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Town Branch Releases Rare 16-Year Kentucky Single Malt

What makes this the oldest Bottled-in-Bond American Single Malt ever released? Town Branch's 16-year Archive Series Vol. 2 breaks records with only 57 bottles.
  • Beth Squires is a passionate whisk(e)y enthusiast, writer, and serves as the Deputy Editor at The Whiskey Wash. She is also a current mentee on the OurWhisky Foundation's Atonia Programme.
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Town Branch Releases Rare 16-Year Kentucky Single Malt
Credit: Town Branch Distillery

Town Branch Distillery has unveiled a rare 16-year-old Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Single Malt Whiskey as the second installment of its Archive Series, priced at $399.99 for a 750ml bottle. The 100-proof, non-chill filtered single barrel expression represents the oldest Bottled-in-Bond American Single Malt Whiskey ever released, with only 57 bottles available.

The Lexington, Kentucky-based distillery launched its Archive Series in 2024 to showcase rare American Single Malts.

“It is an honor and a privilege for our distillery to release a whiskey like this to the world—one that showcases the breadth of whiskey production in Kentucky beyond just bourbon,” said Robert Krass, Managing Director at Town Branch Distillery. “Our entire team is proud to continue making history, one whiskey at a time.”

The whiskey was distilled from a 100% malted barley mash on July 15, 2009, and aged for 16 years in former Kentucky bourbon barrels.

Official tasting notes from the brand describe a light gold spirit with aromas of marzipan, cinnamon, oatmeal, dried fruit, and honey. The palate reveals baking spice, buttercream, coconut, and black cherry, finishing with sweet oak, orange peel, and vanilla.

Town Branch stands as the first new distillery built in Lexington since Prohibition and the first to distill single malt whiskey in Kentucky in over a century.

The distillery uses Forsyths dual copper pot stills imported from Scotland for its single malt production.

Archive Series Volume 1, released in 2024, featured a 15-year-old expression with only 108 bottles produced.

Each Archive Series bottling includes a collector’s coin and display box.

The American Single Malt category continues to gain momentum as distillers explore regional variations in production methods and aging techniques.

Town Branch is the seventh member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and operates as part of Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.

The company produces several spirits, including Town Branch Bourbon, Town Branch Rye, and Bluegrass Sundown bourbon-infused coffee liqueur.

Beth Squires

Beth Squires joined Mark Littler Ltd full-time in October 2020 after completing her university degree in English Literature. Since then, she has acquired extensive knowledge about all aspects of whisk(e)y and now holds the position of Deputy Editor at The Whiskey Wash. Beth is passionate about history, industry innovation, marketing, and sustainability. With a special fondness for independently bottled rare scotch, Beth also serves as a whisky bottle investment specialist. Additionally, she is a mentee currently enrolled in the OurWhisky Foundation's Atonia Programme.

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