Lux Row Joins the Bardstown Collection

In April, Lux Row Distillers™ joined five other local distilleries in a collaborative project to create new bourbons for a one-of-a-kind bourbon series called the Bardstown Collection. Started in 2021, the program was designed to raise awareness about the bourbon heritage of Bardstown, Kentucky, and to further establish the region as the “Bourbon Capital of the World.”

This year’s group – which included Lux Row, along with Heaven Hill, James B. Beam Distilling Co, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Preservation and Log Still distilleries – announced its participation on National Bourbon Day in June 2022. Each distillery then provided three hand-picked barrels of premium bourbon for the Bardstown Collection. For its part, Lux Row Distillers selected three barrels of its 6-year ryed bourbon.

The distilleries’ bourbons featured custom packaging celebrating the community and history of the region. The bottle design featured an iconic image of Bardstown, The Old My Kentucky Home Museum, along with the name of the participating distiller for each of the six bourbons created.

On April 13-16, each distillery made its Bardstown Collection bourbon available at its respective visitors center. Sales were brisk at Lux Row, where nearly 250 of the $199.99 bottles sold in the first weekend.

“We are proud of Lux Row Distillers’ role in helping reaffirm Bardstown and the surrounding region as the Bourbon Capital of the World,” said Vincent Clark, visitor center manager. “We’ve worked hard to establish our own reputation in the region over the past five years, and we’re excited to be a part of an effort that brings local distilleries – and the community – together for a common goal: to raise awareness of, and appreciation for our shared history and heritage.”

Blood Oath® Pact 9 Launches

In April, Lux Row Distillers Master Distiller and Master Blender John Rempe renewed his annual pact with bourbon lovers with the release of Blood Oath Pact 9. This year’s offering combines some of the finest bourbons Rempe could find, including a 16-year ryed bourbon and a 12-year ryed bourbon, as well as a 7-year ryed bourbon finished in Oloroso Sherry casks from the Sherry Triangle region in southwest Spain. Rempe selected Oloroso Sherry casks for the woody, ripe-fruit aromas and flavors they lent to the resulting bourbon, remarking on its attributes:

“Blood Oath Pact 9 is a truly memorable pour, with a deep, dark-amber color and long legs. The Oloroso Sherry casks brought out tasting notes characterized by sweet sherry with hints of ripe fruit on the nose and flavor notes of ripe fruits with notes of molasses, chocolate and tobacco. Its long-lasting finish with hints of spicy oak will make it another favorite among bourbon lovers.”

A limited supply of 17,000 (3-pack) bottles of Blood Oath Pact 9 reached retail shelves in April at a suggested price of $129.99 per 750mL bottle.

Ezra Brooks® and Rebel® Continue Premiumization Efforts

As consumers continue to shift their preferences toward super- and ultra-premium spirits, Lux Row Distillers has adapted to meet growing consumer demand for premium whiskey.

In March, Lux Row introduced Rebel 100 Straight Rye Whiskey, the rye-whiskey expression of its namesake, Rebel 100. The elevated proof delivers smooth, spicy rye flavor via its 51% rye, 45% corn and 4% malt mash bill. The resulting flavor profile features a spicy nose that opens into rich rye flavor, balanced by hints of vanilla.

In May, the Ezra Brooks brand followed suit with the introduction of Ezra Brooks 99 Straight Rye, the rye expression of Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon. The bolder 99 proof delivers tasting notes characterized by hints of chocolate, leather, vanilla and spicy grains, balanced by sweet and oaky tones.

Similarly, Ezra Brooks Bourbon Cream kicked off in May at an even bolder 33 proof, one of the highest levels offered within the category. The elevated proof delivers the same great bourbon-cream taste, but with enhanced tasting notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and caramel with hints of vanilla and sweet pecan on the nose and buttery caramel, sweet toffee and a smooth, warm finish on the palate.

“For the past several years, our focus at Lux Row Distillers has been making sure we have the products our consumers are looking for,” said Eric Winter, whiskey brand manager at Lux Row. “With the Ezra Brooks and Rebel brands, we have been able to offer consumers bolder expressions and bolder taste, deliciously elevated through elevated proof.”