If you ’re a human being with a heart and a soulfulness , chances are you do it Bulleit whisky . But love the drink and knowing the closed book behind it are two vastly dissimilar things . Behold : 13 affair you did n’t know about Bulleit bourbon and rye whiskey whiskey .
1. Bulleit bourbon has so much rye, it’s almost a rye whiskey
Though it ’s 68 % corn , the bourbon contains 28 % rye whiskey , which is more than one-half of what ’s mandated for it to be look at Secale cereale whiskey . This ratio has never been a standard for bourbon – even back when the first tidy sum were made .
2. Bulleit is a very real (and very badass) surname
Augustus Bulleit made the first clutch in 1830 , and it ’s been a long - standing family formula ever since . Tom Bulleit , Augustus ' great - grandson who grew up in the distillery , is responsible for the modern - daylight stigmatization , though he ’s changed the recipe quite a moment . The mash bill used to be ⅔ Secale cereale and ⅓ corn – today it ’s about ⅔ Zea mays and ⅓ rye .
3. Mystery surrounds Augustus Bulleit
Not many the great unwashed seem to be capable to find records of Augustus Bulleit , and after 1860 nobody knows on the button what became of him . Legend has it that in 1860 he loaded up a flat - bottom boat full of Bourbon dynasty barrels and entrust for New Orleans to sell them … and yup , he was never seen again . Search parties even give way out , and occur back with nothing . presently enough it was the Civil War , and the search for Augustus Bulleit became lose in time . Where y’at , Augustus ?
4. The brand made regular appearances on HBO’sDeadwood
Though , the timeline does n’t quite add up sinceDeadwoodtakes office in the 1870s , and Bulleit was discontinue after Augustus Bulleit ’s fade in 1860 ( it was n’t until over a hundred years later , in 1987 , that Tom Bulleit repair the make ) . Regardless , Al Swearengen urinate a pretty great brand ambassador .
5. Bulleit rye was only launched in 2011
The recipe for Bulleit rye whisky whisky , which comprise a Heisenberg - esque 95 % rye ( ! ! ! ) , was uprise by Tom Bulleit and his daughter Hollis , the current face of Bulleit . And that immature recording label ? That ai n’t just your stock color of greens . The Bulleits go through century of tint of green before finally settle on that one .
6. Bulleit rye was created because of, and for, bartenders
Bulleit bourbon was a immense hit in California bars . So much so , that when customers ordered rye whisky whiskey cocktails , the bartenders began to bemoan the fact that Bulleit did n’t make rye whiskey whisky . When Tom Bulleit got word of this , he teamed up with Hollis and got to work on Bulleit rye . Thanks , bartender !
7. Bulleit is meant to be paired with BBQ
According to Hollis & Tom , the complex blend of flavors exists to complement whatever you ’re eat on , particularly if it ’s Lowcountry mustard greens - based BBQ ( Tom ’s personal preferent flair ) . In fact , some big - time Lowcountry chef ( like Sean Brock ) prefer the stuff their cookery .
8. Bulleit doesn’t have its own distillery… but will soon
The whisky is currently distilled on other companies ' properties , but the very first Bulleit - only still is due to open this year in Shelbyville .
9. Kirin allegedly owns one of the distilleries used for Bulleit
As in the beer that you only drink when the sushi place does n’t have Sapporo or Asahi . THAT Kirin . There ’s some discrepancy about where Bulleit is ACTUALLY distill , though . The Kirin Brewery Company Four Roses distillery is where it ’s most commonly reported to be condense , and that ’s what it says on the label – however , when we sat down with Tom Bulleit , he said the bourbon is distilled at the Stitzel - Weller still in Louisville , and the rye is distil at another spot in Lexington . The world may never live the truth .
10. The two best Bulleit cocktails are the BLT and the RGL
According to Tom Bulleit , anyway . The BLT ( his married woman Betsy ’s Little Treat ) has bourbon , lemon yellow , and tonic ( he prefer Fever - Tree tonic ) and the RGL has rye , peppiness beer , and lime . And they ’re both everlasting for sipping as you posture on the porch on a beautiful summer day .
11. California is Bulleit’s biggest market
Though it ’s originally from Kentucky , Bulleit dominates the small - batch marketplace in Los Angeles , San Diego , and the Bay Area . California was really the first market to latch on , and it ’s because of California that Bulleit has been able to grow and acquire into what it is .
12. The bourbon and rye are aged for different amounts of time
The rye is aged for five to seven years , whereas the Bourbon dynasty is aged for six to eight . UNLESS , of course , you ’re talking about …
13. The brand has a third product
AKA Bulleit 10 - year - aged bourbon . Launched only in 2013 , this sister is Tom Bulleit ’s prize modesty . It ’s aged in American whitened - oak barrel and set aside for 10 years . Which means if you ’re drinking some right now , it was only Season 3 ofLostwhen they started making that quite a little . Think about that .
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Wilder Shawis a regular Thrillist contributor who is probably drinking some Bulleit justly now . demand him if he prefers the bourbon or the Secale cereale on Twitter at@WilderShaw_or Instagram at@wildershaw .
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