Blade And Bow Unveils Its Oldest Bourbon Yet
Blade and Bow has announced the release of a 30 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This expression, the oldest ever released by the brand, was first laid up in the spring of 1993 in the legendary rickhouses of Stitzel-Weller Distillery. After decades of careful aging, a meticulous post-maturation selection process commenced, in which Nicole Austin, Diageo’s Director of American Whiskey Liquid Development and Capabilities, hand-selected the most exceptional barrels for this limited-edition offering.
“My vision for this 30-Year-Old project was to create a bourbon that captured decades of time, complexity, and nuance – something that would stand as a milestone in Blade and Bow’s portfolio. Each barrel was assessed individually to determine whether it was suitable for blending or strong enough to stand alone. The expectation of a bourbon of this age is often that it will be over-oaked, harsh, or simple, but what I discovered was truly surprising – many barrels revealed incredible depth, rich vanilla, and layered fruit character,” said Nicole Austin.
A blend of liquid pulled from just 42 barrels, this bourbon is bottled at 54.5% ABV. In an unusual step, at a certain point during maturation (before Diageo acquired Stitzel-Weller Distillery) semi-empty barrels were consolidated to maintain full contact with the wood, preserving balance and preventing over-oaking despite evaporation. When the whiskey reached 30 years of age, every barrel was tasted and hand-selected by Nicole Austin, who was struck by the surprising volume of exceptional quality liquid—a testament to the foresight of that consolidation process. That unusual measure explains why there were 42 barrels with bourbon still in them after three decades, as sometimes even 20 year old bourbon barrels turn up empty, with evaporation (“angel’s share”) exacting a steep tax.
This highly limited 30-Year-Old release will be available in select markets for individuals aged 21+, nationwide beginning November 2025 and in the visitor center at Stitzel-Weller Distillery, including individual pours (priced at $225) at the Garden & Gun Club. Each tasting will be presented on a custom gold tray and includes a premium glassware and keepsake items in a refined bag. Guests will enjoy thoughtful, elevated touches that reflect Blade and Bow’s spirit of refined hospitality. Blade and Bow 30-Year-Old will carry a suggested retail price of $1,200 per 750ml bottle (SRP), though prices are subject to change and may vary.
