From custom labels to Eli Manning Bold Picks, 13 new bourbons, whiskies to try this month
There are numerous new spirits to try from the Kentucky bourbons scene this month.
Some of the highlights include J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery offering its custom bourbon experience just in time for Valentine's Day, Knob Creek partnering with former NFL Quarterback Eli Manning to introduce Knob Creek Bold Picks ahead of the Super Bowl on Feb. 9, Old Forester 1924 returning to shelves, and more.
Here are 12 releases to try from Kentucky's bourbon scene this month:
Bespoken Spirits, a new spirits company, has teamed up with Club Blue, a collective of University of Kentucky supporters, to release two new bourbons, Club Blue Team White and Club Blue Team Blue.
Club Blue Team White starts from a Kentucky high-rye barrel-aged bourbon whiskey, finished with twice toasted oak staves for richness and flavor. The result is a spirit ripe with notes of candied banana, butter pecan fudge, and green melon. Suggested retail price of $39.99.
Club Blue Team Blue starts as a small batch Kentucky straight high-rye barrel aged bourbon whiskey. Finished using ex-tequila oak and cherry wood staves for richness and flavor. The result is a complex spirit ripe with notes of bright cherry cola, caramel, marshmallow, and vibrant cacao. Suggested retail price of $99.99.
A portion of all sales will support Club Blue and its NIL efforts for UK student-athletes. Both are available for purchase at local retailers and at ClubBlueNIL.com.
Buffalo Trace Distillery has unveiled the second edition of its Prohibition Collection, an annual limited-edition set featuring five bottles commemorating the whiskeys legally produced and sold at the distillery while the 18th Amendment was in effect.
The second release includes brands produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery, known during the Prohibition era as George T. Stagg Distillery, under President Albert B. Blanton's leadership and include Mirror Brook, Very Oldest Procurable (V.O.P.), Anderson's Belle, Old Fashioned Mountain Corn and Silver Wedding Rye Whiskey.
"The second edition of the Prohibition Collection invites enthusiasts to explore and discuss the history behind these whiskeys," Andrew Duncan, global brand director at Buffalo Trace Distillery, said in a news release. "Faithful updates to significant brands that came to Buffalo Trace to age during Prohibition, these new expressions embody our motto of 'Honor Tradition, Embrace Change.'"
The collection is housed in a custom wooden display case featuring historical images of the distillery, with each of the five 375ml bottles heavily inspired by its Prohibition Era packaging and original bottle size: even the back cartons feature the cut-out for doctors to apply the prescription for medicinal whiskey, without which one could not legally purchase alcohol.
Here's what to know:
Mirror Brook is a 100 proof, bottled-in-bond, blend of Kentucky Straight Whiskeys that bursts with a ripe cherry aroma, followed by a waft of oak and a hint of rye spice. A vibrant vanilla creaminess layered with a deep, mellow oak character provides a solid foundation for waves of chocolate and rye spice that follow.
Very Oldest Procurable is a barrel-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon boasting a rye spice that intensifies on the palate while balanced by toasted oak, vanilla, and rich cherry notes that develop mid-tasting. The finish is warm, with the oak and rye spice persisting alongside lingering sweet honey notes.
Anderson's Belle is a 100-proof, bottled-in-bond wheated bourbon. On the nose, inviting notes of caramel and maple deliver a rich sweetness with hints of vanilla and a touch of charred oak. It features robust oak and subtle dried fruit undertones that round out its distinct sweet and warm wheat character.
Old Fashioned Mountain Corn on the palate of this 110-proof Kentucky Straight Corn Whiskey, the essence of the sweet corn shines, intertwined with toasted oak and balanced by rich caramel sweetness. The finish is warm, with the oak flavor lingering alongside the sweet corn.
Silver Wedding Rye Whiskey the 125-proof Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey features flavors of vanilla and toffee sweetness intertwined with subtle leather earthiness, toasted oak and a kick of rye spice on the palate. The finish of this whiskey pleasantly lingers, with the rye spice persisting alongside hints of vanilla and oak.
Suggested retail price of $999.99 for five 375ml bottles. For more information, visit buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/prohibition-collection.html.
J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery is offering a custom bourbon experience just in time for Valentine's Day. Choose your own bottle, and have it filled with J. Mattingly 1845's double-staved bourbon or rye, choose your wax colors for the bottle's seal and write a personal message for the bottle label. The J. Mattingly team will have it shipped to your sweetheart's door just in time for Valentine's Day.
'The popularity of personalized gifts is on the rise, with 80% of consumers believing they are more thoughtful,' Harry Richart IV, president of J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery, said in a news release. 'Our personalized bourbon experience, which allows you to choose everything down to what the label will say and the color of the wax on the top, ensures you'll give a gift that is both thoughtful and appreciated.'
The bourbon and its custom bourbon creation experience are available online at jmattingly1845.com and in person at the distillery, 20 Reilly Road, Frankfort, Kentucky. Orders placed by Feb. 3 are guaranteed to arrive by Valentine's Day. Prices for the online bottles start at $99 for a 750 mL bottle.
Knob Creek is partnering with football legend and New Orleans native, Eli Manning, to introduce Eli Manning's 2025 Bold Picks, a limited-edition single barrel bourbon, just in time for the 2025 Super Bowl.
'I partnered with Knob Creek because it's my favorite bourbon. Every sip is full of rich, bold flavor, making it perfect for celebrating life's big moments and wins,' Manning said in a news release. 'Whether it's the 9-year-old in an Old-Fashioned or sipping 12-year-old neat for something a little more special, Knob Creek is always my go-to, and I'm excited for fans to try my single barrel bold pick."
