Proof of filly’s excellence with every bottle

Ky Senator Bourbon’s Thoroughbred Legacy Series pays tribute to champion Nitrogen in its first release

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 2026) — When Kentucky Senator Bourbon sought to create a private-barrel Thoroughbred Legacy Series, the award-winning small-batch bourbon reached for the stars for the inaugural subject: D.J. Stable’s champion filly Nitrogen.

The 113-proof bourbon — selected and bottled by Potter Jane Distilling Company of Springfield, Ky., for Kentucky Senator Spirits — commemorates the multiple champion favored for the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Oct. 31 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington.

“Nitrogen’s name says it all,” said Andre Regard, the prominent equine attorney who co-founded Kentucky Senator Spirits with then-Kentucky Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer. “Even in her early training, Hall of Famer Mark Casse said that the filly ‘breathes different air,’ hence her name. She’s the perfect horse to kick off our Thoroughbred Legacy Series, which toasts Kentucky’s two iconic industries: horses and bourbon. As we say on the label of Nitrogen bourbon, ‘This private single-barrel bourbon pays tribute to Nitrogen’s fearless spirit, exceptional balance and championship heart. Like the filly herself, it is bold, refined and unforgettable.’”

Off her Sept. 25 triumph in the Grade 2 Beldame at New York’s recreated Belmont Park, the 4-year-old Nitrogen has nine victories over seven tracks in 18 career starts, along with six seconds and three thirds for earnings exceeding $3 million while excelling on dirt, turf and in the mud.

Nitrogen’s victories include a stunning 12 3/4-length romp in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes and last year’s dominant Alabama (G1) over Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer at Saratoga in her first start on dirt. Her runner-up performance in the prestigious Whitney Stakes (G1) only enhanced her reputation when second to reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty while defeating winners of a Breeders’ Cup Classic, Dubai World Cup, the Jockey Club Gold Cup and two other millionaire older males.

“We may never have another horse like Nitrogen,” said Jon Green, D.J. Stable’s general manager who owns the high-end breeding and racing operation with his father, Len. “Having a Nitrogen Legacy Series bourbon is one way to continue to celebrate and toast her for years to come. When trying to breed a champion, pedigree match-ups are so important. The same is true with business relationships, and it’s been great working with Kentucky Senator Bourbon. We’re honored to have Nitrogen as the first Legacy release, and our family looks forward to sharing Nitrogen Bourbon and the spectacular bottles with friends, clients, industry charities and for life’s unexpected special occasions.”

Nitrogen is the overwhelming favorite to again be crowned a champion after her third season of racing, following Canada’s Sovereign Award for 2-year-old filly and North America’s Eclipse Award for last year’s top 3-year-old filly. She’ll have every opportunity to further grow her legacy as D.J. Stable, which also bred the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, has announced she’ll race next year.

The Thoroughbred Legacy Series, whose individual bottles are not for sale to the public, provides a distinctive way for industry connections to honor their favorite horses, farms or any equine image of their choosing. The Legacy bourbons will be aged for a minimum of six years while distilled, aged and bottled in the Bluegrass State. Each Legacy release will be customized to make the bottles as unique as its honoree and Kentucky Senator Bourbon, including the subject’s bio on the back label. In the case of Nitrogen, the 113 proof is a shout-out to her highest career Beyer speed figure when the release was produced. Nitrogen’s picture is prominently displayed on the front of the bottle, with the D.J. Stable’s maroon silks with white diamonds included on the back.

“The Legacy Series is ideal for promoting a cherished horse or equine operation, creating one-of-a-kind gifts for family, friends, partners or clients, as well as a fun and effective way to promote the bottle subject,” said Thayer, now a horse-racing adviser and advocate who spearheaded transformative legislation for both the bourbon and horse industries during his 22 years in the Kentucky Legislature. “We guarantee that every private barrel will be distilled, aged and bottled with care and passion as we create a fitting tribute for a beloved horse or property.”

