The whiskey wash logo
The World's Most-Visited
Whiskey Website
The World's Most-Visited
Whiskey Website

Kentucky Owl Releases Final Batch #13 Bourbon as Master Blender John Rhea Retires

Kentucky Owl releases Batch #13 bourbon as Master Blender John Rhea's final blend before retirement. The $399 limited-edition expression combines five bourbons at 56.8% ABV.
  • Beth Squires is the Deputy Editor of The Whiskey Wash and a graduate of the OurWhisky Foundation’s Atonia Programme. With over half a decade of industry experience, she is passionate about writing stories that highlight innovation, diversity, and sustainability across the global whisky landscape.
Search

Trending Stories

Like Conversation
reading time
John Rhea’s tenure at Kentucky Owl comes to a close with the release of Batch #13. Credit: Kentucky Owl
Kentucky Owl has released Batch #13, marking the end of an era as the limited-edition bourbon represents the final blend created by retiring Master Blender John Rhea. The whiskey showcases Rhea’s nearly five decades of industry expertise in what the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame inductee describes as his “tribute to the craftsmanship of blending.”

Kentucky Owl Batch #13 Features Complex Five-Bourbon Blend

Rhea constructed Batch #13 by combining five different bourbons, with eight-year-old and nine-year-old barrels forming the foundation of the 56.8% ABV spirit. The blend strategically pairs mature, higher-rye bourbons that contribute richness and depth with younger wheated whiskeys that add brightness and freshness to the final product.

“During my tenure at Kentucky Owl, I’ve had the honor of sampling some of the world’s finest bourbon barrels,” said Rhea. “This juxtaposition of mature higher rye bourbons balanced with lighter wheated barrels results in a very special flavor profile that highlights each barrel’s finest notes.”

The distillery, owned by Stoli Group, continues its tradition of creating uniquely different batch releases without specific blending parameters. This approach allows each expression to stand as an individual testament to the art and science of bourbon blending.

Kentucky Owl Master Blender Legacy Spans Five Decades

Rhea’s retirement closes a remarkable chapter in bourbon history. Kentucky Owl appointed him Master Blender in 2021, building on his 2016 induction into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. 

His career began as an engineer with an MBA before transitioning into bourbon, where he served 17 years on the Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s Board of Directors.

Batch #13 Tasting Notes & Where To Buy 

According to official tasting notes, Batch #13 opens with sweet vanilla aromas alongside chocolate hints, followed by citrus, orange, and mango scents. The palate delivers soft vanilla richness with a rush of citrus highlighted by orange and grapefruit, while vanilla and caramel flavors linger through a gentle finish touched with chocolate notes.

The limited-edition Kentucky Owl Batch #13 launches in July across select nationwide locations and online through Reserve Bar and Flaviar. Each 750ml bottle carries a suggested retail price of $399. The release represents both a conclusion to Rhea’s distinguished tenure and another chapter in Kentucky Owl’s ongoing batch series tradition.

Beth Squires

Beth Squires is the Deputy Editor of The Whiskey Wash with over half a decade of industry experience. She possesses comprehensive knowledge of the global whisky landscape, spanning everything from heritage and production to complex market analysis. A graduate of the OurWhisky Foundation’s Atonia Programme, which champions women in whisky, Beth is a dedicated advocate for diversity and sustainability, focused on highlighting the innovation and storytelling that define the modern whisky industry.

All Posts
The whiskey wash logoLatest On The Whiskey Wash
The whiskey wash logo