Diageo-owned Blade and Bow has introduced its oldest expression to date, a 30-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey hand-selected by Nicole Austin. The US$1,200 whiskey, bottled at 54.5% ABV, was aged at the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery and will be available in select US markets from November 2025.
The liquid was first laid to rest in the spring of 1993 in the distillery’s patented rickhouses.
The project was led by Nicole Austin, Diageo’s director of American whiskey liquid development and capabilities, who personally assessed and selected the barrels for the final blend.
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READ THE STORY“My vision for this 30-Year-Old project was to create a bourbon that captured decades of time, complexity, and nuance – something that would stand as a milestone in Blade and Bow’s portfolio,” Austin said.
She added: “The expectation of a bourbon of this age is often that it will be over-oaked, harsh, or simple, but what I discovered was truly surprising – many barrels revealed incredible depth, rich vanilla, and layered fruit character.”
This release represents a growing trend in the American whiskey category, where producers are tapping into rare, long-matured stocks to meet increasing consumer and collector demand for ultra-premium expressions.
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The final blend for the 30-year-old expression was pulled from just 42 barrels.
The brand noted that at one point during maturation, before Diageo acquired Stitzel-Weller, semi-empty barrels were consolidated to maintain the liquid’s contact with the wood. This process was intended to preserve balance and prevent over-oaking due to evaporation, often referred to as the angel’s share.
Austin commented on the quality of the aged stock, a result of this foresight.
“The yield of very old whiskeys can be unpredictable – you expect a lot of over-oaked or one-dimensional barrels. But these were different,” she explained. “So many of them still had this lovely vanilla and fruit character, real vibrancy, and surprising depth. I wanted to celebrate that.”
“Every decision, from consolidation to final blending, was about preserving what made these barrels so special — and creating something that truly honors the legacy of Blade and Bow along with Stitzel-Weller Distillery,” Austin said.
The bourbon is non-chill filtered, a process that preserves the whiskey’s natural oils and congeners. As a result, the brand notes the liquid may contain delicate white flakes, known as ‘flocs’.
Official notes from the brand state the bourbon opens with aromas of “zesty lemon and fresh raspberry mingling with warm ginger and cinnamon,” before evolving to “rich notes of fig, burnt sugar, and molasses.”
The palate is described as “luxuriously oily and chewy, with layers of hazelnut, subtle anise, and a whisper of blackcurrant.” The finish is said to be “cool and menthol-like.”
The highly limited release will be available nationwide in the US and at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery visitor center beginning Friday, November 14, 2025.
Individual pours will be offered at the on-site Garden & Gun Club for US$225.
Blade and Bow 30-Year-Old will carry a suggested retail price of US$1,200 per 750ml bottle.