The Nitrogen Legacy Series features Kentucky Senator Bourbon selected and bottled by Potter Jane from one of the best aged barrels of Kentucky Senator Bourbon stock stored at the Springfield distillery. The Nitrogen release has been aged nine years, regarded as a sweet spot for maturity and oak influence.

Since its first release in 2021, Kentucky Senator Bourbon quickly earned the reputation for serving up great bourbon with a side of Kentucky history. Each Kentucky Senator release is named for a U.S. Senator from the Commonwealth, with the 2026 edition commemorating the late Jim Bunning, the only person elected to both baseball’s Hall of Fame and the U.S. Senate. Bottled at the classic 107 proof, Kentucky Senator Bourbon is at least six years old, the length of a U.S. Senate term, with many releases clocking in with higher aging statements.

The 2025 release honoring Kentucky’s U.S. Senator John Brown (elected 1792) was awarded a Double Gold Medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of the most prestigious and influential spirits competitions in the world. The accolade solidified Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s reputation for crafting exceptional small-batch whiskey that stands out in today’s competitive spirits landscape.

The Kentucky Senator brand was originally distilled and bottled by Crigler & Crigler in Covington, Ky., then by Double Springs Distillers Inc. in Bardstown. The brand revival of the vintage Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is led by Regard and Thayer, who bring their unique backgrounds in bourbon to the management team. Regard is a descendant of bourbon legend Basil Hayden, and Thayer is a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame.

More information on Kentucky Senator Bourbon and its principals Regard and Thayer at KySenatorBourbon.com.

About Kentucky Senator Bourbon

Kentucky Senator Bourbon is an award-winning small-batch Bourbon brand committed to crafting exceptional spirits with a side of American history. Each limited-edition release is named after a U.S. Senator and represents a blend of tradition, character and U.S. heritage; it is distilled and aged in Kentucky for at least six years (the same length as a U.S. senate term), but often longer.Founded by Andre Regard and Damon Thayer, Kentucky Senator Bourbon revives a historic brand once produced by Crigler and Crigler in Covington and later Double Springs Distillers in Bardstown. The brand launched its first revival release in 2021 and has since become known for producing richly aged, 107-proof Bourbon expressions that connect past and present.Awards & Recognition

• Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s inaugural release, the Alben W. Barkley Release, was highlighted in Forbes’ Online Magazine 
• Fred Minnick, a noted Bourbon author, ranked Kentucky Senator Bourbon in his Top 100 Whiskeys of 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025
• Kentucky Senator Bourbon has won multiple Gold ASCOT Awards for taste and a Double Platinum ASCOT Award for marketing and brand design
• Kentucky Senator Bourbon recently won its first Double Gold medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its 2024 John Brown release
• The Jim Bunning Release earned a Double Gold Medal and 96 points at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the highest distinction the competition confers, awarded only when every judge on the panel votes Gold
• The John Edwards Release earned a Silver Medal at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a Double Platinum Award at the 2026 ASCOT Awards, reserved for spirits scoring between 95 and 100 points on a blind 100-point scale

Keep following and liking our posts! We are on:

• • Twitter (X)
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Greetings from a storm-wracked Chorlton Towers, and welcome to an autumnal celebration of the bourbon cask!

There are four examples for you below, but have no fear if you’re after something sherried. Christmas isn’t too far away you know…

With that unsubtle hint out of the way, let me introduce you to these dapper chaps:

So, from left to right then.

First up we have a 16-year-old Ben Nevis. This is the sister cask of the 14yo from a couple of years back, now a little more aged, at a really perfect ABV and (in a modest attempt to address the cost of living crisis) at the same price.

On the nose it’s clean, maritime and gently fruity, with lime juice, blueberry muffins*, candlewax and rose petals. I also get banana milk, clay and touches of something saline and green-peppery in the background.

The palate has a lovely arrival, with lemon, white peach, bilberry and mint leaves, developing in a salty direction (it really is quite a coastal feeling BN this), with tropical fruit, honeysuckle, lime and salted liquorice.

(* – I really thought I might have gone off-piste with the blueberry muffin thing, but Matt at Hopscotch independently put “blackberry cheesecake” in his tasting notes, so I reckon we’re on the same track.)

