Bourbon isn’t just distilled and aged in Kentucky. It’s commonly enjoyed there as well. The Bluegrass State leads the nation in straight whiskey consumption and it isn’t particularly close. Folks there drink so much bourbon that distilleries and distributors allocate retailers there with their best products. These include rare bourbons like single-barrels and Kentucky-only releases.
You could spend a large portion of your time traversing the Kentucky Bourbon Trail stopping by liquor stores far and wide in search of bottles like Blanton’s or Weller Barrel Proof. It might be worth the time if you’re hunting dustys or the elusive Pappy. Unfortunately most travelers don’t have days or weeks to spare for searching.
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Rare Bourbons Defined
Luckily for the rest of us there are plenty of big box liquor retailers along the way. In Kentucky stores like Liquor Barn and Total Wine have bourbon sections with more bottles in them than some merchants stock in their entire store. More bottles means rare bourbons that smaller stores don’t carry.
When I say rare bourbons I don’t mean the kind of bottles going on the block at auction houses. Rare bourbons are merely uncommon labels that won’t be found at every liquor store, or may be exclusive to the mid-South region around Kentucky.
The point of this post isn’t to rank the best rare bourbons or provide a complete inventory. It’s to provide a snapshot of what you can find in a typical Louisville store in Spring 2023. I’m trying to feature bottles that may not be common or available in your area as well as what catches my own interest. Some of these are bottles I reach for regularly and some are surprises I saw for the first time when snapping photos for this post.
What’s inside a Liquor Barn?
Most of the larger stores have a corner that is full of Kentuckiana items. You can find things like this year’s Derby glasses, decor items fashioned from bourbon barrels, University of Kentucky decanters and coasters and so on. Bourbon ball chocolates are popular throughout the state and are often found here as well.
Of course you’ll find everything you expect to find: large displays of Beam and Jack Daniel’s, Wild Turkey, Four Roses and Maker’s Mark. But let’s take a look at what else is available in no particular order.
Old Grand-Dad Bottled in Bond
I’m not sure how rare or common Old Granddad Bonded is outside the region. It is pretty easy to find in Nashville but I am including it here because along with Old Tub it is possibly my favorite whiskey and going for around $25 a bottle both are an incredible value. They taste like something much more expensive.
Both of those brands are nearly identical. I would be hard-pressed to tell you their differences. Inasmuch as both are Beam products with the same specifications I’m not sure there are any differences.
Baker’s/Legent
Sticking with Beam products, Baker’s is often overlooked in the distillery’s offerings. Even in this photo it’s right next to a big old bottle of Basil Hayden which could easily steal its spotlight. But a 7 year single barrel under $70 will always be worth a look. The master distiller at Beam thinks these are among their best barrels and as a reviewer at the Whiskey Study points out, each bottle you buy is bound to be unique.
I had a chance to take the tour at Jim Beam recently and it was the first time I had ever heard of Legent. It’s a little strange that a company producing half the world’s bourbon isn’t doing more marketing behind a new product.
The pitch is a little strange too. Their website makes the bold claim that it’s nothing less than a new style of bourbon. It’s almost as if they are testing the waters and seeing how enthusiasts, bartenders, and other industry types react before launching a full national campaign.
A collaboration between the head blenders at Beam and Suntory, it seems like it’s just bourbon finished in various casks, not new at all. Even if it isn’t revolutionary I’m sure it’ll be good. I’m curious to try a bottle soon.
Johnny Drum And Other Willett Products
I see Johnny Drum Private Stock in almost every Kentucky liquor store but almost never outside the state. That said it is often available at bars and restaurants with large selections of bourbons. In that setting it is a tempting choice when everything else behind the bar is over $10 a shot.
As Breaking Bourbon points out in a 2017 review this is a mysterious label. In this case private stock means “we’re not telling you where this came from or how old it is.” They speculate that the source could be Heaven Hill which makes sense to me. Most Willett products are not to my taste but I do enjoy Johnny Drum whenever I have it around.
Old Bardstown
Old Bardstown comes in 3 varieties. The bottled in bond pictured here is the mid-range offering. I can tell you firsthand it is bad. It had me reaching for the coca-cola just to get to the bottom of the bottle. Best to avoid.
Kentucky Vintage
I haven’t tried this particular label but the reviews online are not generally good. Columbus Bourbon gave it a 63 out of 100 which would be a D- on most school report cards. He also noted that it is not available in Ohio which is surprising. Some stores have it in Tennessee but it is much more prominent on its home turf.
Pure Kentucky
Unlike Kentucky Vintage, Pure Kentucky does carry a four year age statement and hits the shelves with a price tag that is a few dollars more, typically $30-35. This is a pretty good value for a product that not only tastes good, but is also small batch with limited availability. This bottle makes a great gift if you are not trying to go all-out for a special occasion.
A reviewer at Whiskey Culture indicated he wasn’t familiar with it until encountering Pure Kentucky on a Willett distillery tour. At the tour tasting he compared it favorably to their four year rye.
