Happy National Bourbon Day!

By Richard Hawley, 14th June 2025 | News

National Bourbon Day is an annual celebration, on the 14th June, of America’s Native Spirit. The date was chosen to honour the day when Reverend Elijah Craig is said to have first produced bourbon in 1789.

Very much like Scotch whisky, having its own classifications in order to be named as Scotch, for a whiskey to branded as bourbon it must; be produced in the US, contain at least 51% corn in its grain mix, be bottled at a minimum 40% ABV (80 Proof) and aged in new charred oak barrels made from American White Oak. ‘Straight bourbon’ must be aged for a minimum of two years, though they are often matured for much longer time periods.

Bourbon obtains its colour from the length of time the liquid spends in the barrel, with the charred wood providing caramelised sugars that add deep flavours and character to the whiskey. Scotch whisky also has a lot to thank the bourbon industry for, with many ex-bourbon barrels being used to mature the water of life!

Whilst most bourbon is distilled Kentucky (95% of the world’s supply), it can be produced anywhere in the US and still be defined as bourbon, as long as it sticks to the fundamental rules outlined above. It is believed that its popularity soared in the 1990s due to the boom in single barrel and small batch releases.

There are so many great bourbons to try, such as A.H. Hirsch, Evan Williams, Maker’s Mark, Elijah Craig, Willett,Woodford Reserve, 1792, Booker’s, Four Roses, Parker’s, Noah’s Mill, Michter’s, Blanton’s and Colonel EH Taylor. Then you have the brands from the legendary BTAC (Buffalo Trace Antique Collection) annual range that includes Stagg, W.L. Weller and Eagle Rare. The cherry on top of this already delicious cake would then include the exclusive and hard to obtain Old Rip Van Winkle range, consisting of Old Rip Van Winkle 10yo, Van Winkle 12yo Special Reserve and the Family Reserve trio of 15yo, 20yo and an extremely rare 23yo. We’ve listed a few of our favourite rarities from this list below: -

A.H. Hirsch 1974 20yo, Red Wax

This spectacular 20 year old straight Bourbon was distilled in Spring 1974 at the Pennco Distillery (Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania). Not long after this stunning liquid was laid to rest the distillery was purchased in foreclosure and renamed as Michter's.

Adolf Hirsch had commissioned the whiskey to be distilled, which then aged until 1989 when the distillery was once again in foreclosure. Hirsch then sold the whiskey to the Hue Family (Kentucky) in 1990. Although most of the stock was transferred into stainless steel tanks, which halted the age at 16 years, some was further matured in barrels and bottled at 18, 19, and 20 years. This 20 year old 'red wax' release was bottled between late 1994 and early 1995.

Filled from new charred American oak barrel at 91.6 Proof (45.8%), this limited release A. H. Hirsch Finest Reserve is a Unicorn of the Bourbon world and is still classed by many as one of the greatest Bourbon whiskies of all time.

The Michter's distillery (originally named Shenk's and later Bomberger's) was built in 1840 in Pennsylvania and may have been, at the time of its closure in 1989, the oldest distillery in the USA - it is now officially listed as a National Historic Landmark.

The Whisky Vault Price: 7,083 GBP (Ex-VAT). Buy Here.

Booker’s 10yo, 25th Anniversary Bottling

This excellent 10 year old Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey was distilled at the Jim Beam distillery and bottled in 2014 to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Booker's brand, established in 1988 by Booker Noe.

Drawn from batch number 2014-01 at 65.4% ABV, this is one of just 1,200 bottles and comes with original solid wood presentation box in pristine condition.

Fredrick Booker Noe II was the grandson of Jim Beam and worked as Master Distiller for the company from 1965 to 1992, before serving as an ambassador for the brand until his death in 2004.

The Whisky Vault Price: 1,666 GBP (Ex-VAT). Buy Here.

Eagle Rare 17yo, BTAC 2002 Bottling

This extra special 17 year old Eagle Rare Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey was distilled at Buffalo Trace in Spring 1985 and bottled for the prestigious Buffalo Trace Antique Collection in Fall 2002.

Bottled from new American white oak at the series standard 45% ABV, this very rare Bourbon is always released in small quantities but is very highly sought after.