I’m always delighted to receive another cask from Hector McDram, and you can’t go too far wrong with these batches of Nevis. Tons of distillery character and perfectly quaffable.

This 2nd-fill barrel produced 277 bottles at a cask strength of 52.8%, and they are available for £85 each.

Second in our line-up we have a 12-year-old Inchmurrin. This is (so the story goes) Loch Lomond’s attempt to clone the lost Littlemill distillery in the Lowlands, and – just to complicate matters further – this is the lightly-peated version of the make.

On the nose – almond brittle, fruit salad, old tins of emulsion, piña colada, funky esters and mango lassi. Super fun! I also get hibiscus tea, blackcurrant leaves and a tiny bit of background peat.

On the palate – pure fruit juice, guava, lime, waxed paper, warm oranges and coal tar. You don’t really taste the peat, but it just adds a bit of grit and backbone to proceedings. With a bit of water a floral side comes out – orange blossom, spring meadows – clean, easy and fruity.

I don’t know about Littlemill, but this does ring a lot of Irish whiskey bells. It’s charming and fruity whisky, with an enjoyable mischievous edge as befits the distillery.

This 1st-fill barrel produced just 201 bottles at a cask strength of 56.3%, and they are available for £65 each.

Number three! This is an 18-year-old Glen Grant. A distillery I’ve always wanted to bottle, and tough to find at a sensible price!

On the nose – this has that classy Speyside feeling of fruit and waxed banisters. I get red apple juice, apricot, butter, orange and obscure resins. In the background, touches of chalk, Juicy Fruit gum and coal tar.

On the palate – a big, orangey and peachy arrival. More Juicy Fruit, cider, wax and pink peppercorns – all against a decidedly phenolic background. The finish is really pure – barley by the truckload, apple rings, tar and menthol.

The stone fruits that run through this (and only grow as you let the glass breathe) are delightful, and the unexpected edge of smoke/phenols works a treat.

This refill barrel produced just 122 bottles at a cask strength of 54.0%, and they are available for £85 each. Most of them have been kept back for the site, to give you lovely newsletter subscribers the best possible chance of getting hold of one despite the very low cask yield.

And, last but not least, another distillery debut for Chorlton – this is an 18-year-old Craigellachie. They’re (somewhat) famous for using worm tub condensers, producing a chunky, fatty distillate with an often industrial edge. The quest has been to find a cask that balances the distillery character with drinkability – you’ll have to let me know how I’ve done.

So, on the nose – baled hay, orange, olive oil, and apples stored for the winter in a garden shed – with maybe a few old tins of creosote nearby. I also get barley, sweet woodruff, and touches of brioche, cinnamon sugar and anise.

The palate is fat and oily, with apples baked in salted butter, liquorice, waxy citrus, and a smidge of peanut butter. The worm tubbiness manifests in the form of burnt sugar, herbal bitters and a bit of greasy soot. The finish has citrus, oil, barley and liquorice – elemental and kind of perfect.

I love this – it’s really textural and old-fashioned feeling. There’s a directness to the spirit, and connection to the barley and the process that made it, that’s really compelling. It’s also just very tasty!

This refill hogshead produced 273 bottles at 57.3%, and they are available for £85 each.

And…

…that’s it for now. As alluded to above, this year’s Christmas bottlings are underway and should be ready with plenty of time to spare – stay tuned for details.

In the meantime I’ll be at the HopScotch Whisky Festival on the 28th November. I think there are a handful of tickets left.

Thanks, as ever, for your support, and I’m always available via the usual channels if I can be of any assistance.

Cheers!

David

Knob Creek Is Bringing Back Its Oldest Release: 21 Year Old

Knob Creek is bringing back its oldest expression in James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s history: Knob Creek 21 Year Old. First released last year in 2025, this extra aged bourbon spent more than two decades in the barrel, bottled at 100 proof. It delivers layers of caramel and char, subtle fruit, seasoned oak and caramelized sugar, with hints of smoke and a long, satisfying finish of toffee and charred oak. Each barrel was individually selected by our master distillers for its remarkable balance and depth, showcasing the complexity that only decades of aging can achieve.

