Stetson Just Released Its First Bourbon
Sometimes collaborations between whiskey and fashion brands work, and sometimes they don’t. In the case of the new partnership between Western wear icon Stetson and Bardstown Bourbon Company and Green River, two of Kentucky’s best modern distilleries, the results turned out to be very good.
Stetson has been around since 1856, when founder John B. Stetson was credited with inventing the cowboy hat. Bardstown Bourbon Company, on the other hand, has only been around since 2014, but its sister distillery Green River (they both operate now under the Lofted Spirits name) can trace its origins back to 1885. It did not survive for very long after Prohibition was repealed, but the name was revived in 2014 and it began distilling again two years later, and ultimately was acquired by Bardstown in 2022. As we’ve reported, things have been a bit tough for both distilleries in recent months, and as of last spring both names have cut back on production. Still, based on recent releases like Victoria Pineapple Finish and the Distillery Reserve Mars Single Malt Japanese Blend, master blender Dan Callaway still has plenty of excellent whiskey stock to work with and no lack of new ideas.
At an event in New York City last night, Stetson CEO Robert Dundon explained this collab has been in the works for several years. The company decided to work with BBC and Green River in Kentucky instead of a Texas distillery, where Stetson is based, because he felt that the whiskey there was a bit too intense and he was really looking for a more classic flavor profile. That’s where Callaway came in, and he presented the company with several different blends before they landed on the one that’s in the bottle. This whiskey is very unique in that it’s a blend of bourbon from both BBC and Green River, something that hasn’t been done before, and Callaway believes the latter whiskey adds some fruit notes to the palate. The exact mashbill was not revealed, only that it’s a high-rye bourbon, and it’s bottled at a strong 100 proof so it’s something you can sip and use in cocktails.
We got to try the new bourbon, and it’s indeed a very good whiskey. There are rich notes of caramel, vanilla, maple, brown sugar, and dried fruit on the palate, along with some fresh apple, pear, peach, and zings of black pepper and cinnamon as you sip. The bottle is very nice looking as well, with a depiction of “The Last Drop from His Stetson” painting by artist Lon Megargee on the back. You can currently find Stetson Bourbon (SRP $70) available to purchase at Texas retailers and online, with a larger planned rollout later in the year.
