Peerless Has Announced the Release of Their First Bourbon in Over a Century

Peerless Bourbon. Courtesy Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.

The countdown is on – Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. has announced the June release of their first Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey in over a century.

Peerless reopened its doors in 2014, reviving a brand last seen before Prohibition. They laid down their first barrels of bourbon over four years ago, and next month the bottles will finally be ready to hit shelves.

Master Distiller Caleb Kilburn used a sweet mash process and non-chill filtration to craft this landmark release for the brand. Most bourbon on the market today is “sour mash” – cooked with a bit of already fermented grains (and the consistent yeast and bacteria included) from a previous distillation cycle. In contrast, “sweet mash” bourbon uses a freshly cultured batch of yeast each time.

The new release is bottled at a barrel proof 108.9. If that seems low to you, you’re not wrong. It’s a factor of both a low distillation proof and a low barrel entry proof, another way Kilburn sets his whiskey apart.

“The launch of our bourbon marks the realization of so many dreams from the team at Kentucky Peerless. The hard work, dedication, and patience has finally paid off and we are humbly excited to see our product join the ranks of the many great Kentucky Bourbons!” said Kilburn in a press release earlier today.

The limited first release will take place Saturday, June 22nd, at the Peerless distillery in Louisville, KY from 10 AM to 5 PM. The first 100 people in line will receive hand-numbered bottles 1-100. While no distillery tours will be offered that day, complimentary tastings of Peerless bourbon and rye will be offered every half hour from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Link here for more information.

Caroline Paulus
Caroline Paulus is the Senior Editor for The Bourbon Review. She lives and writes in Lexington, Kentucky. Follow her on Instagram @misswhiskeyhistorian to keep up with her latest in bourbon news - and a few old finds, too.