Lexington, Kentucky-based Town Branch Distillery, the heart of Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.—the only brewery and distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail—is proud to announce significant improvements in its blending process for several key whiskeys. The distillery has overhauled barrel selection methods, proofing techniques, and, most notably, increased the average age of the whiskeys within its updated blending strategy.
Town Branch®️ Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 90 Proof
Under the leadership of Mark Lyons, a seventh-generation member of the Lyons family with deep roots in brewing, distilling, and cooperage, Town Branch has been refining its long-term vision. A major shift recently occurred with the re-envisioning of the flagship spirit: Town Branch Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 90 Proof.
In late 2024, Town Branch tasted several new potential blends for its flagship bourbon. The result: a unanimous decision to adjust to a new blend that is aged 2 years longer on average, thanks to an increase in its available mature inventory. This adjustment not only enhanced the whiskey’s age but also expanded the variety of barrels used. The distillery currently has four mature bourbon mash bills available for blending, two of which are its primary for blending, both with the same grain build but different distillation methods: double pot-still (creating deep flavors of stone fruit, orchard fruit and biscuit) and column-still (producing honey, cinnamon, and nut flavors). Along with these components, a longer proofing process was implemented to allow the whiskey to decant properly, developing additional flavor. The goal is to craft a blend driven by knowledge and experience, not necessity.
“We want to amplify and enhance the distinctive flavors and tasting notes of our blended Bourbon,” says Dave Bob Gaspar, national brand manager and lead blender. “Between 6-7 years of age, Town Branch Bourbons are at their peak, which gives us a more robust base for our blends.” The core blending range is between 5 and 8 years, and per current U.S. label laws, there is nothing under 4 years old in this NAS (No Age Statement) whiskey with all the barrels being selected for blending older than this.
The Art of Allocation to Improve The Art of Blending
Town Branch Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 90 Proof is not the only brand to benefit from the recent blending upgrades. Two other original core offerings—Town Branch Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey – 100 Proof and Town Branch 7-Year Kentucky Single Malt Whiskey – 87 Proof—were intentionally slowed in 2024 with a soft allocation process to the market. Starting in 2025, these whiskeys will follow a blend-to-order annual allocation model.
These updated blending strategies focus on increasing the average age of the whiskey and delivering exceptional value to consumers. “We produce only what our network demands each year, and by knowing their needs in advance, we can craft a blend for these types of products that represents the best whiskey possible at that time—rather than a standardized product year after year,” says Robert Krass, Managing Director at Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.
Town Branch Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey is designed to balance the liveliness of younger rye with the depth of older, more mature rye. Town Branch 7-Year Kentucky Single Malt Whiskey explores the potential of American Single Malt Whiskey, offering consumers the assurance of an age statement comparable to globally recognized Single Malts.
Both allocated whiskeys will be available for release later in the year, following the new blend of Town Branch Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 90 Proof, which is now available on shelves nationwide.
Brand Highlights:
Town Branch®️ Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 90 Proof (SRP $39.99/750ml)
- Crafted for those who appreciate diverse whiskey styles from around the world, this bourbon elegantly balances the flavors imparted by each barrel by an enhanced focus on blending, resulting in its signature 90 proof, non-chill filtered bottling. Recognized for exceptional quality, Town Branch has received numerous accolades and has been featured in Liquor.com’s list of the 12 Best Kentucky Bourbons to Drink.
- Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon
- Mash Bill: 72% Corn / 15% Rye / 13% Malted Barley
- Age: Blended; 5-years to 8-years age range
- ABV: 45% / 90 Proof
- Estimated Availability: Nationwide Availability
Town Branch®️ Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey – 100 Proof (SRP $49.99/750ml)
- This 100-proof small batch rye whiskey offers youthful spicy aromas and flavors balanced by rich and mature notes of vanilla, oak and tropical fruits. Previously recognized by Forbes as one of the Best Rye Whiskeys, it continues to stand out for its exceptional character.
- Classification: Kentucky Straight Rye
- Mash Bill: 90% Rye / 5% Corn / 5% Malted Barley
- Age: Blended; 4-years to 9-years age range
- ABV: 50% / 100 Proof
- Estimated Availability: Annual Release in August; est. 1,000 cases annual
Town Branch®️ 7yr Kentucky Single Malt Whiskey – 87 Proof (SRP $49.99/750ml)
- Made from 100% malted barley and aged for a minimum of 7 years in Town Branch’s own used Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale barrels, Town Branch boasts the oldest Kentucky Single Malt stocks in the world. Bottled at 87 proof and non-chill filtered, it offers an exceptionally balanced profile that has garnered high praise receiving several medals and accolades including a Gold Medal and 93 points from the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI).
- Classification: American Single Malt / Kentucky Single Malt
- Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
- Age: Single Malt; 7-years to 10-years age range
- ABV: 43.5% / 87 Proof
- Estimated Availability: Annual Release in October; est. 1,000 cases annual