Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. will debut its first 10-year-old whiskey with the launch of Henry Kraver’s Old Reserve Bourbon in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 22, 2026. The barrel-proof release will be sold at the Peerless Distillery with a one-bottle-per-person limit, and the brand plans to repeat the drop annually on founder Henry Kraver’s birthday.
The family-owned distiller said the release is intended to recognize both its heritage and the team behind the liquid.
Roy M. “Corky” Taylor III said: “This is to honor my great-grandfather. And to honor all of our employees who have done an incredible job making the whiskey and finishing the product for distribution. We have a GREAT team at Peerless.”
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READ THE STORYPeerless said the launch also marks 10 years of aging since the Taylor family revived the Kentucky Peerless name. Henry Kraver started crafting Peerless whiskey in 1889, and the company noted that its fourth- and fifth-generation descendants operate under the same distilled spirits plant number, DSP-KY-50, “as Kraver did in the 1800s without outsourcing.”
The distillery added that its production remains “from grain to bottle in-house using sweet mash.” It also pointed to international recognition since the revival, including being named ‘World’s Best Bourbon’ in 2024 at the International Wine and Spirits Competition.
The inaugural release, Batch 1, will be bottled at barrel proof at 117.6 proof (58.5% ABV). Peerless said the bourbon “features a distinct label that stands out from its Peerless counterparts.”
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Nick Klee, distiller and batcher, said: “I’m grateful for Peerless’s continuous approach to elevating industry standards. 10-year-old barrels carry very prominent notes that require careful pairing when batching. We couldn’t be happier with the result. Kraver’s 10-year-old Reserve is a wonderful representation of a decade’s worth of hard work and patience!”
The official notes from the brand list aromas including “sweet, smoldering pipe tobacco,” “candied peanuts,” and “old-fashioned French vanilla ice cream,” followed by palate flavors such as “burnt brownie edges,” “mocha coffee,” and “candied orange peel,” with a “rustic and mature” finish.
The distillery said the next release, Batch 2, is scheduled for April 22, 2027.