Tasting notes:
Aroma: Rich vanilla and butterscotch, with subtle cherry and leather notes
Taste: Toffee and honey upfront, layered with dark stone fruits and dark chocolate hints
Finish: A spicy kick of cinnamon and black pepper, with brown sugar and espresso, leaving a lingering warm taste
Manning's 2025 Bold Pick is aged for a minimum of nine years in American white oak barrels and bottled at 120 proof with a complex balance of vanilla and oak. Suggested retail price is $59.55. For more information, visit KnobCreek.com.
Old Commonwealth Distillery has relaunched its Colonel Randolph sixteen-year bourbon as a single barrel. This single barrel offering was selected by Gordon Hue, who was responsible for reviving the Colonel Randolph brand in 1990.
While searching for befitting 16-year Kentucky straight bourbon, Zachary Joseph, president of operations for Old Commonwealth Distillery, and the operations team came across a small cadre of barrels made by a renowned heritage distiller that were too exquisite to pass up. "When we learned the mash bill was identical to Colonel Randolph, we knew this was fate," Joseph said in a news release.
Hue blindly tasted each barrel, at a variety of proofs, before selecting one as the 2025 release.
"This whiskey has it all: sweet notes, caramel up front, toffee in the middle, and tremendous length without being overly sweet," Hue says, adding the finish goes on "for minutes."
Tasting Notes
Nose: Rich tannins, charred oak, cinnamon, honey, dusty brown sugar, toffee, coffee cake, almond butter, and vanilla
Palate: Baking chocolate, cherry syrup, candied peaches, and pecan pie. It's got an exceptional mouthfeel, and decent heft to the liquid that's pleasing as it coats your mouth. It's softer than you may assume, given the alcohol on the nose
Finish: Dark chocolate note that is extensive, finally trailing off with a light hit of maraschino cherry at the very end. There's enough sweetness to be pleasing, but it never becomes cloying
Suggested retail price is $349. Online OC VIP sale begins at 11 a.m. Feb. 6. To become an OC VIP, sign up on Old Commonwealth's website: oldcommonwealth.com/pages/waitlist.
Old Forester 1924 is returning to shelves for a second year. The 10-year-old age-stated bourbon is the newest addition to the brand's Whiskey Row Series, a collection of Old Forester expressions that honor moments from the brand's 153-year history.
This expression features a mash bill of 79% corn, 11% rye and 10% malted barley rather than the traditional Old Forester recipe of 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malted barley.
'With a new mash bill and 10-year age statement, 1924 features a unique taste unlike any other Old Forester expression, but fits perfectly within our storytelling Whiskey Row series,' Master Taster Melissa Rift said in a news release.
Tasting Notes:
Color: Dark graham cracker
Aroma: Soft notes of fudge, cocoa, marzipan, and cured tobacco layered over hints of rich oak and warm cinnamon
Flavor: Chocolate-covered graham cracker dusted with cinnamon
Finish: Hints of spice and graham cracker crumbles
The Whiskey Row series includes: 1870 Original Batch, 1897 Bottled in Bond, 1910 Old Fine Whisky, 1920 Prohibition Style and 1924 10-Year-Old.
Old Forester 1924 is 50% ABV (100-proof) and is available nationwide and at shop.oldforester.com and participating retailers. The suggested retail price is $119.99.
Old Forester has released Extra Old, a limited-edition whisky derived from an extra-long double-barreling process has return. First released in February 2022 as an installment of the brand's acclaimed and limited-expression lineup, the 117 Series.
To create this limited-edition, Old Forester aged its 1910 whisky in a secondary barrel for an additional 18 months, resulting in a rich flavor profile with pronounced caramel notes
'This expression showcases the exceptional flavors that can come from the second barrel, and how we can layer the flavors we achieve from maturation through the double barreling process' Rift said in a news release. 'Whisky lovers can taste the history captured in this bottle.'
Tasting Notes:
Aroma: On the nose, this expression showcases chocolate covered cherries, burnt caramel and graham cracker with subtle notes of barrel smoke and creamy butterscotch
Flavor: The palate is balanced and buttery with pops of spiced pear and apple as notes of chocolate and cinnamon graham cracker persist
Finish: A balanced finish presents warm spiced cinnamon, apple skin and lightly charred oak creating a long and flavorful finish
Extra Old is bottled at 93-proof in a 375 ml bottle with a suggested retail price of $64.99. For more information on Old Forester, visit OldForester.com.
Woodford Reserve has released its Double Double Oaked. Originally launched as a member of the Distillery Series in 2015, this expression is one of the most sought-after bottles in American Whiskey.
Double Double Oaked is handcrafted by finishing fully mature Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon for an additional two years in a second, heavily toasted, lightly charred, new oak barrel (hence the name Double Double Oaked).
'Rare and revered, this handcrafted double-barreled bourbon has a deep richness, unlike any other American whiskey on the market,' Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall said in a 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.'
Tasting Notes:
Color: Roasted coffee bean
Aroma: A robust medley of rich maple syrup, dark butterscotch, brittle caramel, bittersweet chocolate, burnt marshmallow, and sweet hickory smoke notes dominate the nose
Taste: Rich dried cherry and cranberry fruit swim in a blackberry jam brightened with hints of ripe apple. Chai tea and warming clove notes develop to spice up the palate
Finish: Warm and drying with a lingering clove character
The 700 ml bottle is 90.4 proof, with a suggested retail price of $199.99. Find more details at woodfordreserve.com.
Reach Features news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: New Kentucky bourbons, whiskeys to try February 2025
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