Kentucky’s Town Branch Distillery has released its second annual Imperium bourbon, a limited edition expression blending wheated and traditional bourbon stocks at 105 proof. The $119.99 bottle arrives as September’s Bourbon Heritage Month concludes.
Town Branch Imperium MMXXV Features Rare Barrel Selection
The 2025 edition represents months of careful curation by the Lexington-based distillery. Head Blender Dave Bob Gaspar and his team evaluated thousands of barrels before selecting just six for the final blend.
“This year we again set aside our favorite and most unique bourbon stocks, tasting them as many times as needed to ensure each barrel still deserves a place in the Imperium stockpile before blending,” Gaspar said. “After almost a year of tasting thousands of barrels and collecting the rarest ones, we narrowed it down to only 6 barrels for this very special, small batch bourbon.”
The blend comprises equal parts wheated bourbon and traditional bourbon recipes. Three barrels of wheated bourbon containing 70% corn, 22% wheat, and 8% malted barley form half the blend. The remaining portion comes from three barrels of the distillery’s standard bourbon mash bill of 72% corn, 15% rye, and 13% malted barley.
Barrels range from 5.5 to over 8 years old, with the oldest dating to February 2017. The distillery uses both pot still and column still production methods across its bourbon portfolio.
Imperium MMXXV Offers Premium Profile at Competitive Price
At $119.99, Imperium MMXXV enters a crowded premium bourbon market where limited releases routinely exceed $150. The 105-proof bottling is non-chill filtered to preserve flavor compounds often removed in standard production.
Official tasting notes describe a mahogany-colored whiskey with aromas of mature oak, honey, spice, licorice, cherry, and ripe plums. The palate reportedly delivers clove, cinnamon, baking spice, leather, oak, dark cherries, vanilla, and rich caramel, finishing with lingering dry oak, spice, and honey.
Production totals just 219 cases for national distribution. Town Branch, established as the seventh member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, operates as part of Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.
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The Roman numeral naming convention continues from last year’s inaugural Imperium release, with MMXXV marking 2025. Each annual edition will feature different proof points and barrel selections, creating a collectible series for bourbon enthusiasts.