Knob Creek 21 Year Old will be available for a limited time at retailers nationwide, with an SRP of $249.99 for a 750mL bottle.

www.knobcreek.com

Old Particular

The Speyside Collection

The Speyside Collection is a celebration of the region’s rich landscapes, seasonal warmth and timeless Whisky making tradition.

Each bottling is inspired by a different Speyside influence – burnt orange for the warmth of autumn woodlands, moss green for the forests and glens that shape the landscape, and autumnal red for the changing leaves that define the region’s seasonal beauty – brought to life through distinctive secondary cask finishes.

Together, they create a unified set with unmistakable identities, designed to stand out individually and become even more compelling as a collection.

SHOP NOW

Whisky Tastings

Fancy a Whisky Tasting ?

Running all week by our Whisky experts :

– Introduction to Whisky Tasting
– Whisky & Cheese Tasting
– Whisky & Chocolate Tasting

Taste your way through four delicious drams and have fun at the same time – no experience needed.

Spaces are limited, so be sure to book your place soon!

Book Your Tickets Here!

New Lewes Whisky Festival to Showcase More Than 100 Whiskies in February 2027

New festival from Summerton Whisky Club will bring independent bottlers, distillers and importers together in East Sussex

A new whisky festival is set to launch in Lewes, East Sussex, in February 2027, bringing more than 100 whiskies from independent bottlers, distillers and importers together for a one-day event at the Corn Exchange, Lewes Town Hall.

Lewes Whisky Festival, created by the team behind UK whisky subscription Summerton Whisky Club, will take place on Saturday 13 February 2027, with two tasting sessions running from 12pm to 3.30pm and 4.30pm to 8pm. The festival will feature whisky from Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, the US, India and beyond, reflecting the increasingly international nature of the whisky category.

Confirmed exhibitors include independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail, alongside Old Pulteney, WhistlePig, Heaven Hill, Boann, Isle of Raasay, The English Distillery and In the Welsh Wind. Kakira Distillery, from Uganda, will also participate with a rum pour.

A different approach to whisky festivals

The festival has been designed around an open tasting format, with visitors able to sample whisky from every participating exhibitor without purchasing additional tasting tokens.

A £49.95 ticket includes a festival glass, programme and unlimited tastings throughout the session. The organisers are deliberately positioning the event as accessible to both experienced whisky enthusiasts and consumers who are newer to the category.

Dan Humphrey, founder of Lewes Whisky Festival and Summerton Whisky Club, said:

“I wanted to create a festival where the focus is on discovering whisky and talking to the people behind it.

“There are plenty of very good whisky events aimed at the serious enthusiast. We wanted to create something that retains the quality and depth of whisky but feels much less intimidating to someone who might be coming to their first festival. You don’t need to know your single malt from your blended malt before you arrive. You just need to enjoy whisky and be curious.”

There will be no additional charges for tastings once visitors are inside the festival, with exhibitors able to engage directly with consumers throughout each session.

A broadening whisky landscape

The initial exhibitor line-up brings together established whisky brands, independent bottlers and producers from a range of whisky-producing countries. The inclusion of English and Welsh whisky alongside Scotch, Irish, American and international producers is intended to reflect the increasingly diverse whisky category and give consumers the opportunity to explore different production traditions and styles in a single event.

Further exhibitors are expected to be announced during the autumn.

From whisky subscription to live events

Lewes Whisky Festival is the latest development from Summerton Whisky Club, the UK whisky subscription and community founded by Dan Humphrey. Summerton sends Members a full bottle of whisky every two months, combining whisky discovery with editorial content and community.

Summerton began when Dan wanted to buy his Dad a whisky subscription as a Christmas present and subsequently developed the concept into a national whisky subscription business.

The festival represents a further expansion into live events, in addition to the Summerton Whisky Festival held annually in St Albans, bringing the company’s focus on whisky discovery and accessibility into a physical setting.