Mr. & Mrs. Bourbons
College basketball is the third leg of the Holy Trinity in Kentucky. Its importance to the state’s culture is equal to that of bourbon and thoroughbred racing. Mr. & Mrs. entered the bourbon market in 2021 with former Louisville Cardinal Russ Smith at the helm. Black-owned brands are rare in the whiskey world. If supporting one is important to you these bottles are worth a look.
Mr & Mrs. launched as a Liquor Barn exclusive. It’s not clear where in Kentucky Smith is sourcing his barrels. The line starts with a 3 year old version and goes up to 13 year old cask strength. Interestingly, all but the low end offering feature the word ‘wheated’ on the label. It makes me think these are at least two different mashbills. Possibly they’re all different.
Reviews and media are sparse. I was only able to find search results from when the brand launched. The Bourbon Road enjoyed their bottle and in their podcast noted that it was selling well shortly after launching. It’s impossible to say if that success will continue or if the brand will survive in a competitive market.
The actual price of these labels is hard to discern. In the Bourbon Road review they mention the MSRP was $55 in 2021 but also say that you could find it for $35. In June 2023 the brand’s website lists that bottle at $70 but as you can see in the photo it was $44.99 in this Liquor Barn. The 12 year old red label is listed at $125 on the site but is retailing for $79.99 here. Eighty bucks for a 12 year cask strength could be a great value if you’re a gambler.
Rabbit Hole/ Green River
These two brands represent different ends of the market but they have one thing in common: they are both newer Kentucky distilleries that are making strides to improve their operations. Both brands have a lot of potential and a high ceiling and are very much worth keeping an eye on.
Rabbit Hole dates back to 2012 but their downtown Louisville distillery is even newer than that. I can’t say how rare they are nationwide. On one hand they are owned and distributed by Pernod Ricard, a giant in the industry. On the other the product is made in small batches. How small? That isn’t known. As their own site explains, small batch can mean up to 1000 barrels. They don’t disclose how many barrels are in each batch or how many batches are bottled consecutively. For a full rundown on the brand and the bourbon check out this review from Whiskey Rocks.
Green River actually comes from one of the oldest distilleries in Kentucky, and they are very proud to boast the designation of DSP-KY-10. For many years the Owensboro facility sat derelict. Recently it underwent a complete overhaul. I’ve personally taken a tour at Green River and came away suitably impressed at the brand’s approach and room for growth.
At the moment Green River is small in terms of volume. Mostly popular in western Kentucky, they haven’t expanded much beyond their home turf. The flagship label goes for $35 but you may find it cheaper if you do find it. The corner of a sale tag is visible in the above photo.
Rare Bourbons From Upstart Brands
If I were to go on like this a post would stretch to 20,000 words. Instead of that here’s a slideshow with the best of the rest. I’m not very familiar with any of these rare bourbons but I haven’t seen them around at home.
Rare Bourbons on the Bottom Shelf
JTS Brown
If you’ve seen this before, no you haven’t. This Heaven Hill brand puts out a better product in Kentucky than elsewhere. 31 Whiskey has a full explanation and review, noting the outstanding value. I’ve had several bottles and agree entirely. I didn’t snap a photo of the Heaven Hill 6 year old green label but that is another favorite Kentucky-only bottle that’s worth twice the price.
Very Old Barton
The Barton Distillery is a huge industrial plant on 196 acres in the heart of Bardstown. It cranks out an enormous amount of volume, but most of its production is dedicated to blended and Canadian whiskies or bottom shelf brands like Kentucky Gentleman.
I’d never heard of Barton before I moved to Tennessee. The Very Old Barton products are available in 80, 90, and 100 proof varieties. I bring home the 90 regularly now and prefer it over Jim Beam as an everyday pour. The 100 is good but skip the 80.
Benchmark varieties
Benchmark is common as it is the entry level offering from Buffalo Trace meant to compete with Evan Williams, Ancient Age and the like. It’s not quite as good as those but it’s all right. It is essentially Buffalo Trace with less age.
This was the first time I had encountered their Bonded, Top Floor and Single Barrel varieties, all very competitively priced. I took home a bottle of the single barrel and much like the original it was just all right. At $25 I would not buy it again.
Old Fitzgerald
Historically Old Fitz’s higher-end releases have been among the most sought-after bottles anywhere. A google search for “Old Fizgerald” returns many results on the first page for truly rare bourbons selling between $700 and $2000. You’ll definitely find some of those on shelves in Kentucky if you look hard enough.
But it would be a mistake to overlook the least expensive offering from this Heaven Hill-owned brand. Yes it is on the bottom shelf and only $12.50. But don’t let that fool you. This is the same wheated mashbill and same warehouses as those older bottles, it’s just got less age on it. It’s particularly tasty in a whiskey sour on a Summer evening.
Find the Honey Hole
Much like the employee picks in a bookstore, many retailers feature a curated section of of their best rare bourbons grouped together. These sections can include single barrels, store picks, cask strength offerings and the like.
As you can see these are not museum pieces. Stores mark them down if they don’t move off the shelves. If you’re looking to improve your collection or wanting an impressive gift it can pay dividends to check a few different stores and see what is on sale. Overall prices in Kentucky are very fair and anything offered below its original retail usually represents a bargain.
