Johnny Drum Private Stock Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 50.5%

Description

Johnny Drum Private Stock Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Johnny Drum Private Stock is a stellar example of an “old-fashioned sour mash bourbon” that punches well above its weight class. Crafted as an extra-matured, higher-proof expression to surpass its sibling, Johnny Drum Black Label, this exceptional release is bottled at a robust 50.5% ABV (101 Proof). It offers whiskey enthusiasts a beautifully balanced journey of bold proof, deep wood char, and complex herbal rye spice.

Johnny Drum Private Stock Meticulous Maturation and The Sour Mash Method

To earn the title of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, every drop is aged for at least two years in pristine, new charred American oak barrels, completely free from any added colourings or flavourings. Johnny Drum Private Stock is produced using an authentic, old-fashioned sour mash technique passed down through five generations, where a portion of a previously spent batch of mash is introduced to kickstart fermentation in the new run.

Mash Bill

Johnny Drum Private Stock is widely understood to be a marriage of two distinct Willett mash bills (a high-corn recipe and a high-rye recipe). The resulting profile behaves much like a complex, well-aged high-rye bourbon, making it incredibly popular with fans of spicy, robust American whiskies.

This is a blend of two whiskies; both enter the barrel at 125 proof (62.5% ABV):

• 65% – 72% Corn, 13% Rye and 15% Barley
• 35% – 52% Corn, 38% Rye and 10% Barley

What makes the maturation truly distinct is the estate’s warehousing. The barrels are aged in one of eight specialised warehouses, holding between 5,000 and 6,000 barrels each. At roughly a quarter of the size of standard industry warehouses, these structures sit on the highest ground in the county. This elevation ensures constant exposure to fresh, sweeping breezes that dramatically aid the wood’s natural breathing process, imparting an extraordinarily rich character to the ageing spirit.

The Willett Distillery

The story behind Johnny Drum is deeply intertwined with the historic Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky. Founded by Thompson Willett on his family’s farm in 1936, just three short years after the repeal of Prohibition, the distillery has long been a beacon of premium independent whiskey production. Thompson and his father brought invaluable expertise from their time at the Max Selliger & Co. Distillery, starting their first historic run of just 30 barrels on St. Patrick’s Day in 1936.

The property remained proudly in the Willett family until 1st July 1984, when Even G. Kulsveen, Thompson’s son-in-law, purchased the estate and formed Kentucky Bourbon Distillers Ltd. (KBD), which his family runs to this day. Following a brief period where distillation ceased in the early 1980s, the plant was fully renovated. Today, it operates three distinct stills: a column still, a “doubler,” and the iconic pot still that recommenced distilling in 2012. Beyond Johnny Drum, this legendary site is responsible for small-batch cult favourites like Rowan’s Creek, Noah’s Mill, and Willett’s Pot Still Reserve.

The Legend of Johnny Drum

According to Kentucky lore, this whiskey honours a young boy from the American Civil War era. Eager to enlist but turned away due to his age, Johnny persevered until he was finally accepted as a drummer boy. When the conflict ended, he returned home to Kentucky to farm corn. It wasn’t long before he discovered that converting his excess grain into a premium, charcoal-filtered sour mash whiskey was far more profitable and enjoyable than selling the raw crop.

Fareham Wine Cellar Cigar Pairing Tip: The heavy wood char, dry cinnamon finish, and maple sweetness of this bourbon make it an incredible companion for a full-bodied, maduro-wrapped cigar, like the La Invicta Honduran Maduro.