Kentucky Owl Batch 13 Bourbon Review

Kentucky Owl has released Batch #13, marking the end of an era as the limited-edition bourbon represents the final blend created by retiring Master Blender John Rhea. The whiskey showcases Rhea’s nearly five decades of industry expertise in what the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame inductee describes as his “tribute to the craftsmanship of blending.”

Rhea constructed Batch #13 by combining five different bourbons, with eight-year-old and nine-year-old barrels forming the foundation of the 56.8% ABV spirit. The blend strategically pairs mature, higher-rye bourbons that contribute richness and depth with younger wheated whiskeys that add brightness and freshness to the final product.
“During my tenure at Kentucky Owl, I’ve had the honor of sampling some of the world’s finest bourbon barrels,” said Rhea. “This juxtaposition of mature higher rye bourbons balanced with lighter wheated barrels results in a very special flavor profile that highlights each barrel’s finest notes.”

The distillery, owned by Stoli Group, continues its tradition of creating uniquely different batch releases without specific blending parameters. This approach allows each expression to stand as an individual testament to the art and science of bourbon blending.