It’s hard to keep a good palette down. In August 2022 Maker’s Mark Distillery announced that Head of Blending and Innovation Jane Bowie and Master Distiller Denny Potter would be leaving the historic Maker’s brand. In October of that year the two announced a new venture code named J&D Distilling. That code name eventually became what we know now as the startup Potter Jane Distilling Company. The new $50 million distillery is expected to be operational in early 2025. In the meantime, their palettes have been hard at work tasting and blending with Frank August.
Frank August, the celebrated American whiskey producer, announced the partnership has led to a Double Gold medal win at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition for Frank August ‘Single Barrel,’ which received an impressive score of 98 points as part of the initial collaboration between the two companies. This partnership marks a significant departure from traditional distilling alliances, promising a true collaboration that sets a new standard in the industry.
While the official distilling partnership is scheduled to commence in January of 2025, Frank August has announced the much-anticipated release of their next ‘Single Barrel’ picks, hand-selected by Jane and Denny themselves, all Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, aged 6.8 years. Frank August and the Potter Jane team have already spent the last year meticulously preparing the groundwork for what promises to be an extraordinary collaboration, which has already produced a finalist for ‘Best of Class’ for the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (to be announced in July ’24).
With decades of combined experience and a legacy of innovation Bowie and Potter stand as icons in the world of distillation. As a testament to their shared commitment to excellence, Jane and Denny have hand-selected and blended Frank August’s upcoming release of their award-winning ‘Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.’ Crafted in 15-barrel batches.
“This partnership is more than just a collaboration; it’s a shared vision rooted in friendship, passion, and whiskey,” says Johnathan Crocker, CEO and Co-Founder of Frank August.
“Jane and Denny’s unparalleled expertise and passion, combined with our unwavering commitment to excellence and daring to ask the question, ‘Can something [American Whiskey] be more?’, will undoubtedly result in exceptional spirits that we can’t wait to share with the world. To say we are honored to partner with Jane and Denny would be a significant understatement. They are living legends in this storied industry, and to have their names associated with Frank August in any way is truly humbling.”
Stay Informed: Sign up here for the Distillery Trail free email newsletter and be the first to get all the latest news, trends, job listings and events in your inbox.
“Making whiskey with friends brings me complete joy, which is why Denny and I created Potter Jane Distilling Company in the first place,” said Jane Bowie, Co-Founder of Potter Jane Distilling Co. “Partnering with Johnathan and Frank August has been a real delight, because having both great liquid to work with and great people to laugh, debate, and create with is what makes the bourbon industry so special. We are excited to be a part of the Frank August family and cannot wait to have a larger role to play in the next chapter of what will become a storied Kentucky bourbon brand.”
Denny Potter, Co-Founder of Potter Jane Distilling Co., echoed her sentiments, stating, “Jane and I love creating win-win scenarios in everything we do, and the relationship with Frank August is the epitome of that. Collaborating on their releases over the last year has been incredibly rewarding and has allowed us to create a distilling plan for them that is seamless and will be completely unique to the Frank August brand. Making and tasting whiskey for a living is a privilege, and we are grateful for their trust and friendship. We can’t wait for our next chance to work together and maybe win a few more awards for our collective efforts.”
Single Barrel Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Tasting Notes
Tasting notes are provided by Frank August.
Approach: This is Frank August’s 2nd release of hand-selected single barrels from their growing library of some of the most beautiful Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey available today. With this release, the brand has continued to leverage their unparalleled relationships with some of the most respected and discerning master distillers and master blenders in the industry, by enlisting them to help identify the very best 15 single barrels in their collection. Through this collective process, each hand hand-selected barrel was bottled at cask strength, sitting between 114.6 – 125.4 proof and are 6.1 years old.
Appearance: A deep auburn with full, viscous legs that glaze the glass.
Nose: Frank August’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon opens with a range of beautiful baking spices and notes of oak and fruit, before elements of vanilla and cacao begin to present themselves.
Palate: The baking spices are more pronounced, with cinnamon coming forward initially, before rye spices begin to gradually introduce themselves, warmly coating your mouth. At proofs between 114.6 – 125.4, there’s an intensity that is exceptionally balanced by some of the sweet vanilla and caramel notes you initially pick up on the nose.
Finish: A long-balanced finish that continues to develop between each taste. As the cask strength begins to wane, you’ll continue to pick up baking spices and hints of black cherries and cacao, layered between subtle notes of oak and vanilla.
No. Barrels: 15
Age: 6.1 Years
Proof: 114.6° – 125.4° (57.3% – 62.7 ABV)
Size: 750 mL
Price: $129.99 Suggested Retail Price
Origin: Distilled, Aged & Bottled in Kentucky
Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Tasting Notes
Tasting notes are provided by Frank August.
Appearance: A rich auburn with full legs that beautifully coats the glass.
Nose: Frank August’s Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon opens with hints of caramel and vanilla that are balanced with warm oak and mild baking spices which warm the senses.
Palate: Echoes those initial sweet caramel and vanilla notes on the front of your tongue, with cinnamon and rye bread spices coming forward, as it gradually transitions to the back of your tongue. At 100 proof, it is a perfect balance of heat and smoothness that warms your mouth, while hints of brown and malt sugars begin to present themselves.
Finish: As flavors of vanilla, oak and baking spices transition through all senses, it leaves a medium – long finish, wanting you to pour another glass.
No. Barrels: 10-15
Proof: 100° (50.0% ABV)
Size: 750 mL
Price: $74.99 Suggested Retail Price
Origin: Distilled, Aged, and Bottled in Kentucky
Both expressions will be available to purchase beginning June 7th, in the following states: CA, AZ, DE, D.C., FL, KY, MD, MO, NV, NJ, NY, OH, TN, TX, and WA.
Frank August is an American whiskey brand that exists to evolve the identity of bourbon by uniting authenticity with modernity, while at the same time reconsidering its identity as America’s Spirit. America’s Spirit. Be Frank.®
Related Stories
– Introducing ‘Potter Jane Distilling Company’ – A $50 Million Startup by Spirits Industry Veterans Denny Potter and Jane Bowie [Renderings] – September 2023
– Former Maker’s Mark Head of Blending Jane Bowie and Master Distiller Denny Potter Announce ‘J & D Distilling’ – October 2022
– Maker’s Mark Master Distiller Denny Potter and Head of Blending Jane Bowie are Leaving the Distillery for a New Venture – August 2022
– Watch Jane Bowie and Denny Potter Share the Inside Scoop of the New ‘Potter Jane Distilling Company’ [VIDEO]
Learn more about Potter Jane Distilling Company.
View all Bardstown / Nelson County Distilleries.
View all Kentucky Distilleries.
View all U.S. Distilleries.
Please help to support Distillery Trail. Sign up for our Newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
