Blade and Bow debuts 12YO Solera Reserve
Diageo-owned whiskey brand Blade and Bow has launched a new 12-year-old Solera Reserve as an annual limited release.
Blade and Bow’s latest release, crafted at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, is blended using a Solera finishing process in four types of vintage wine and spirit barrels: Cognac, Bordeaux, Moscatel, and Port.
Nicole Austin, the director of American whiskey liquid development and capabilities at Diageo, created the limited expression by building on the 12-year-old Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
The Blade and Bow’s inaugural Solera Reserve is a blend of straight Kentucky Bourbon whiskeys rested in vintage casks, anchored by a 12-year age statement.
Austin explained the process: “From the start, I wanted to capture the fruit, tannin, and aromatic lift that can be achieved with cask-finished Bourbon, without the common pitfalls of one-noteness or overly tannic, new-wood character.
“I achieved this while honouring Blade and Bow’s Solera heritage, using the technique to blend new and older whiskey across multiple carefully chosen, large-format vintage vats to create a delicate weave of vibrant fruit and honey, layered over notes of vanilla, spice, and leather.”
Bottled at 52% ABV, Solera Reserve opens with aromas of red fruit, dried fig, and currant. On the palate, it displays notes of caramelised sugar, dried fruit, almond toffee, cocoa, and dark cherry.
The vat programme is said to contribute distinct layers to the whiskey’s character: Port and Bordeaux deliver dark fruit and tannic structure, Cognac adds refined fruit esters and rancio, and Moscatel provides aromatic lift and sweetness.
“Blade and Bow 12-Year Solera Reserve doesn’t chase cask finishing – it elevates it,” said Austin.
“What makes this whiskey truly special is the way those influences are integrated. Through our Solera process, each batch builds upon those that came before it, creating layers of character that continue to evolve over time while remaining unmistakably Blade and Bow.”
Blade and Bow 12-Year-Old Solera Reserve is priced at US$64.99 for a 750ml bottle.
It will be available in select markets nationwide in the US, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, and Illinois.
In Kentucky, the release is set to become a permanent element of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery Experience from July 2026.
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