Rowan's Creek Small Batch Bourbon 12 Year Old 50.05% Kentucky Bourbon Distillers

Wine information: At the end of Prohibition, Lambert Willet was the superintendent of the newly renovated Max Selliger & Co. Distillery, and his son A.L. Thompson Willett was assistant superintendent. Shortly after, Thompson Willett left to build the Willett Distilling Company and on 17th March, 1936 produced its first batch of 300 bushels (~30 barrels). The whiskey was stored in one of the eight warehouses each capable of holding between 5,000–6,000 barrels (total capacity 48,623 barrels). The warehouses were built on some of the highest ground in the county, assuring that a fresh breeze would aid in the maturation of the whiskey. The Willett Distilling Company continued to operate and on 1st July 1984, Even G. Kulsveen, son-in-law to Thompson Willett, purchased the property and formed Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, Ltd., which Even’s family runs today. By law, Bourbon must be made up of at least 51% corn and be aged a minimum of two years in a new charred white oak barrel, standards that were pioneered by early Bourbon makers such as Evan Williams and Rev. Elijah Craig. Rowan’s Creek 12 Years Old bourbon gets its name from the creek that still runs through the distillery carrying the best limestone spring water there ever was for making good bourbon. The creek itself was originally named after Judge John Rowan, who in the late 1700’s settled around Bardstown and became a well-respected judge and statesmen. Although the distilling equipment from the Judge’s days is also no longer around, the original Willett column still and the new Vendome pot still are now housed in the rebuilt distillery building and will soon be producing more Rowan’s Creek bourbon. Once distilled the bourbon is then aged for 12 years in charred oak barrels, and hand bottled at 50.05% abv in small lots, one batch at a time. Light toffeed fruit with well-integrated oak and spice. Soft—almost feminine—entry with a beautiful balance; vanilla, tobacco leaf and dried fruit to the fore, while oak and spice bring up the rear. Complex and long with good depth and a delicate touch.

 
     

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