bourbon history
April 10, 2025
Ever wonder how the whiskey gets made? Join us on an exclusive, behind-the-scenes journey that takes guests through the rich art of the barrel-making and distilling process. This immersive experience features tours at Lux Row Distillers, our sister distillery Limestone Branch, and the Kentucky Cooperage.
(more…)April 3, 2025
After a decade of one-of-a-kind releases, bourbon lovers line up by the hundreds every spring, looking to get their hands on the latest pact of Blood Oath—a mysterious and masterfully made bourbon, years in the making.
(more…)March 18, 2025
What happens when Kentucky bourbon takes a trip to Southern Europe? Lux Row Small Batch Albariño Cask Finish. A bourbon unlike anything else in your collection.
(more…)February 24, 2025
With so many ways to bottle bourbon, it’s easy to forget what’s what. If you’ve found yourself standing in the aisle, wondering if that higher-priced bourbon is really worth it, we’re here to explain the differences between small batch, single barrel and standard bourbons.
(more…)July 17, 2018
Say the word “Kentucky” and the next word automatically falls into place: bourbon. It’s just one of those natural pairings.
Nearly all bourbon is made there: 95 percent, according to the Kentucky Distillers Association. The connection between the state and the spirit is undeniable.
What is it about the Bluegrass State that makes it the bourbon capital of the world? There are five reasons:
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October 15, 2018
Think you know everything there is to know about bourbon? We bet you’ll learn at least one new fact from reading this list.
If nothing on here surprises you, then kudos! You’ve earned a drink. (more…)
February 1, 2019
When you’re in the bourbon section of your local liquor store, you can’t go wrong with any of our fine Lux Row offerings. But even then, you have some choices to make. If you’d like to be a more confident shopper — or you just want to impress people at dinner parties — read on to learn how to interpret that sometimes-mysterious bourbon label. (more…)
March 28, 2019
Making great bourbon involves many ingredients, each essential in its own right, whether it’s the corn and grains or the cool, clear Kentucky water. But one of the most crucial elements in shaping bourbon into the drink we love: the charred American oak barrels in which it’s aged.
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March 28, 2019
By regulation, all bourbon must be aged in new charred oak barrels. Why? Because unlike other whiskies, no additives (other than water) are allowed in bourbon. No added color. No added flavors. So, other than the distillate itself, bourbon picks up a lot of its character from the barrels. And the character of the barrels depends in large part on the level of char.
To learn more about the process, we chatted with Jeff LaHue, head of strategic partnerships at Independent Stave Company (ISC), which supplies and chars barrels for Lux Row Distillers.
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September 23, 2019
Ah, whiskey. The deceptively simple, amber-colored elixir has served as the inspiration for song, film, study, and reflection. Scholars have spent centuries contemplating how it’s made, how it has evolved, and the role it has played in history and civilization.
In fact, entire museums dedicated to whiskey have sprung up around the world. Here’s our guide to three American favorites.
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November 5, 2019
December 16, 2019
Bourbon isn’t bourbon until it’s been aged in barrels, both by tradition and by law. It needs a protected, waterproof vessel to come into its own, and wooden barrels are just the ticket.
Barrel-making is an ancient process — but there’s room for innovation, says Jeff LaHue, head of strategic partnerships at Independent Stave Company (ISC), the largest maker of whiskey barrels in the world. ISC also supplies barrels to Lux Row Distillery.
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