Damon Thayer, a state senator from Georgetown, and business partner Andre Regard, a Lexington attorney, have revived a historic whiskey brand they intend to showcase examples of fine Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey — as well as pay homage to past Kentucky lawmakers.
Each batch of Kentucky Senator Bourbon will carry the name of a past Kentucky senator. The brand originated with the now defunct Double Springs Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Thayer and Regard have revived the label and, using sourced whiskey distilled in Kentucky and bottled at Bluegrass Distillers in Lexington, will offer a series of limited-edition bottlings distributed through Kentucky Eagle Wine and Spirits.
The first Kentucky Senator release, aged for 15 years and bottled at cask strength with 1,320 available bottles, is named for Alben W. Barkley. Barkley was a United States Senator from McCracken County who also served as vice president under Harry S. Truman from 1949-1953. The suggested retail price is $200.
“While remaining true to the original intent of this vintage brand, we want to help Kentucky consumers feel a sense of pride for our local history and carry on the spirit of Alben W. Barkley to those who sample our product,” Regard said in a statement announcing the release.
Move over celebrities, politicians are entering the bourbon game.
Well, at least one is.
Longtime Kentucky State Senator Damon Thayer (Republican) has resurrected the brand “Kentucky Senator” that was once owned by Crigler & Crigler, the pre-Prohibition company best known for Woodland and Buffalo Springs Distillery, and later made by Double Springs Distillery. Kentucky Senator was popular, but it never reached the same level of prominence as the likes of Old Crow and Chicken Cock.
Thayer’s hoping to change that.
He is looking to tell the story of past Kentucky senators with each release. On the back label of release one is Kentucky Democrat Alben Barkley, a US Senator from 1927-1949, 1955 and Vice President of the United States under President Harry S. Truman.
Along with his partner Andre Regard, Thayer’s acquired aged bourbon on the open market, and Alben Barkley is a 15-year-old Kentucky Bourbon with a mash bill of 78.5% corn, 13% rye and 8.5% barley. His bottling partner, Bluegrass Distillers, bottled some 1,320 bottles. It’s SRP is $199.
Product Review
I caught up with Thayer to learn how his first bourbon came to be and how it will impact his political career.
What made you want to start a bourbon?
I started enjoying bourbon about 10 years ago, after my divorce! Over time I’ve become a huge fan of it from not only a taste perspective(I like to drink it), but also from the tourism experience as one of Kentucky’s unique selling propositions/signature industries. I have visited every Bourbon Trail distillery and many on the Craft Tour. As a marketing guy, the idea of starting my own brand developed over time as a challenging pursuit to implement everything I’ve learned in my professional career. Once my lawyer Andre Regard suggested we become partners, we decided to start working on making the dream a reality.
Why call it Kentucky Senator?
A colleague of mine showed me a label from the old Double Springs Distillery brand of the same name. Andre checked into the trademark and learned it was available, so we applied to the U.S. Patent Administration; our LLC, Kentucky Senator Spirits, now owns it.
I’m a horse racing guy, too, so I always followed the progress of the Pinhook brand and like how each release is named for a racehorse owned by Bourbon Lane Stables, which has the same ownership as Pinhook. So I thought naming each release for a U.S. Senator from Kentucky was a unique idea blending Kentucky’s native spirit with its Senatorial history. With our first release named for Senator Alben Barkley, who was also Vice President under President Harry S Truman, the response has been great. It’s a very tasty bourbon with an interesting story.
Can you discuss the ethical issues? If a bourbon bill hits the floor, do you have to recuse yourself?
One of the first steps I took was to seek approval from Kentucky’s Legislative Ethics Commission. It granted approval based on the usage of United States Senators, not state Senators, and I can still vote on alcohol bills in Frankfort that benefit the industry as a whole. Kentucky has a citizen legislature, and it’s the same as farmers voting on agriculture issues and teachers voting on education matters.
You’re starting with a 15 year. How are you gonna keep that age up? I mean, 15 years!
