Bulleit creates Bourbon-rye blend
The newest core expression from Bulleit Frontier Whiskey is named ‘87 and marries both Bourbon and rye whiskeys.
The whiskey is named after the year Bulleit was founded, 1987, which the brand says was when it ‘first set out to do things differently’.
The release will join Bulleit Bourbon and Bulleit 95 Rye in the brand’s core line-up and brings together the qualities of both spirits in one bottle.
Each whiskey component was developed specifically for its role in the blend. The Bourbon was distilled, barrelled, and aged in Shelbyville, Kentucky.
Meanwhile, the rye was distilled and aged in Indiana before heading to Shelbyville.
Both the Bourbon and rye elements are aged for a minimum of four years, finished separately in their original barrels with toasted American oak and French oak staves for four to six weeks, then blended together and bottled in Shelbyville.
“If I were to visualise it, it’s like a cake,” said whiskey R&D manager Phil Gelineau. “The Bourbon is your delicious sponge; the rye is like chocolate shavings on top; and the staves are the buttercream that brings it all together.”
The bottle features a blue label, a first for the brand, cut on its familiar slant.
“‘87 brings together everything that makes Bulleit great,” added Jenika Newsum, senior brand manager. “Bourbon and rye whiskey are at the heart of our brand since its founding and guide our philosophy to do things differently. Now, ’87 unites them in one special bottle, balancing our signature Bourbon sweetness with our rye spice in a bottle.”
As part of the product launch, Bulleit is taking the new whiskey on a sampling tour at events in 15 cities including New Orleans, Austin, New York, Los Angeles and Louisville. Each stop will feature Bulleit ‘87 paired with local foods.
Bulleit ‘87 is bottled at 45% ABV, with a suggested retail price of US$29.99 for a 750ml bottle, in line with the brand’s Bourbon and rye. It will be available at select retail stores in the US from September.
Last month, the American whiskey brand released its oldest rye, a 20-year-old.
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