Dan said:

“Summerton has always been about getting people to discover whiskies they might not otherwise have tried. A festival is a natural extension of that. I wanted to create an event where people can spend several hours exploring whisky, talking to producers and bottlers, and finding something they genuinely enjoy.”

Why Lewes?

The festival will take place at the Corn Exchange at Lewes Town Hall, an established events venue in the East Sussex town.

Lewes was selected partly for its accessibility to a wider regional audience, with direct rail connections from Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, Haywards Heath and London Victoria. The organisers are targeting whisky drinkers across Sussex and the wider South East, rather than solely the local Lewes market.

Dan shared:

“Lewes gives us an opportunity to create a genuinely regional whisky event. It’s an independent town with a strong food and drink culture, but it’s also remarkably accessible by rail from across Sussex and London. That gives us the opportunity to build an audience well beyond Lewes itself.”

A richness of whisky

The festival’s identity draws on its Sussex setting. Its emblem references the martlet, the footless swift depicted on the Sussex county arms, while the festival’s tagline — “A Richness of Whisky” — takes inspiration from the collective noun for a group of swifts.

The festival will have capacity for 480 visitors across the two sessions, with tickets priced at £49.95.

More information and tickets are available at leweswhiskyfestival.co.uk.

Event: Lewes Whisky Festival

Date: Saturday 13 February 2027

Venue: The Corn Exchange, Lewes Town Hall, Fisher Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2QS

Sessions: 12.00–15.30 and 16.30–20.00

Ticket price: £49.95 per session

Capacity: 480 visitors across the day

What is included: Festival glass, programme and unlimited tastings from participating exhibitors

Confirmed exhibitors include: Gordon & MacPhail, Old Pulteney, WhistlePig, Heaven Hill, Boann, The Whistler, Isle of Raasay, The English Distillery, Henstone, In the Welsh Wind and Kakira Distillery.

Organiser: Summerton Whisky Club

Website: leweswhiskyfestival.co.uk

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Price: $63.99

OVERVIEW: “Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond is crafted to honor a watershed moment in bourbon history – the U.S. Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. This expression follows the Bottled in Bond standards that whisky must be aged in a federally bonded warehouse for at least four years, the product of one distillation season, one distiller and from one distillery and bottled at 100 Proof. The concept behind these regulations – the idea of ‘sealed in quality’ – was something Old Forester introduced in 1870, as America’s First Bottled Bourbon.”

TASTING: “AROMA – Robust, intense caramel; TASTE – Rich vanilla with roasted coffee notes, spiced dark fruit and mature oak. Mouth-filling. Sweet and intense; FINISH – Deep fruit, spice and oak notes layered over dark caramel and vanilla. Big and bold.”

Bourbon Heritage Month · One Last Pour

For Our Final Bourbon Heritage Month Feature…

We’re sending Bourbon Heritage Month out with a style that brings a little extra snap to the glass. High-rye bourbons lean into rye’s spicy, lively side while keeping bourbon’s familiar richness underneath. Three bottles, three different ways to see what that extra rye can do.

Ardmore 17 Year Old ‘Cottonopolis’, 51.5%

THE VIDEO

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever been asked to be involved with. Three guys from Manchester who wanted to combine their love of whisky with raising some money for charity.

At least £10 from every bottle sold of this will go to a rather large and important charity in Manchester, and we currently only have 33 bottles left to buy from the original 88! Those last few are available through the sales link below.

An ex-bourbon cask matured Ardmore that has all of that lovely, faint smokiness, soft baked fruits, salted caramel and a little bit of that farmyard funk that I look for in every Ardmore. The label, designed in the style of LS Lowry helps to capture that famous industrial hue of Manchester, as well as that linking into the style of liquid that sits inside the bottle.

Thom selected the whiskies, Sam created the labels and I…well, they simply asked me to help out the socials and some tasting notes. We did all hand label every bottle, though, and that’s pretty cool. Still, happy to have been involved, and this hopefully sets us up to be able to do the same thing next year.

The Bottling details

Whisky Reviews every Wednesday
Facebook.com/whiskytube
Twitter.com/whiskytube
Youtube.com/whiskywednesday