Jackie Zykan’s Post-Old Forester Project Bears Bourbon

Hidden Barn Bourbon is poised to release its first organic bourbon tomorrow, a six-year-old wheated bourbon bottled at 106.2 proof. This move by Hidden Barn corresponds with and celebrates Bourbon Heritage Month.

Distilled with organic grains and certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Kentucky Department of Agriculture, this bourbon was distilled in Michigan, selected, batched, and proofed by Master Blender Jackie Zykan, and aged and bottled at the now certified organic Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, Kentucky. Jackie’s passion project to bring an organic bourbon to market began several years ago after she did some consulting work at Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, MI.  There she grew a fondness for Bill & Johanna Welter and their company culture of quality, experimentation, and family. She began sampling and compiling some of the earlier barrels that would later become this nine-barrel batch. Neeley Family Distillery is now distilling organic bourbon in Sparta, Kentucky to ensure the continuation of this product line for years to come.

As someone focused on quality, collaboration, and sustainability, working on an organic bourbon has been Jackie’s dream for many years.  “I’ve wanted to create an organic bourbon for a long time, so this has been a passion project for me,” said Zykan.  “For me, blending barrels is all about finding balance and harmony while still showcasing individuality. The nine barrels used for this blend were meticulously selected from a very large pool of inventory with much intention.  The combination of the high-quality organic grains used in the distillation with the variable entry proofs used in the maturation – that range in proof from low to high – led to everything integrating beautifully.”

This bourbon will be released to the public on September 14, 2024.  Suggested retail pricing for the Hidden Barn Organic Wheated Bourbon Whiskey is $79.99. It will be available for sale at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Sept. 14 and 15 in Bardstown, Ky, at the Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, Ky, and online and at retail in Kentucky, Indiana, New York, California, Georgia, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico.