Four barrels of whiskey that tasted like grass and hay in 2019 have become Pursuit Spirits’ latest limited-edition bourbon after extra aging in a Kentucky rickhouse.
Old Anvil Emerges From Pursuit Spirits’ Forgotten Barrels
The Louisville-based distillery announced the release of Old Anvil, a cask-strength bourbon bottled at 119.4 proof, available exclusively at their new Whiskey Row location starting August 28. The 375mL bottles carry a suggested retail price of $99.99, with only limited cases sold daily.
The unusual journey began when founders Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil purchased four five-year-old barrels sight unseen from a Kentucky distillery. The barrels featured a 70/21/9 mashbill, but upon arrival, the whiskey disappointed with grassy, hay-like flavors. Rather than write off the investment, the team stored the barrels and revisited them years later.
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READ THE STORYThe revisit finally revealed what Kenny and Ryan had been searching for: a complex and wonderfully balanced bourbon ready to hit the shelves. The two found that the extra time in the barrel brought out notes of oak and nuttiness.
“Old Anvil is proof that time can change everything,” said Ryan Cecil, Pursuit Spirits Master Blender and CEO. “We once thought these barrels were a mistake, but years later, they became something truly remarkable. It’s a good thing we had a ton of distractions because I’m excited to see what this bourbon has become.”
Pursuit Spirits Positions Old Anvil in Mellwood Legacy Collection
The bourbon represents the third release in Pursuit Spirits’ Mellwood Legacy Collection, taking inspiration from a historic label once bottled by General Distillers in Louisville. The company moved to its current distillery in 2023 and discovered the area’s distilling heritage on Mellwood Avenue.
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At eight years old, the barrels showed improvement but still failed to meet standards for the company’s Pursuit United line. By age 11, the whiskey had developed into what the company describes as a complex bourbon with distinct characteristics.
Official tasting notes describe Old Anvil as opening with root beer float aromas combined with honeysuckle and orange marmalade on the nose. The palate features orange-vanilla cola and Madagascar vanilla bean flavors with fig biscuit undertones. The finish includes cinnamon-vanilla frosting, candied orange, sweet oak, and allspice notes.
Customers can guarantee a purchase opportunity by booking the Mellwood Past & Present experience through the distillery. Whiskey lovers can also buy Old Anvil at Pursuit Spirits’ brand-new Whiskey Row location. Once the current inventory sells out, no additional bottles will be produced.
Coleman and Cecil launched Pursuit Spirits after hosting the Bourbon Pursuit podcast, building their brand on experimental blending approaches and limited releases. The Old Anvil story demonstrates how patience and proper aging can salvage seemingly failed barrel purchases in the whiskey industry.
