Veteran-owned whiskey and cigar brand Hooten Young will release its inaugural Bottled-in-Bond bourbon on July 4, 2025, marking a significant milestone for the company founded by retired Army Master Sergeant Norm Hooten, the real-life “Hoot” from “Black Hawk Down.”
The new bourbon launches at $39.99, positioning it as the most competitively priced whiskey in the brand’s portfolio. According to official tasting notes, the bourbon features flavors of caramel, toffee, black pepper and caramelized brown sugar.
Hooten Young Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Honors Military Heritage
Hooten Young, established in 2018, builds its brand around honoring fallen soldiers and supporting veterans’ causes. The company partners with organizations like Camp Freedom and the Green Beret Foundation.
“This bourbon isn’t just a whiskey—it’s a moment in time for us,” said Norm Hooten. “The brand began as a cigar created to honor those a part of the Operation Gothic Serpent mission. Now, six years later, we hold a library of award-winning cigars and spirits and have built an entire brand around the stories of the brave men and women who give their lives for our freedom.”
The bourbon meets strict Bottled-in-Bond standards, requiring it to be aged at least four years, produced in a single distilling season, and bottled at 100 proof. The mash bill consists of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% distiller’s malt.
Hooten Young Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Launch Details and Availability
Pre-sales begin June 20, 2025, exclusively on the company’s website. The official launch coincides with Independence Day, when the bourbon becomes available online and through select retailers.
The bourbon was produced through a partnership with Green River Distilling and Bardstown Bottling Company in Bardstown, Kentucky. Following the July 4 launch, distribution will expand to Hooten Young’s current markets, including Florida, Georgia, Texas, and California.
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In-store tastings and bottle signings with Norm Hooten are planned for the weeks following the launch. The company views this release as both a tribute to tradition and a competitive entry into the crowded bourbon market.
“Adding a bourbon felt like the natural next step,” said Norm. “We wanted to challenge ourselves by venturing into a spirit we hadn’t dabbled with entirely and we wanted it to be at a cost that customers felt comfortable buying again and again while being able to savor for life’s special moments as much as the ordinary ones. We can’t wait to release this and can’t think of a better day than America’s birthday – July 4th – to do that. This isn’t just a whiskey. It’s a declaration to drink better bourbon.”
