Green River finishes Bourbon in honey barrels

Lofted Spirits-owned Green River Distilling has released a Kentucky straight Bourbon finished in barrels with 100% locally sourced honey.

The whiskey starts as a four-year-old straight Bourbon distilled in Owensboro, Kentucky. Then, a custom blend of locally sourced, seasonally selected honey is added directly into barrels to finish the whiskey. This method is said to allow the Bourbon and honey to combine naturally through interactions within the barrel, rather than through post-production blending. The whiskey is said to showcase the texture and backbone of Kentucky Bourbon while introducing floral aromas of honey, caramel, orange peel, toasted oak, vanilla, and subtle cinnamon spice. Bottled at 46% ABV, Green River Honey Finished Bourbon is crafted without sweeteners or additives. Dan Callaway, master blender at Lofted Spirits, said: "For too long, honey whiskey has been defined by shortcuts. Natural flavours aren't always as natural as they claim to be. Green River Honey is changing that – putting our money into real, natural honey and Kentucky straight Bourbon. "Its flavour and approachability open the Green River brand up to higher energy occasions, play well in a cocktail, and bridge a huge gap in the category between higher-priced honey-cask finishes and cheaper immature flavours." The expression uses a proprietary blend of honey sourced in collaboration with beekeeper-owned business Above the Dirt Garden and Honey Shop. The company works year-round with a network of family-owned apiaries, ensuring that the honey is 100% raw, pure, and unfiltered. The honey whiskey can be enjoyed neat or used as a base for a cocktail. Caryn Wells, national brand ambassador of Green River, commented: "Green River Honey goes to work behind the bar. One of the few commercially available higher-proof honey-finished Bourbons, the high proof and real honey finish give cocktails structure without overpowering them. "It makes a perfect Gold Rush with just lemon and a shake, and it elevates any whiskey cocktail where balance matters." Available from today (15 May) across the US, Green River Honey retails for US$24.99 for a 750ml bottle, but is also available in a 200ml format.