Ok, I expect a full review from our Southern gentlemen this summer...

Brown-Forman, the parent company behind famed brands including Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve and Early Times, is bringing out its first new bourbon in 20 years with the release of Coopers’ Craft. Set to be available in select markets this summer, it celebrates the company’s 70-plus years of barrel-making and wood expertise at its historic cooperage in Louisville, KY.

In addition to being matured in barrels raised by master coopers at the Brown-Forman Cooperage, the 82.2 proof spirit is made using a special beech and birch charcoal filter finishing process aimed at creating a smooth and flavorful bourbon.

Hitting shelves this summer, Coopers’ Craft will be initially available in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee at a suggested price of $28.99 for a 750ml bottle.

How many years will this be aged? Or in other words, how many years ago did they plan this bourbon?

At that price I'm not sure I should be expecting too much, but the proof is in the taste.

Unfortunately, I don't know. There was no mention of it in the press release article...

Huh?

Beech and birch charcoal filter finishing process???

Isn't that sort of what Jack Daniels does over in Tennessee?

I guess there are arguments both for and against Jack Daniel's being legally classified as bourbon (whether or not the Lincoln County Process/charcoal filtering constitutes an additive or flavoring), but given that the resulting product tastes nothing at all like any bourbon, bad or good, I've ever tried, I'm not sure why Brown-Forman would want to replicate in KY what they already do in TN.


Those two questions could have entirely different answers. It's possible that B-F has millions of gallons of juice sitting around in a rickhouse or warehouse somewhere in KY, TN or elsewhere that can be diverted to use in this brand.

Witness Diageo's Orphan Barrels. It's not like those barrels were really lost and only recently rediscovered like some buried pirate treasure. That's all marketing hype. The booze had been distilled and sitting around long before Diageo figured out how to hype and sell it.

I'm game. I'll keep my eyes open. I'm not a JD fan so I may be disappointed.

At that price point, it's not likely to be any older than 10 years. With the charcoal filtering, will it make any difference if it's only been aged 3?

I'd like to hear a Jack Daniels drinker's opinion before I give it a try. If I don't run into one who's tried it, I can always buy a bottle and hand it down to my SIL if it isn't any better than I expect.

I'm a big JD fan so this seems right up my alley - unfortunately looks like they've decided that they are going to distribute it to everywhere in the South except North Carolina (and Virginia) so might not see it here for a while.

More is now known about this bourbon...

Brown-Forman master distiller Chris Morris, whose production team spent more than a decade creating Coopers' Craft, said "the time for a new style of bourbon has arrived."

Louisville-based Brown-Forman's flagship brand is Jack Daniel's and its lineup includes Woodford Reserve and Old Forester bourbons.

Coopers' Craft whiskey will age four to six years before bottling, the company said.

It's bottled at 82.2 proof, lower than Woodford Reserve and Old Forester, making it a prime "entry-level whiskey" for people unfamiliar with bourbon, according to Doug Petry, co-owner and beverage director at RYE, a Louisville restaurant.

Per the report:

Brown-Forman spokeswoman Andrea Duvall said that Coopers' Craft is made in Louisville, from a slightly different mashbill than Old Forester. Coopers' Craft has slightly more corn and slightly less rye than Old Forester, giving it a less spicy flavor profile.

Coopers' Craft also uses a special beech and birch charcoal filter finishing process. After the bourbon has aged four to six years, it is filtered through charcoal made from beech and birch wood, giving it extra smoothness and oakiness, she said.

Coopers' Craft is the first new bourbon added to Brown-Forman permanent lineup in 20 years.

For the complete story, check out Kentucky.com.

Doesn't JD run through maple charcoal before barrelling? That DQ's them as bourbon. I am not exactly excited to hear they're filtering after the barrel, either, with this one; why remove flavor?

I agree, but some people become lawyers in an attempt to justify their opinion that JD is a bourbon. I've given up trying to correct them.

For those of us in VA, the ABC now has a lottery process for various low-supply products. That's the good news. The bad news is that they're using said lottery for things I used to find (as recently as last year!) regularly on ABC shelves, including stuff distilled in VA (like the Bowman limited releases), Stagg Jr., Orphan Barrel, etc.

I've yet to win the chance to buy a bottle in any VA ABC lottery, either. The ones that start tomorrow are for a Bowman's wheated bourbon ($70) and Whistle Pig 15 ($199 ).

My goodness, Barterhouse and Forged Oak as lottery products? When they're (1) not really super-premium products and (2) readily available in other states? Mitcher's 10-year as a lottery product? Stagg Jr. as a lottery?!

Something tells me this is VA ABC's way of being even more crooked than they were before.

That does sound pretty crooked. Don't Virginians know you can jump in a car, train or plane and buy all these items off the shelf of a grocery store in other states? Or even in D.C.?

Had Templeton Rye at the JFK AC a couple days ago.

Absolutely horrid - way too sweet and fake tasting. The only saving grace was that it was free via an AA drink chit.

Templeton lost all my respect with their marketing spin (pre-Prohibition and a favorite of Al Capone, ha) when it's actually just a blend of MGP spirits.

Not that all ryes made with MGP makes bad stuff. Some ryes made with their spirits are quite good, like High West, but the hypocrisy of some of these marketing departments is a bit much to swallow.

That said, I still think the best value among ryes is Rittenhouse. Maybe a little hot for sipping but a splash of water tempers it a bit.

Yeah agreed - I just never got around to trying it so figured it was a good chance. Needless to say it will be my last - it's okay though I've got a nice GlenDronach 21 Parliament to sip on here in Scotland tonight so that'll make up for it

Agreed on the Rittenhouse - the stock comes and goes from the NC ABC stores so last time it was in I stocked up and have about 2.25 bottles left. It's my go to for Rye sipping and Rye drinks (adds a nice bit of heat to the cocktail).