Bulleit Bourbon
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| Type | Bourbon whiskey |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Diageo |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Introduced | 1999 |
| Alcohol by volume | 45% |
| Proof (US) | 90 |
| Color | Russet (dark brown) |
Bulleit Bourbon is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced at the Kirin Brewing Company Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky for the Diageo beverage conglomerate. It is characterized by a high rye content for a bourbon (at approximately 28% of the mash bill) and being aged at least six years.[1] It is bottled at 45% abv (90 proof) for the US, Canadian, British, Dutch and Mexican markets. For Australia and Danish markets, it is bottled at 40% abv. It is also sold in Germany,[2] Norway[3] and Sweden.[4]
In the U.S. and other markets, Bulleit also offers a rye whiskey.
History
According to Tom Bulleit, great-great-grandson of original creator Augustus Bulleit and developer of the modern brand, the first batch of Bulleit bourbon was made around 1830. Augustus continued to produce it through his death in 1860.[5] The current recipe is substantially different from the original, which used a mash bill of about two-thirds rye and one-third corn (which would make it a rye whiskey today rather than a bourbon.[5]
Tom Bulleit began distilling his version in 1987,[2] characterized by a high rye content and relatively lengthy aging. He maintains that most phenol[1] is filtered out.[5]
Seagram bought the Bulleit brand in 1997 and began distilling it in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.[6]
The brand was widely introduced to US markets in 1999, and to Australia, UK and Germany in 2000.[2][7]
Diageo acquired various Seagram's assets, including the Bulleit brand, which was then produced by its subsidiary Kirin Brewing Company at the same Lawrenceburg plant, then known as the Four Roses distillery.
On March 14, 2017, Diageo opened a new Bulleit distillery. The 300-acre (120 ha) $115 million facility is located just east of Shelbyville in Shelby County, Kentucky. It is designed to eventually operate at a peak capacity of 1.8 million proof gallons annually.[8]
Products
The current Bulleit bourbon whiskey mash bill contains 68% corn (maize), 28% rye, and 4% malted barley.[5] It is bottled at 45% abv.[9]
Bulleit Bourbon Barrel Strength is a blend of barrels which are 5 to 8 years old. As it is being bottled straight from the barrel the ABV varies by batch, ranging from 118-125 (59 to 62.5 ABV). The product is only available in Kentucky for now.
Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year is the only age dated Bulleit whiskey. It is bottled at 91.2 U.S. proof and has the same mash bill as the original Bulleit Bourbon. It won a Double Gold Medal at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Bulleit rye whiskey, introduced in March 2011, has a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley.[10][11][9][11] It is produced in Lawrenceburg, Indiana at MGP Indiana and bottled at 45% abv.[9]
In Australia and the UK
Starting in 2008, Bulleit bourbon sold on the UK market is bottled at 40% alcohol by volume, which is re-exported to the Australia market. A 45% ABV version was introduced to the UK market in late 2014, under the label "Bulleit Frontier Whiskey".
Reviews
Proof66.com, a review aggregator for spirits, rates Bulleit bourbon in the top 10th percentile of the world's best whiskeys. The Bulleit Rye Whiskey is also rated a "Top Tier Whiskey".[12][13] Proof66.com rates Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year as a "Tier 1" spirit with an overall rating of 551/904.[14]
Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year received a gold medal in the Small Batch Bourbon up to 10 yrs category at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.[15]
Food critic Morgan Murphy said "This amber beauty, with its notes of spice, rye, and cedar, packs a stronger bite than its sweet aroma would imply."[16]
References
- 1 2 Bulleit Bourbon: The Most American of Spirits, Miller, accessed on 8 September 2007
- 1 2 3 Diaego - Our brands - Whisk(e)y - Bulleit bourbon Archived February 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine., accessed on 8 February 2011.
- ↑ Bulleit Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Vinmonopolet (in Norwegian).
- ↑ Bulleit Bourbon and Systembolaget, March 13, 2009.
- 1 2 3 4 A Bourbon Tasting with Tom Bulleit, Sctoch Hobbyist's Blog, February 4, 2010.
- ↑ Bulleit Bourbon and Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon from Alcoholreviews.com, accessed on 8 September 2007
- ↑ About Bulleit Bourbon Archived July 23, 2015, at the Wayback Machine., accessed on 22 July 2015
- ↑ Havens, Sara (March 14, 2017). "Tom Bulleit celebrates birthday and two anniversaries by opening Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelby County". Insider Louisville. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- 1 2 3 Bulleit Whiskey Expands Through Introduction of Bulleit Rye, Diageo press release, PR Newswire, March 21, 2011.
- ↑ The Distinction, official website.
- 1 2 Austin Hartman, Booze Review: Bulleit 95 Rye, Greenpoint Gazette, March 27, 2011.
- ↑ "Proof66.com awards summary page for Bulleit Bourbon". Retrieved 2012-10-23.
- ↑ "Proof66.com awards summary page for Bulleit Rye Whiskey". Retrieved 2012-10-23.
- ↑ "Bulleit 10yr Frontier Whiskey Bourbon". Retrieved 2013-11-10.
- ↑ http://sfspiritscomp.com/pdf/Spirit13_results_Class.pdf
- ↑ Murphy, Morgan; Editors of Southern Living magazine (2014). Southern Living Bourbon & Bacon: The Ultimate Guide to the South's Favorite Foods. Oxmoor House. ISBN 978-0848743161.
