The University of Kentucky‘s James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits (JBBI) will release its first student-created bourbon in April 2025, marking a significant milestone for the world’s largest teaching distillery.
Kentucky Wildcask Bourbon represents the first commercial product from the institute and was created as a class project in the newly established Commercialization of Distilled Spirits course. The program is led by honorary professor and industry veteran Herb Heneman.
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“JBBI does a terrific job teaching students the craft behind making bourbon, but learning how to make money from it was a critical piece of the equation that was missing,” Heneman said. “The Commercialization of Distilled Spirits class was designed to fill this gap. And what better way to learn than by doing?”
Student-Driven Brand Development
Students participating in the course tackled every aspect of launching a bourbon brand, from concept development and label design to marketing and distribution planning. The hands-on experience connects classroom learning with real-world applications.
“It has been incredibly rewarding to be a part of the inaugural course and creating our own bourbon. It will be satisfying to actually bring our Kentucky Wildcask Bourbon to shelves,” said student Paulatai Sevelo. “Definitely the coolest class project I’ve ever been a part of.”
Proceeds from bourbon sales will directly benefit JBBI students by funding scholarships, research, and programming for the Institute. The bourbon is projected to raise more than $100,000.
Premium Blend with Industry Support
Kentucky Wildcask is a blend of three Kentucky Straight Bourbons, containing an 8-year-old 13% rye bourbon contributed by Freddie Noe, 8th generation Beam Master Distiller, comprising 35% of the blend.
The remaining components include a 5-year-old 20% wheat bourbon (35%) and a 4.5-year-old 39% wheat bourbon (30%) donated by Heneman from his private Bardstown Bourbon Company stock.
The 2025 release will be bottled at 100 proof with approximately 2,500 bottles available at $54.99 per 750ml bottle.
Seth DeBolt, director of JBBI and professor of Horticulture at the University of Kentucky, praised Heneman’s initiative: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, and the step that honorary Professor Heneman took is going to change lives and broaden the reach of the James B. Beam Institute for years to come.”
The bourbon features toffee, cinnamon, and allspice aromas with floral and vegetal notes. On the palate, it offers citrus and fresh herbs, finishing with tobacco, nutmeg, and dark fruit notes.
Kentucky Wildcask Bourbon will be available for on-site sales at the University of Kentucky through the JBBI, with a pre-sale at the JBBI 2025 Industry Conference March 17-19. A launch event on campus will follow, with bottles also available at select Kentucky retailers starting in April.
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Learning at the James B. Beam Institute
The James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits at the University of Kentucky provides hands-on education and research opportunities for students pursuing careers in the spirits industry.
The institute offers an undergraduate certificate in Distillation, Wine, and Brewing Studies, as well as coursework in engineering, chemistry, business, law, and agriculture, equipping students with a well-rounded understanding of the industry.
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