Kentucky Owl Takumi Edition: Japanese Blending Applied to Kentucky Bourbon

Kentucky Owl Takumi Edition is a one time collaboration between Yahisa Yusuke, master blender at Nagahama Distillery in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, and John Rhea, Kentucky Owl's master blender. Takumi means artisan.

The process is the interesting part. Rhea built four distinct formulations at different ages and mash bills and shipped the samples to Japan. Yahisa evaluated them and returned blends built the way Japanese whisky is built, where every component is treated as an ingredient serving one cohesive finished whiskey rather than a single barrel profile turned up loud. What came back is a blend of 4, 5, 6 and 13 year old Kentucky straight bourbons bottled at 100 proof.

The result is unusually balanced for an American release. Reviewers have noted it is more cohesive than most bourbon on the shelf, which is exactly what Japanese blending is for, and it is also why this bottle reads as quiet next to a cask strength single barrel. That is the point, not a flaw.

Kentucky Owl is The Wise Man's Bourbon, a revived pre Prohibition brand built entirely on sourced and blended barrels. Takumi was produced once, in small quantity, and has not been repeated.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Savory and sweet together. Rye bread and caramel over candied orange, cherry and polished oak.
• Palate: Silky and layered. Buttered rye bread, caramel and cinnamon balanced against orchard fruit and cocoa.
• Finish: Long and flavor packed, closing on sweet spice, dried fruit and dry oak.

How to Enjoy

• Neat: a blend this deliberate should not be diluted.
• Small pour, long sit: it opens noticeably after ten minutes.
• Side by side: pour it next to a single barrel to hear what blending actually does.
• Gift idea: for the bourbon drinker who also collects Japanese whisky. This is the bottle that sits between the two shelves.

Product Details

• Brand: Kentucky Owl, The Wise Man's Bourbon
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, limited release
• Blend: 4, 5, 6 and 13 year old bourbons, no age statement on label
• Proof: 100 proof (50% ABV)
• Blenders: Yahisa Yusuke (Nagahama Distillery, Japan) and John Rhea (Kentucky Owl)
• Released: September 2022, one time release
• Bottled by: Kentucky Owl, LLC, Lacassine, Louisiana
• Bottle Size: 750mL
• Shipping weight: 5 lb

Note: Product images are for illustrative purposes only. Actual label, packaging, or vintage may vary.

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Adult signature required upon delivery. Available where permitted by law. Please drink responsibly.

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