Aged: A minimum of three years
Product Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash Bill: 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley
Proof & Filtration: Variable Proof, unfiltered
Crafted in Memphis
Tasting Notes: Nose: Sweet corn, allspice, and oak. Body: Viscous Taste: Vanilla, allspice, apricot, and pear Finish: Allspice fades into lingering notes of oak, pear, and vanilla
In June of 2019, the rickhouse that stored much of Blue Note’s inventory collapsed in a terrible summer storm, spilling thousands of barrels and millions of dollars into the muck and mud. Most of the barrels were destroyed by the incredible force of nearly 10 million pounds crumbling six stories to the ground.
We thought all was lost, but a special few somehow survived the disaster. Surviving the collapse, however, turned out to be only the beginning of the barrels’ journey.
For the next four months, the barrels were left exposed to the elements before the wreckage could be properly assessed and cleaned up. In these ensuing months, the sweltering summer heat bore down upon the barrels day after day, darkening the outside and forcing the bourbon inside incredibly deep into the oak. Several thunderstorms passed through as well, pummeling the barrels for days, causing their bands to later rust and break. As summer faded into fall, the nights grew colder, forcing the whiskey back out of the now worn oak. After the wreckage was cleaned up and every barrel was assessed, the company found that indeed some had survived.
Like these barrels, we have all faced incredible hardships across the course of the pandemic as the safety, stability, and comfort of the shelter we took for granted collapsed all around us. In an effort to celebrate life and perseverance, we have curated from our special lot of survivor barrels a select few barrels to release to the market under our new Blue Note Bourbon Uncut label. Going forward, not every barrel of Blue Note Bourbon Uncut will be a survivor barrel. Therefore, if you want to taste a truly rare bourbon with an even rarer story, we encourage you to try a bottle of this year’s 2021 survivor barrel release.