Bourbon makers join forces for one-off barrel
The inaugural Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction & Celebration (KBCA) will auction a one-off barrel, made from liquid from four distilleries to support the Bob Woodruff Foundation.
The KBCA will host its first auction on 13-15 February, with rare whiskeys and distillery experiences up for grabs. The auction aims to honour Kentucky’s Bourbon industry while supporting veterans.
Proceeds from the KBCA will benefit the Bob Woodruff Foundation, supporting veterans, service members and their families. The KBCA aims to support more than 500 veteran families with access to critical resources.
The event has announced a new auction lot, called United we Stand, which offers a special barrel created as part of a collaboration between four American whiskey producers that have ties to military and veteran philanthropy.
Barrels from J Mattingly 1845, Heritage Distilling, Four Branches Bourbon and Pursuit Spirits were donated to make the one-off barrel. Ryan Cecil, master blender of Pursuit Spirits, has selected and blended elements from each barrel to create a single expression.
Andrew Varga, founder of the KBCA, said: “Four respected producers, each with their own identity and legacy, have come together in service of something bigger than themselves. In America’s 250th anniversary year, this collaboration honours our nation’s origins, our military’s shared sacrifice and the idea that we are strongest when we stand together for a common cause.”
Cecil called the making of the expression a “highlight” of his career.
“Bringing together these incredible distillers and our own Pursuit United barrel resulted in a beautifully balanced harmony,” he said. “Narrowing down the barrels was a challenge, but the end result is a pour I’m incredibly proud of.”
In addition to the auctioned barrel, each participating distiller will release 100 individual bottles featuring a commemorative label honouring the collaboration. It will be priced at US$250 per bottle.
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