Kingsman: The Golden Circle – Bourbon Master Distiller by Day, International Spy by Night

Old Forester - Statesman Bourbon, Distilled in Kentucky

Let’s face it, Bourbon; that golden colored spirit that sits in a barrel made of American White Oak for two to 10 plus years is rather popular today. What happens inside that barrel all those years is a mystery that people have been trying to unravel for 100s of years. As bourbons popularity in the U.S. and internationally grow so does the interest in the bourbon makers, the Master Distillers and their often secretive lairs, the distillery. Now, the release of a new spy movie and a new bourbon will bring these two worlds together.

A Hollywood Movie Mashup of Bourbon and Spies

Old Forester Bourbon and Kingsman - The Golden Circle

Look close and see if you can spot the flasks in this photo.

The producers say Hollywood has a new character – he’s bold and daring with a rustic, yet smooth approach. A new breakthrough Hollywood actor? No, it’s America’s first bottled bourbon, Old Forester. But this time, Old Forester is introducing a new type of character – a 95 proof Kentucky straight bourbon that’s part of the Whiskey Row Series – Old Forester Statesman. The new bourbon will debut in acclaimed filmmaker Matthew Vaughn’s upcoming 20th Century Fox film “Kingsman: The Golden Circle.” This is the second film in the action adventure, James Bond like series of films from Vaughn. This mashup is a marketers dream, you’ll see product tie-ins galore throughout the movie’s trailer.

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Master Distiller by Day, Kingsman Spy by Night

Old Forester President Campbell Brown introduced the new bourbon and movie at a press conference this week. He explained that bourbon is central to the plot of the Kingsman: The Golden Circle film.

Old Forester - Statesman Barrel Head and Bottle Reveal

“In the first film, we’re introduced to the Kingsman spy agency, an agency that that is cloaked behind a Saville Row tailor operation. An interesting choice, when you think about it, bespoke tailoring is considered to be one of the world’s great crafts. In this Kingsman: The Golden Circle we see bourbon distilling as an intricate craft that has been owned by generations with the same honor to tradition and heritage. Words that mean a lot to Old Forester, Brown-Forman and certainly my family. ”

“When writer, director Matthew Vaughn first approached us in his search for the right bourbon for his story we were intrigued. It was a big step and a leap of faith a little bit for us but I think you’ll see that this film is intended to be Matthews love letter to Kentucky. Through the lens of an artistic license of a talented British film maker. We’ve worked hand in hand with Marv Films sharing bourbon knowledge and inspiration as the film was in production. While this certainly isn’t to be mistaken as a documentary on bourbon film making, it’s an exciting film that we hope audiences around the world will be thrilled to experience and maybe remember just a piece of the originality and ties back to Louisville, the Commonwealth and our favorite drink. Louisville is mentioned on screen prominently.”

Kingsman: The Golden Circle Plot

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In “Kingsman: The Golden Circle”, the heroes face a new challenge when their headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage. Their journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organization in the U.S. called Statesman, dating back to the day they were both founded. The Statesman, based in Louisville, Kentucky, act as Master Distillers to hide their true identity. In a new adventure that tests their agents’ strength and wits to the limit, these two elite secret organizations band together to defeat a ruthless common enemy, in order to save the world, something that’s becoming a bit of a habit for Eggsy (the movies lead character.) You’ll see lots of images of Kentucky in the film but, ironically, none of the filming took place in Kentucky.

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Statesman Bourbon: Distilled in Kentucky

“Bourbon is an American tradition that Old Forester has celebrated for five generations, and we’re proud to reinforce the authenticity of the characters, The Statesman, as bourbon distillers,” said Campbell Brown, President of Brown-Forman.

Old Forester says they chose a unique taste profile when selecting the Statesman bourbon specifically for the film. Taking inspiration from the dynamic characters, Old Forester Statesman offers bold flavor blended to a smooth 95 proof, resulting in a balance of heat and spice.

“Kingsman: The Golden Circle” will be in theaters on September 22 and Statesman Bourbon which uses the same mash bill as Old Forester will be available for purchase in August with a suggested retail price or $54.99.