Distiller’s Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Rye Whiskey and Bare Knuckle High Rye Bourbon join award winning craft spirits portfolio.
September 1, 2021 (Manassas, VA) – Building on the success of its first Bottled-in-Bond release and the popularity of American rye whiskey, KO Distilling today announced the release of two new additions to its award-winning portfolio of American Whiskeys: Distiller’s Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Rye Whiskey and Bare Knuckle High Rye Bourbon.
As recently reported by Shanken News Daily, American rye whiskey has recently been among the hottest areas of the drinks market, fueling growth to nearly 1.26 million 9-liter cases in annual depletions last year—nearly doubling its total since 2015.
Distiller’s Reserve Straight Bottled-in-Bond Rye Whiskey is hand-crafted from 100 percent local Virginia rye, distilled in one season and aged for four years in charred new American Oak barrels. The result is KO Distilling’s second Bottled-in-Bond expression, a sequel to KO’s Distiller’s Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, released in 2020, which was awarded a Double Gold Medal by the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Bare Knuckle High Rye Bourbon is made from 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Wheat and was sourced from Indiana six years ago, when KO Distilling was founded. At that time, it was put into charred new American Oak barrels and has been aging in KO’s Manassas, Virginia, warehouse. In keeping with the Bare Knuckle brand, which honors historic fighting figures, this six year old Bare Knuckle High Rye Bourbon features International Boxing Hall of Famer Joe “Old Master” Gans – the first 20th century African-American World Boxing Champion and the World Lightweight Champion from 1902–1908. It will be offered in both single barrel and cask strengths.
“At KO Distilling, we take great pride in crafting spirits that reflect the perseverance that makes this country great,” said Co-Founder and CEO Bill Karlson. “Every bottle is a result of our careful approach to distilling, which combines state-of-the-art equipment with the skills of our production team to produce the best of American spirits. We’re thrilled to raise a glass and welcome these two new additions to our portfolio.”
KO Distiller’s Reserve Rye Whiskey and Bare Knuckle High Rye expressions will be initially available in Virginia, DC, Maryland and Delaware in early September. They will also be available online for shipments, where legal.
Facts
KO Distiller’s Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey
- 4 years old; 50% ABV
- Distilled by KO Distilling in one distilling season
- Hand-crafted from 100% Virginia Rye
- Certified Kosher, Craft Distilled, and Virginia’s Finest
- SRP: $74.99 (750mL)
Bare Knuckle High Rye Bourbon
- 6 years old
- 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
- Distilled in Indiana, aged in Virginia
- Single Barrel (45% ABV) SRP: $59.99 (750mL)
- Cask Strength (~63% ABV) SRP: $72.99 (750mL)
These new releases join an ever-expanding portfolio which today includes three American-style gins and eleven small batch American whiskeys.
About KO Distilling
Founded by long-time friends and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy classmates Bill Karlson, “K,” and John O’Mara, “O,” KO Distilling is a craft producer of clear unaged spirits, including three gins and a white whiskey, and aged small-batch whiskeys. Produced in Manassas, Virginia, at a state-of-the-art distillery, KO spirits are currently available online, at retail outlets in Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland and Delaware, as well as at package stores for the U.S. Coast Guard. For more information about the craft distillery, visit www.kodistilling.com.
Media Contact:
Laura Peet, PeetCom Inc.
917-860-6285
lpeet@peetcom.com
Samples and hi-res images are available upon request