Whiskey is an important part of the culture in Singapore. Whether it is a special occasion or just a night out with friends, let’s face it – without a drink of whiskey, something just does not feel complete. It is thus part of our lifestyle to keep looking for new whiskeys to try. This is probably why it often gets difficult to find new kinds of tastes when it comes to whiskey and wine.
You might think most of the brands you know of are commonly available and there is hardly any room left for a whiskey to be unique. However, if you search just a little harder, there are chances that you come across some of the most pristine wines that the world has ever seen. Our city-island is quite good at keeping up with the trends and ensuring we have access to whiskeys and wines from all around the world.
As we continued our journey of looking for a new blend of tastes in whiskey, we encountered the announcement by Stoli Group that is bringing one of its most premium whiskey brands, Kentucky Owl, to Singapore. The launch is set to include limited edition batches that will please your tastebuds and speak volumes about the brand’s excellence and innovation in the world of whiskey making.
Introducing Kentucky Owl
Kentucky Owl is the world’s most international forward-thinking American whiskey from Bardstown, Kentucky, the bourbon capital of the world. It is known for sourcing scarce and rare aged Kentucky bourbons and blending them to create unique limited-run batches. With one limited quantity batch produced each year for the global market, once sold and no longer available, each batch is eagerly anticipated by collectors worldwide.
The brand was rejuvenated in 2014 by the great-great-grandson of Charles Dedman, who started the original Kentucky Owl Bourbon Distillery in 1879 on the banks of the Kentucky River. In 2017, Kentucky Owl was bought by the Stoli Group to be its flagship ultra-premium whiskey. It now produces award-winning, high-quality whiskeys designed to demonstrate the different aspects of the whiskey maker’s craft and wisdom. Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Bourbon and Rye whiskeys have recently won Double Gold and Gold at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
The Singapore launch will showcase Kentucky Owl Bourbon Batch 11 from the brand’s annual signature barrel-proof whiskey series. This batch was launched in 2011 in the United States and caused Kentucky Owl to rise to fame. Boasting notes of bright citrus, velvety dark chocolate, and sticky toffee, Batch 11 offers a welcome mélange of mature oak, allspice, honeyed bread, and deep cinnamon palette with toasted oak, sultana, peppercorn, and fresh thyme long finish. From November 2022, the following whiskeys of Kentucky Owl will be available at dining and drinking establishments throughout Singapore.
Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Bourbon
The first to be launched is Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Bourbon, which is the first Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced and distilled by Kentucky Owl in collaboration with the Bardstown Bourbon Company, both located in The Bourbon Capital of the World – Bardstown, Kentucky. Launched in September 2021 in the United States, the product is a blend of Kentucky Owl 4-year-old wheat and high-rye bourbons, along with 5 ½-year and 8 ½-year-old Kentucky-sourced bourbons.
An artful balance of soft wheat and spicy high-rye that provides a smooth but complex bourbon designed to drink neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail, the whiskey leads with a beautiful caramel flavor and aroma followed by notes of allspice, citrus fruit and a nudge of oak. This is the first Kentucky Owl release under Master Distiller Rhea.
Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Rye
The second to be featured in the Singapore launch in The Wiseman series is Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Rye. This is a new straight rye whiskey, launched in April 2022 in the United States. It is listed among Whisky Advocate’s Top 20 and Bourbon Review’s Top 10 whiskeys of the year.
This blend features a 95% rye mash bill selected by Rhea and bottled at 100.8 proof. Providing a rich and spicy nose with hints of fresh rye bread and slight hints of sweet caramel and cinnamon, this whiskey’s spicy character instantly fills the mouth with rich rye flavour with a long finish that starts as fresh rye bread, slowly moves towards buttered cinnamon toast and ends with a hint of English walnut.
Kentucky Owl St. Patrick’s Limited Edition Bourbon Whiskey
The launch will be completed with Rhea’s third whiskey with the distillery – Kentucky Owl St. Patrick’s Limited Edition Bourbon Whiskey, which was launched in the United States in February 2022. This release features carefully selected barrels of Kentucky bourbon blended through Irish eyes, with some rich caramel notes and vanilla from rare older bourbons; spice and fruit from higher rye bourbons; and sweetness and citrus from wheated bourbons.
The nose features notes of sweet caramel and honey, with just enough spice married in to tease the palate. Once sipped, this limited edition offers long notes of caramel, butterscotch and frosted cinnamon roll, with hints of chocolate, orange, candy floss and some citrus peel. There is bright forest fruit on the mid-palate and a longer lingering finish with a vanilla pod and balanced wood influence.
Stoli Group And Its Signature Brands
Mainly known for the Stoli Vodka brand, Stoli Group has expanded its portfolio in recent years to appeal to premium on-premise and more sophisticated global consumers. Some of Stoli Group’s signature brands include Stoli Vodka, Elit Vodka, Bayou Rum, Kentucky Owl, Villa One, Gator Bite Rum Liqueurs, Cenote Tequila, and Se Busca Mezcal.
By launching Kentucky Owl in Singapore, the company is seeking to expand its ultra-premium portfolio. For more information, visit www.kentuckyowlbourbon.com.