Multi-platinum-selling band Kings of Leon, working in partnership with Kentucky’s Willett distillery, recently debuted a whiskey collection of three limited edition bottlings.
The Kiamichi Whiskey bottlings, according to those behind them, was “born from each family’s mutual respect for their craft.” Jared Followill, bassist for Kings of Leon, said of this in a prepared statement that “I’ve been a big and long-time fan of Drew & Britt [Kulsveen, 2nd generation distillers and sibling owner/operators of Willett]. Meeting Drew and discovering their whiskeys was when I started to understand the huge difference between what’s good and what’s great. I would bring different bottles of Willett with me to parties and back to reunions and feel like I was bringing something really special.
“When we started to talk about doing our own brand, they were my first and only call. If they would have said no, we probably wouldn’t have done it.”
The Kiamichi Whiskey Collection includes:
- A 5 Year Rye that is a 12-barrel blend of both Willett rye mash bills aged in Char 5, 24-month cured oak from Hoffmeister Cooperage
- An 8 Year Rye that is a 6-barrel blend of Willett’s low rye mash bill aged in Char 4, 9-month cured oak from ISC
- A 19-Year Bourbon that is a single barrel proprietary Mash Bill bottled at Cask Strength. This extremely rare and high-end release celebrates the anniversary of Kings of Leon’s debut album, Youth and Young Manhood, which debuted 19 years ago.
For those that live where Willett is normally sold, bottles of all three expressions should likely be available. U.S.-based fans in select states can order exclusively at KiamichiWhiskey.com, though stock is very limited at this point.