Bluegrass Distillers Welcomes Bourbon Heritage Month with 1st Bottled-in-Bond Blue Corn Bourbon Whiskey

Bluegrass Distillers - Bottled in Bond, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This Bluegrass State craft spirits maker is all in on feeling blue. Bluegrass Distillers in Lexington, Kentucky, is kicking off Bourbon Heritage Month with the release of their first ever Bottled-in-Bond bourbon made with Kentucky blue corn. To take it one step further, this blue loving distillery believes it is the only Kentucky distillery to produce a wheated bourbon with 100% blue corn.

What Does Blue Corn Do to Bourbon?

The distillery says their non-GMO blue corn is grown in Central Kentucky with the help of local farmers. The higher sugar content of the blue corn lends a subtle butterscotch sweetness to the nose and earthy, pecan notes on the palette.

This small batch offering of just four 53 gallon barrels meets the strict requirements to be labeled bottled-in-bond. The four barrels are a product of a single distillery from a single distilling season, aged a minimum of four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at 100 proof or 50% alcohol by volume. Aged 4.5 years with a mash bill of 75% blue corn, 21% wheat, and 4% malted barley, this batch 001 release has tasting notes of caramel custard with hints of tobacco and anise spice.

Bluegrass Distillers - blue corn being harvested in 2017 — Blue corn being harvested in 2017.

Bluegrass Distillers - Bluegrass Distillers Co-Founder Sam Rock in a Field of Blue Corn in Woodford County, Kentucky — Blue corn being harvested in 2017.

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It All Started as a Crock Pot Experiment

“The blue corn bourbon started in 2016 in a crock pot as an experiment with a group of chemical engineering students. We released our first blue corn bourbon on September 2, 2017. Four years later our team is bringing you what we believe is the first Kentucky blue corn Bottled in Bond ever released.” said Sam Rock, co-founder and owner of Bluegrass Distillers

“It’s a bourbon landmark, and it wouldn’t have happened without the dedication of our team. I’m loath to brag, but I can brag about this bourbon. It’s good. It is what we hoped it would be. This first batch is a Kentucky and online only limited release, so we hope you get an opportunity to pick up a bottle. We thank you for all your support over the years.”

Bottles will first be released at Bluegrass Distillers beginning Friday, September 3rd. Bluegrass Distillers Blue Corn Bottled-in-Bond will be available through distribution in Kentucky and online in the coming weeks in 750ml bottles for a suggested retail price of $60.00.

Bluegrass is currently growing 25 acres of blue corn, or roughly 500 barrels, in Woodford County near their future distillery destination. The distillery announced late last year that they had purchased the Historic Elkwood Farm in Midway, Kentucky. The new distillery sits on a total of 61 acres and will include a new larger distillery, barrel warehouses, tasting room and visitor center. The new destination is expected to be completed in the summer of 2022.

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