Gentleman’s Cut Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the brand founded by NBA champion Stephen Curry, has unveiled its latest Player Exclusive release, an 11-year bourbon finished in Japanese Mizunara oak barrels sourced from Hokkaido prefecture. The limited-edition Player Exclusive: Shacho is priced at $250 and restricted to just 850 bottles.
The release draws its name from the Japanese term “Shacho,” meaning “leader.” It marks the most culturally expansive entry in the brand’s Player Exclusive series to date.
Previous Player Exclusive editions have celebrated personal milestones in Curry’s career. This release looks outward, rooted in a Japanese leadership philosophy that emphasizes vision and humility.
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READ THE STORY“Leadership has always meant more to me than what happens on the court. It’s about the impact you have on the people around you and the legacy you leave behind,” said Curry. “When I discovered that in Japanese culture, the term is an esteemed word meaning ‘leader,’ it spoke to something I’ve always believed in—to lead with vision and humility.”
Curry added: “As someone who has taken inspiration from leaders from a variety of backgrounds, places and lanes that I respect, this Player Exclusive celebrates those milestones and is for everyone who has shown up, put in the work and made a difference as a leader in their own way.”
The bourbon is proofed at 105 with a mashbill of 78% corn, 13% rye and 9% malted barley. Mizunara oak remains one of the most coveted finishing woods in the global spirits market, prized for the distinctive character it imparts.
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Official tasting notes from the brand describe nuances of Kyara incense, cinnamon, coconut and sandalwood layered over the bourbon’s natural profile. The finishing technique using Mizunara new oak barrels has gained increasing traction across the wider spirits industry.
A 30-day reservation window is now open exclusively through the Gentleman’s Cut ReserveBar.com platform. The bottle will also be available through gentlemanscutbourbon.com and select retailers via Southern Glazer Wine and Spirits.
Gentleman’s Cut launched in 2023, adding Curry to a growing roster of athlete-entrepreneurs entering the premium American whiskey category. The Player Exclusive series has become a central pillar of the brand’s strategy, with each edition building on limited availability and storytelling rooted in Curry’s personal journey.