This inaugural Eagle Rare release into the BTAC series is one of an estimated 4,550 bottles released.

The Whisky Vault Price: 2,500 GBP (Ex-VAT). Buy Here.

Noah’s Mill 15yo, Small Batch

This superb 15 year old Noah's Mill straight Bourbon whiskey was bottled by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, the proprietors of the Willett distillery in the hills of Kentucky.

A very rare Small Batch release, this gem was hand-filled at 57.15% ABV (114.3 proof) from batch number J-9-88.

The Whisky Vault Price: 2,083 GBP (Ex-VAT). Buy Here.

Old Rip Van Winkle 1986 23yo, Family Selection 2009 Decanter

This outrageous 23 year old bourbon whiskey was distilled at the Old Rip Van Winkle distillery in 1986 and bottled in 2009 for the Family Selection in this special limited edition crystal decanter.

Bottled at 114 proof (57% ABV), this was the first time that the 23yo was offered at any other strength than the series standard 95.6 proof and is one of only 1200 sets released.

Each crystal decanter was individually hand engraved and numbered and comes supplied in a lovely solid wood, leather-lined presentation case containing two Glencairn glasses and a signed COA by company President, Julian P. Van Winkle III. A simply stunning offering that does not see the light of day often.

There have been four generations of Van Winkle's working for the company since Julian Van Winkle III was joined by his son Preston in 2001. The Van Winkles decided to move all distilling to the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky in 2002 - previously it was produced in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

The Whisky Vault Price: 33,333 GBP (Ex-VAT). Buy Here.

Parker’s Heritage Collection 1996 11yo

This incredibly rare 11 year old Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey was distilled at the Heaven Hill's distillery and bottled as the First Edition release for the Parker's Heritage Collection in 2007.

Drawn from new charred American white oak at a natural strength 61.3% ABV, this fantastic small batch Bourbon is highly sought after.

The Parker's Heritage Collection is a tribute to the 6th generation Master Distiller, Parker Beam, for his 45+ years of service to the distilling industry. Hand selected by Parker himself, the barrels for this first release had been ageing in oak barrels since 1996.

The Whisky Vault Price: 3,333 GBP (Ex-VAT). Buy Here.

Van Winkle 12yo, Special Reserve 2009 Bottling – Lot B

This quite fabulous 12 year old straight Kentucky Bourbon whiskey was produced at the Old Rip Van Winkle distillery and was bottled at 45.2% ABV for the Van Winkle Special Reserve series in 2009.

Drawn from charred American oak barrels, this limited edition Bourbon is released in very small batches annually and is described as a full-bodied, smooth and mature whiskey. First released in 1991, this series had just one release from Lot A before Lot B followed on.

The Whisky Vault Price: 1,875 GBP (Ex-VAT). Buy Here.

William Larue Weller, BTAC 2011 Bottling

This superb 11 year old W L Weller Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey was distilled at Buffalo Trace in Fall 1998 and bottled for the legendary Antique Collection in Fall 2011.

Drawn from charred American white oak at 66.75% ABV (133.5 proof), this extremely rare barrel proof Bourbon is released in ultra small quantities and is very highly sought after - it is often considered to be amongst the best rated and in demand from the collection. This is one of an estimated 5,152 bottles.

William Larue Weller was re-introduced to the Buffalo Trace series in 2005 (it made a brief appearance as a 19 year old in the early 2000's), making this their 7th entry in the series - and a very rare entry at that!

The Whisky Vault Price: 3,750 GBP (Ex-VAT). Buy Here.

What better excuse to unleash your favourite bourbon and celebrate National Bourbon Day with friends, family or in the privacy of your own company. And, if you don’t like your bourbon neat, try some of these superb cocktails: -

Manhattan

50ml Bourbon

25ml Sweet Vermouth

2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice and mixing spoon

Serve, strained in a cocktail glass with a Maraschino Cherry Garnish

Old Fashioned

1 tsp Sugar mixed into 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters

50ml Bourbon

Stir these ingredients with ice

Strain over ice, short glass, with an Orange Twist Garnish

Whiskey Sour