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Green River Distilling Co debuts Bourbon

Kentucky-based Green River Distilling Co has unveiled its flagship expression, the first Bourbon to be released under the Green River name in more than 100 years.

Green River Distilling Co's Bourbon
The new Bourbon revives the Green River name

In September 2020, Oz Tyler Distillery in Owensboro returned to its original name, Green River Distilling Company, to celebrate the site’s heritage.

Oz Tyler Distillery was founded in 1880 by TJ Monarch under the name Eagle Distillery. John W McCulloch then purchased the site in 1885 and began making whiskey under the name Green River Distilling Company.

Over the years, the site has suffered a fire, Prohibition, multiple owners and a period of decline. The original Green River distillery was known for producing Bourbon.

The new Green River Bourbon was distilled by master distiller Jacob Call, an eighth-generation distiller and Kentuckian.

The 45% ABV whiskey was aged for more than five years at the Owensboro distillery. Made with Kentucky-grown corn, the mash bill comprises 70% corn, 21% winter rye, 9% malted rye and six-row barley.

According to Green River Distilling Co, the higher rye content results in a Bourbon with warming spice notes on the nose and palate, as well as hints of cinnamon, dried cherry and light leather aromas.

Call’s family history goes back to the earliest days of Bourbon when his ancestor Samuel Call distilled whiskey on his Kentucky farm in the late 1700s.

“For the first time in more than 100 years, Green River Bourbon is flowing inside the walls of its original home,” said Call. “As someone with a family connection to the first days of Kentucky Bourbon, being a part of the revival of such a legendary whiskey has been the opportunity of a lifetime.”

‘Back to life’

Before Prohibition, Owensboro was an epicentre of Bourbon production in the state with more than 20 distilleries in the Kentucky city, Green River Distilling Co said.

“I’m proud of our team’s great work bringing Green River back to life in Owensboro after years of dormancy – not only because of what it means to our company, but what it means for this wonderful city,” said Simon Burch, CEO of Green River Distilling Co.

“In its heyday, Green River’s success was intrinsically linked to Owensboro’s proud whiskey-making heritage. The revival of the brand will make this true once again, and we plan to sell it far and wide, just like the original Green River.”

The bottle design for the Bourbon was inspired by the brand’s past and features horseshoes, rivets, and the original Green River colours.

A limited release of Green River Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will be available to purchase at select retail locations in Kentucky this month (February) for RRP US$34.99.

It will also be available to buy from the Green River Distillery in Owensboro. In the coming months, it will be rolled out to select retailers in Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana and northwest Florida.

The new Bourbon was the third‐party producer’s first foray into own‐label bottlings.

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