Stoli Group’s Kentucky Owl brand has announced the release of a new Takumi Edition bourbon whiskey.
Stoli Group, a global leader in ultra-premium spirits and wines, purchased Kentucky Owl® in 2017. Kentucky Owl® Bardstown was founded in 1879 by CM Deadman. The distillery went out of business during Prohibition and remained dormant until his descendants resurrected the brand in 2017. Since then, the company’s small series has sold out quickly and received rave reviews.
Clearly, the core blend is quite different. Kentucky Owl is a revival of the family’s whiskey heritage. He left the company last year and has since pursued new responsibilities.
A collaboration between Kentucky Owl master blender John Rea and Yusuke Yaku of Nagahama Distillery, this latest limited edition showcases Kentucky bourbon through the eyes of his Japanese whiskey, The company says. “Takumi” means “master” in Japanese.
In creating the Takumi version blend, Rare selected four different samples and sent them to Japan.
Yahisa evaluated these samples. These samples represent different ages and mash his bills available from Kentucky Owl. He then used these formulations to create different blends, and he came up with the one that best reflected his whiskey style, the company says.
Tasting notes are rye bread and caramel, followed by cinnamon, apple, and pear on the palate.
The Japanese blender concept behind Bourbon sounds familiar, it’s because Jim Beam introduced it years ago in Legend, a collaboration between master distiller Fred Noe and Suntory blender Shinji Fukuyo.
Kentucky Bourbons blended with mashed corn, wheat, rye, and barley malt. It is the latest bourbon blend.
The sensibility of blending whiskey and bourbon may be more esoteric than concrete when you actually sip the whiskey.
The Kentucky Owl Takumi Edition will be available in October for a suggested retail price of $150.
