UK releasing a first: Wildcask Bourbon blended by university distilling students
University of Kentucky distilling students are releasing their first bourbon and it’s all legal.
The students of the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits, the world’s largest teaching distillery, will release Kentucky Wildcask Bourbon in April.
The 2025 limited release will be bottled at 100 proof, with about 2,500 bottles available, at $54.99 per 750ml bottle, according to the university.
Wildcask Bourbon is a blend of three Kentucky Straight Bourbons provided to the students who are involved in a class focusing on the commercialization of spirits, taught by industry veteran and honorary professor Herb Heneman.
The historic bottles are expected to raise more than $100,000 that will fund scholarships, research and programming for the institute.
“JBBI does a terrific job teaching students the craft behind making bourbon, but learning how to make money from it was a critical piece of the equation that was missing.” Heneman said. “The Commercialization of Distilled Spirits class was designed to fill this gap. And what better way to learn than by doing?”
But the students didn’t actually distill this particular whiskey. It’s a blend of three barrel lots donated to institute. One, an 8-year-old 13% rye bourbon, was contributed by Freddie Noe, eighth generation Beam master distiller and master distiller at Fred B. Noe Distillery.
Heneman also donated from his private stock of Bardstown Bourbon Company barrels a 5-year-old 20% wheat bourbon and a 4.5-year-old 39% wheat bourbon.
The resulting blended bourbon is deep amber, with a nose of toffee, cinnamon and allspice, with floral and vegetal notes like green pepper, dill and honeysuckle, according to the tasting notes. On the palate, it’s soft and intricate with hints of citrus and fresh herbs, and a finish of tobacco, nutmeg and dark fruits.
Wildcask Bourbon will be available for on-site sales at the University of Kentucky through the James B. Beam Institute and at a limited number of Kentucky-based retailers starting in April.
