Green River Distilling Co., the sister distillery to Bardstown Bourbon Company, announced this spring that it had laid off its head distiller and was cutting back production to an “as needed” basis, the latest signs of the trouble the American whiskey industry is facing due to oversupply and reduced demand. Still, the distillery continues to put out some good whiskey, the latest of which is an eight-year-old bourbon that was finished in toasted oak barrels. We got to try a sample, and it’s a good one.
Green River is the 10th-oldest licensed Kentucky distillery, at least as far as the name is concerned. While the original distillery dates back to the late 19th century, the modern iteration in Owensboro, Ken. has only been back in operation since 2016, with the first new whiskey hitting shelves in 2022. That was the same year that Bardstown Bourbon Company acquired it, and the two now exist under the Lofted Spirits parent company name (Bardstown Bourbon Company also reduced production to a single shift in April).
The new bourbon, which comes out this weekend, is called Green River Distillery Select Toasted Double Oak, part of a new series that will highlight various proofs, finishes, and warehouse maturation sites. It was made from the standard Green River bourbon mashbill: 70 percent corn, 21 percent rye, and 9 percent malted barley. The whiskey spent eight years aging in the distillery’s rickhouses, and then 13 barrels were selected from Warehouse B to spend another six months in a lightly charred, medium-toasted new barrel built by Independent Stave Company. It was bottled at 115.1 proof.
“The strong fruit flavors of Green River are ideally suited for a double barrel,” said Lofted Spirits master blender Dan Callaway in a statement. “The bold flavor pairs perfectly with the additional wood sugars and spice imparted during the extra six months of double barreling. The historic Green River distillery is sitting on some of the best whiskey in Kentucky. The Distillery Select series will allow us to take our classic bourbon and rye mashbills to the next level.”
The toasted oak influence definitely comes through on the palate, giving the whiskey warm notes of cinnamon, dusty balsa wood, and roasted almonds. There are also flavors like black pepper, Charleston Chew, Peanut M&Ms, vanilla soft serve, and ripe stone fruit on the palate, with the higher proof providing some heat on the finish. You can find Distillery Select Toasted Oak at the distillery starting Saturday, June 20 (SRP $50 for a 375 ml bottle), and at the Louisville Tasting Room on Friday, June 26.
Authors
Jonah Flicker
