KO Distilling Distiller’s Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Rye Whiskey - Selected by Seelbach's

Mash Bill: 100 Rye grown in Virginia

Age: 4-Years

Source: KO Distilling

Proof: 100 proof

Bottle Count: 240

Tasting Notes: Honey, orange blossom and lemon merengue. This is a floral and fruity rye. There are notes of orange creamsicle and nutmeg. It's a long subtle finish.

Very rarely am I blown away by a new spirit. This rye showed me something I've never had in a rye whiskey before. It was delicate with floral and fruity notes. There was very little spice. Overall, it was an easy sipper backed by a ton of nuanced flavor.

Story: Lifelong friends Bill Karlson and John O’Mara are the K & O in KO Distilling.  They met as classmates and cadet midshipmen at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) and have been friends ever since.  After graduation, Bill and John went their separate ways but followed similar paths.  Both initially sailed in the merchant marine and served in the United States Navy Reserve.  Later, both had successful careers in the defense contracting industry.

Upon retiring early, the question became, “what next?”  Neither one satisfied with sitting idle, in 2013 Bill and John set off to create craft spirits with local ingredients, high-quality production methods, and a passion that they were excited to share with their local community. 

Since breaking ground in 2015, Bill and John have turned KO Distilling into a state-of-the-art production facility and local attraction in Manassas, VA.  After their initial offering of unaged craft whiskey and gins in 2015, Bill and John realized their goal of producing their first aged spirit, Bare Knuckle American Wheat Whiskey, in November 2016.