Barrel Global works with exceptional distilleries to bring you the opportunity to own your own whiskey cask. Whether it’s just one for a celebration or to create your own exclusive portfolio, our team can help you curate your collection.

In a new series of articles, we take a closer look at the distilleries we work with, from their location to acknowledging the awards they have received for their products.

In our fourth offering of this series, we bring you ‘Green River Distilling Company.’

With 5 expressions and 138 years of distilling history behindthem, the Green River team certainly has something to be proud of.

The distillery was founded by JW Mc Culloch in 1885, making it the10^th oldest distillery licensed in Kentucky. In 1901, the whiskey won several international awards, including Gold at the 1900 Paris Exposition. With what seems like a great marketing strategy, by 1907, it had become the most advertised whiskey in the world (GRD website).

Like many who use whiskey to ward off a cold, Green River became the official whiskey of the US Marine Hospital for 18 years! This is because it was deemed to be a very high-quality dram. This belief in the high quality earned Green River the reputation of being "The Whiskey Without a Headache."

In 1917, this premium-quality whiskey was so popular that 20barrels were once traded for interest in a Colorado gold mine. This panned out, thus giving Green River the title "most expensive spirit or whiskey ever sold"(greenriverwhiskey.com). Sadly, this incredible moment was left in the ashes of history, along with the ashes of the distillery, after a mysterious fire took hold, burning the distillery to the ground and taking40,000 barrels of whiskey with it.

After prohibition, the distillery was rebuilt, and the brand was sold to another interested company. As well as that change, it was no longer acceptable to make medical claims about alcohol, so Green River became "The Whiskey Without Regrets." In 1955, Green River Bourbon stopped distribution, and between 1956 and 1993, even though the distillery changed hands numerous times, it was abandoned.

Fast-forward to 2014 and the distillery has been rebuilt. Whiskey is being produced in the same place where it started all those years ago. The distillery is currently distributing to 25 states across the U.S. and includes wheated bourbon, rye, and single-barrel in its catalog of products.

Site and location:

Our fourth distillery is number 18 on the Kentucky Bourbon (Map | Kentucky Bourbon Trail). Based in Owensboro, Kentucky, it sits approximately a 2-hour drive SW from the center of Louisville and 45 minutes SE from Evansville, Indiana. The distillery offers tours and tastings, where you can learn about the spirits produced and the history of Green River. The distillery offers several tours/tastings suiting all budgets, from cocktail classes to joining the head distiller for a behind-the-scenes tour.

The Range:

Kentucky Straight Bourbon: 45% ABV, mashbill: 70% Corn, 21% winter rye, 9% malted barley.

Kentucky Wheated Bourbon: 45% ABV, mashbill: 70% Corn, 21% wheat, 9% malted barley.

Single Barrel Cask strength. ABV will differ between releases. Mashbill: 70% corn, 21%rye, 9% malted barley. Each release will be aged a minimum of 5 years.

Kentucky Straight Rye: 47.5% ABV. Mashbill 95%, Rye 5% malted barley

Full Proof Bourbon: 58.65% ABV. Mashbill 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% malted barley.

The Tech-y bit:

Annual output: approx. 90,000 barrels

Still: 54in 41ft tall Vendome copper column still

Fermentation: 27 fermenters with 16000 gallons capacity. 3-day fermentation time to reach 8%abvfor distillation.

Storage: Five clay tile and one wooden rickhouse are on site, 19 metal warehouses are in Beaver Dam, and two traditional rick houses with a 58, 000-barrel capacity are in Hartford, KY.

Bottling takes place at Bardstown Distillery.

The distillery, like Bardstown, operates as a contract distillery that produces spirits for other companies.

Barrel Global is delighted to be working with a distillery with such a long and expansive history. If this distillery appeals to you, contact our team to discuss securing a cask of your own.

We are on a mission to make whiskey barrel ownership accessible to collectors worldwide. As the first-ever global marketplace for whiskey barrels, you can connect with distilleries and collectors worldwide to build your own portfolio. For a whiskey experience unlike any other, request access today, barrelglobal.

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