The hosts open Kentucky Boy, a Brown-Forman release from the Kentucky Bourbon Festival honoring master distiller emeritus Chris Morris. They taste it, debate blending, and talk about what sells in the bourbon market. Rich brought the bottle. Kentucky Boy Bourbon Video
Bourbon Brass and Beyond, Episode 102: Kentucky Boy Tribute to Chris Morris
The hosts open Kentucky Boy, a Brown-Forman release from the Kentucky Bourbon Festival honoring master distiller emeritus Chris Morris. They taste it, debate blending, and talk about what sells in the bourbon market. Rich brought the bottle. Please sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight! Kentucky Boy Bourbon Video
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In this episode
* The release: Kentucky Boy straight bourbon, 100 proof, distributed by Brown-Forman in Louisville. The hosts say it blends higher-aged barrels from Old Forester, Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniel's. Per the label, it marks Morris's 50-year legacy, which began in 1976, and revives a classic Brown-Forman trademark. The MSRP is $99.
* Tasting notes: Butterscotch, good legs, a great nose, and some grape. One host also tastes a 1910-style char and a Woodford Reserve note on the palate. Another compares it to a blend of Old Forester 1910 and the double oaked, and also notes some "old funk."
* No age statement: The hosts wish there were one. They note the multi-brand mix makes it hard to read, and say Barrel Town-style transparency about the components would help. One host says he heard on a podcast that the Old Forester barrels were President's Choice barrels.
* Why don't big distillers blend more? The hosts say big producers bring trusted profiles, while blending is more of a gimmick for small brands. They wonder whether blending across brands dilutes the individual brands.
* Pricing and repeat releases: They like a unique, accessible bottle at $99 rather than $500, and would chase a yearly or every-five-years Kentucky Boy as long as it doesn't become overpriced.
* Market talk: They discuss whether Beam white label is selling poorly versus special releases. Others counter that bottom-shelf bourbon still sells to party and bar buyers. Rowan's Creek under $50 gets a recommendation.
* Festival takeaways: This was the bottle that went crazy at KBF. Reports they cite say smaller producers, NDPs and lower-priced bottles shone this year over highly allocated ones. Their view is that a gimmick sells a bottle but flavor gives it legs.
* Side notes: One host recounts trading two single reds for all seven Benchmark bottles and suggests a future Benchmark episode, including a comparison with E.H. Taylor Single Barrel.
Timestamps
00:01 - Introducing Kentucky Boy and the Chris Morris tribute
00:29 - Which barrels went into the blend
01:29 - Ric reads the label and Morris's career highlights
03:23 - First sip: butterscotch and banana pairing
03:49 - Wishing for an age statement and blend transparency
04:19 - President's Choice barrels and the nose
05:23 - Palate: 1910 char meets Woodford Reserve
06:09 - Why big distillers should blend more often
07:28 - Is it a Brown-Forman brand or a standalone?
07:59 - $99 MSRP and accessible allocated bottles
08:58 - Do white labels or special releases sell?
09:57 - Rowan's Creek and the Benchmark trade
11:26 - Surprising profile and chasing a repeat release
11:55 - KBF takeaways: gimmick versus flavor
12:44 - Final verdict and sign-off
Notable quote
"It sells on the gimmick. It gets legs on the actual flavor."
Bourbon, Brass & Beyond - https://www.bourbonpod.com