually, the trip down to Louisiana would allow these whiskeys time to mingle and create a unique product.

FB: Talk about how this bourbon is produced.

JD: The most recent edition of batch 4 is purposely different from each of the previous 3.  This edition is a blend of 3-5 whiskeys sourced from Kentucky distilleries.  Each of those within the blend are 4-7 years old.  This is a 4 grain whiskey - predominantly wheat.

We blend, chill filter and bottle on site in Crestwood.  Each batch is different and is based on a flavor profile sought by owner and Master Blender Steve Thompson (former Brown Foreman Executive).  Each batch is limited to approximately 12-15 barrels and will be differentiated by the color of the bottle neck.  Batch 4 is red.

FB reaction:
The nose is brief but the initial flavor makes up for it.  I found lots of oak, accented by flavors of banana and white chocolate.

This is certainly sipping bourbon.  There is a significant amount of spice on the palate - even though the dominant grain is wheat.  You can taste the age and feel the impact of the wood.
The finish seems about right.  Not at all brief and certainly does not linger on the tongue.
I am certainly glad to see distilleries such as Kentucky Artisan in the Bluegrass.  On a recent trip to the distillery, I was given a tour along with hints about the future of the brand.  They offer multiple samples at the end including a few Jefferson's products.  Definitely worth checking out yourself.

Website:  Kentucky Artisan Distillery

Jeffersons Bourbon 

Toast The Trees with Angles Envy during National Bourbon Heritage Month

ANGEL'S ENVY™ READIES TO “TOAST THE TREES”

DURING NATIONAL BOURBON HERITAGE MONTH

World’s Highest-Rated Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels

Will Plant a White Oak Tree for Every Picture Posted

This September with the Hashtag #AE4THETREES


Louisville, Kentucky (September 1, 2016) – Louisville Distilling Co. LLC, producers of the highly celebrated Angel’s Envy super-premium bourbon, will once again Toast the Trees this September in celebration of National Bourbon Heritage Month, in an effort to ensure that there are always enough American white oak trees for future generations of whiskey lovers.

Angel’s Envy is proud to continue its partnership with The Arbor Day Foundation—now in its third year. Angel’s Envy will plant a white oak tree for every Angel’s Envy drink that its fans share this September—neat, on-the-rocks or in a cocktail. To plant your tree, simply snap a picture of your drink and share it to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #AE4THETREES, and Angel’s Envy will work with The Arbor Day Foundation to ensure that a tree is planted. Additional opportunities will be available through the Angel’s Envy newsletter as well, which can be joined through its website at www.angelsenvy.com.  

This year’s program builds on the successful social media initiative last year which culminated in the planting of 4,000 white oak trees to help restore the original composition of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Laurel County, Kentucky, and to make the site more productive for wildlife. 

“The ‘trees’ initiative is a great way to engage our consumers and fans in a fun and meaningful way via social media,” said James Kempland, Marketing Director, Angel’s Envy. “Toast the Trees helps us to preserve the future of bourbon through planning and sustainability.”

About Angel’s Envy  

The small batch artisan bourbon is the culmination of the late Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson's storied career. One of the original pioneers of the premium bourbon and whiskey categories in the U.S., Lincoln came out of retirement to create the world's finest bourbon on his own terms - with a simple desire to enjoy the art of making whiskey. In addition to the flagship bourbon port cask finish, the Company offers Angel’s Envy Cask Strength and Angel’s Envy Rye. Each Expression exhibits a passion for experimenting outside of conventional norms and producing unique whiskey steeped in tradition, but finished with a twist.

-       Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels, distilled for an unparalleled smoothness, aged for 4-6 years in American white oak barrels and finished in hand-selected port wine barrels for an incremental 3-6 months.  Now available across the U.S., the expression earned a 98/100 points from Wine Enthusiast magazine – the highest-ever rating for a bourbon – and five stars (highest recommendation) from F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal.

-       Cask Strength, aged to the perfect level of richness and maturity in the few American white oak barrels that made the cut (and are available each year) and then finished in port wine barrels for up to 18 months. The inaugural releases sold out in weeks. Paul Pacult of Spirit Journal named the Cask Strength “Best Spirit in the World,” giving it five stars and noting it “deserves a sixth rating star.”  Available in select U.S. markets for the suggested retail price (750ml bottle) of $179. 

-       Rye Finished in Rum Barrels, made with 95% rye and 5% malted barley that’s aged for as much as six years in new American, charred oak barrels and finished in hand-selected Caribbean rum casks for up to 18 months. Both The Tasting Panel and Wine Enthusiast magazines awarded Rye with 94/100 points. Available in select U.S. markets for the suggested retail price (750ml bottle) of $79.99. 

For more information, please visit us at www.angelsenvy.com or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AngelsEnvyBourbon and twitter https://twitter.com/Angels_Envy (@angels_envy).

The ANGEL’S ENVY™ brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

Angel’s Envy™ 2016. Heaven Can Wait. Please Drink Responsibly. 

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the centennial of the first Arbor Day observance in the 19th century, the Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with over one million members, supporters, and valued partners. The impact we make on our world is accomplished through our conservation and education programs.