We are, for now, a NDP [non-distiller producer], so we are always sourcing aged bourbon for our next release. We were fortunate to launch with a 15 year bourbon, but know that we won’t always be able to find bourbon at that age. We will continue searching for good-tasting, aged bourbon, and pair it with a good story from one of over 50 Kentucky senators.
For example, if we find a six year bourbon with a great taste profile, we could pair it with a one-term Senator as U.S. senators serve six-year terms.
You’re on a few shortlists to take on Rand Paul. Any chances of that happening?
No. I’m flattered to have this suggested but I’ll be supporting Senator Paul in his 2022 re-election bid. Plus I have one of the best jobs in state government; I was just re-elected to another term and enjoy my work in Frankfort.
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Currently hitting shelves in Kentucky, the first limited edition release of the recently acquired Kentucky Senator small batch bourbon will feature the name of an esteemed U.S. Senator who hails from the Bluegrass State.
The Alben W. Barkley Release marks Kentucky Senator’s first small batch since the brand was revived in 2019. It is a limited edition release featuring only 1,320 bottles and will be sold at liquor stores throughout Kentucky. This bourbon whiskey has been aged 15 years at the traditional barrel proof of 107. This flavorful experience has a mash bill of 78.5% corn, 13% rye and 8.5% malted barley. It has been distilled and aged in Kentucky, bottled at Bluegrass Distillers in Lexington and is being distributed by Kentucky Eagle Wine and Spirits.
The Kentucky Senator brand was originally distilled and bottled by Double Springs Distillers in Bardstown. Kentucky Senator has been given a fresh look thanks to local managers Andre Regard and Damon Thayer, a state senator from Georgetown. Both Regard and Thayer possess a unique background in bourbon that they bring to the management team of Kentucky Senator Spirits.
Each release of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will carry the name of a U.S. Senator from Kentucky. The first release is named for Alben Barkley of McCracken County, who served as vice president of the United States under President Harry S. Truman from 1949-1953.
LEXINGTON, KY— Hitting shelves in the next two weeks, the first limited edition release of the recently acquired Kentucky Senator small batch Bourbon will feature the name of an esteemed U.S. Senator who hails from the Bluegrass State.
The Alben W. Barkley Release marks Kentucky Senator’s first small batch since the brand was revived in 2019. It is a limited edition release featuring only 1,320 bottles and will be sold at liquor stores throughout Kentucky. This Bourbon whiskey has been aged 15 years at the traditional barrel proof of 107. This flavorful experience has a mash bill of 78.5% corn, 13% rye and 8.5% malted barley. It has been distilled and aged in Kentucky, bottled at Bluegrass Distillers in Lexington and is being distributed by Kentucky Eagle Distributing.
The Kentucky Senator brand was originally distilled and bottled by Double Springs Distillers, Inc. in Bardstown. Kentucky Senator has been given a fresh look thanks to local managers Andre Regard and Damon Thayer. Both men possess a unique background in Bourbon that they bring to the management team of Kentucky Senator Spirits, LLC.
“We are proud to release Kentucky Senator’s first small batch Bourbon,” said co-manager Damon Thayer. “With Kentucky Senator, we will showcase our Commonwealth’s rich history while making a strong commitment to Kentucky’s finest Straight Bourbon Whiskey.”
“It’s exciting to see our first batch go to market in the next two weeks,” said co-manager Andre Regard. “While remaining true to the original intent of this vintage brand, we want to help Kentucky consumers feel a sense of pride for our local history and carry on the spirit of Alben W. Barkley to those who sample our product.”
Each release of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will carry the name of a U.S. Senator from Kentucky. The first release is named for Senator Alben W. Barkley of McCracken County. Alben Barkley was Vice President of the United States under President Harry S Truman from 1949-1953. To learn more about why Alben W. Barkley was chosen for Kentucky Senator’s first release, visit the company website at www.KySenatorBourbon.com.
The Alben W. Barkley Release will be the first Bourbon in Kentucky Senator’s portfolio with additional batches to follow in 2021.