Stetson. You know the name. You proudly wear the hats. Now get to know its bourbon. America’s most iconic Western brand is launching Stetson Bourbon, touted as a “super-premium, high-rye proprietary blend distilled and bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky.” The brand, created in 1865 by John B. Stetson, who invented and perfected the cowboy hat, is bringing the same quality and craftsmanship to its bourbon, blended by Kentucky Master Blender Dan Callaway.
The launch has been a long time coming, resulting in a bottle and spirit worthy of the Stetson name. After a three-year journey of sourcing and tasting, Stetson found its ideal blender and two of the most respected bourbon producers in Kentucky, Green River Distilling Co. and Bardstown Bourbon Company.
Stetson Bourbon is described as a “super-premium, 100-proof, high-rye whiskey crafted from a proprietary blend aged an average of seven years.” The quality and assurance are palpable from the start, with buttery oak, caramel, and vanilla aroma that opens the nose, followed by brandied fruit and warm baking spices, with a light rye finish on the first sip, forming a balanced bourbon with depth and character.
It’s the kind of bourbon whiskey lovers will love sipping neat, with a single block of ice, or mixed as a cocktail, all of which speaks to its intended versatility.
160 years of building America
Stetson CEO Robert Dundon beams with pride when talking about its new bourbon, adding that “it’s about time” the iconic brand has taken its next natural step.
“For more than 160 years, Stetson has stood alongside the people who built the American West. Bourbon has always been part of that same tradition, woven into the same ranches, saloons, and gatherings our hats have been part of,” said Dundon in a statement. “Over the last five years, we’ve crafted and successfully executed a plan to elevate and introduce new categories. When someone sees the Stetson name on a bottle, they can expect the same authenticity, craftsmanship, and enduring quality they’ve known for generations. We wanted to bring a unique premium expression to market that our discerning customers will enjoy wherever they celebrate the rituals of their lives. It’s about time.”
And speaking of enduring quality and craftsmanship, the back of Stetson Bourbon’s bottle features a depiction of “The Last Drop from His Stetson,” which is a painting by renowned Western artist Lon Megargee. The painting is “an enduring symbol of the American West since the early 1920s,” and it “reflects the resourcefulness, compassion, and humility that have always defined the Stetson brand.”
Where to Buy It
Stetson Kentucky Straight Bourbon is available now online and at select retailers across Texas. Stetson has plans to expand its distribution in the future.
A bottle of Stetson Bourbon has a suggested retail price of $70.
