 | |
 Bottle of Bulleit Bourbon | |
| Type | Bourbon whiskey |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Diageo |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Introduced | 1830 1999 |
| Alcohol by volume | 45% |
| Proof (US) | 90 |
| Color | Russet (dark brown) |
| Website | bulleit.com |
Bulleit Bourbon is a brand ofKentuckystraightbourbon whiskey produced at the Bulleit Distillery inShelbyville, Kentucky and the Bulleit Distillery inLebanon, Kentucky by theDiageo beverage company.
It is characterized by a highrye content for a bourbon (at approximately 28% of themash bill) and being aged at least six years.[1] It is bottled at 45%abv (90 proof) for theUS,Canadian, British, Dutch and Mexican markets. ForAustralian andDanish markets, it is bottled at 40% abv. It is also sold inGermany,[2] Norway[3] and Sweden.[4]
In the U.S. and other markets, Bulleit also offers arye whiskey.
According to Tom Bulleit, son of a preacher, great-great-grandson of original creator Augustus Bulleit and developer of the modern brand, the first batch of Bulleit bourbon was made around 1830. Augustus continued to produce it up until his death in 1860.[5] The current recipe follows the original mash bill produced by Augustus Bulleit, which used two-thirds corn and one-third rye. As implemented today, Bulleit Bourbon is 68% corn, 28% rye and 4% malted barley.[6]
Tom Bulleit began distilling his version in 1987,[2] characterized by a high rye content and relatively lengthy aging. He maintains that mostphenol[1] is filtered out.[5]
Seagram bought the Bulleit brand in 1997 and began distilling it inLawrenceburg, Kentucky.[7]
The brand was widely introduced to US markets in 1999, and toAustralia,UK andGermany in 2000.[2][8]
Diageo acquired various Seagram's assets, including the Bulleit brand, which was then produced by its subsidiaryKirin Brewing Company at the same Lawrenceburg plant.
On March 14, 2017, Diageo opened a new Bulleit distillery. The 300-acre (120 ha) $115 million facility is located just east ofShelbyville inShelby County, Kentucky.
In June 2019, Bulleit opened its visitors' center at its Shelbyville distillery in Kentucky. The Visitor Experience includes guided tours, a cocktail bar and an opportunity for visitors 21 years or older to design a customized Bulleit label to apply to their own bottles.[9]
Tom Bulleit's daughter Hollis left her position atDiageo in 2017 after 10 years,[10] claiming she was being pushed out because she was a lesbian. A spokesperson from Diageo denies the claim.[11]
The currentBulleit bourbon whiskey mash bill contains 68% corn (maize), 28% rye, and 4%malted barley.[5] It is bottled at 45% ABV.[12]
Bulleit Bourbon Barrel Strength is a blend of barrels which are 5 to 8 years old. As it is being bottled straight from the barrel the proof varies by batch, ranging from 118 to 125 (59 to 62.5 ABV).
Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year is the only age dated Bulleit whiskey. It is bottled at 91.2 U.S. proof and has the same mash bill as the original Bulleit Bourbon. It won a Double Gold Medal at the 2013San Francisco World Spirits Competition.[13]
Bulleit rye whiskey, introduced in March 2011, has a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley.[14][12][15] It is produced inLawrenceburg, Indiana byMGP Ingredients[16] and bottled at 45% abv.[12]
Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon In 2025, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey released its first-ever Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, aged for seven years and distilled and aged entirely at the Bulleit Distilling Company in Shelbyville, Kentucky. This was a limited-time release, and Bulleit stated it will be available in the future only when the blending team determines it meets high standards of quality and character.[17]
Starting in 2008, Bulleit bourbon sold on theUK market is bottled at 40% alcohol by volume, which is re-exported to theAustralia market. A 45% ABV version was introduced to the UK market in late 2014, under the label "Bulleit Frontier Whiskey".
Bulleit Shelbyville Distillery3464 Benson Pike, Shelbyville, KY 40065
Bulleit Lebanon Distillery100 Bourbon Drive, Lebanon, KY, 40033
Proof66.com, areview aggregator for spirits, rates Bulleit bourbon in the top 10th percentile of the world's best whiskeys. The Bulleit Rye Whiskey is also rated a "Top Tier Whiskey".[18][19] Proof66.com rates Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year as a "Tier 1" spirit with an overall rating of 551/904.[20]
Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year received a gold medal in the Small Batch Bourbon up to 10 yrs category at the 2013San Francisco World Spirits Competition.[21]
Food criticMorgan Murphy said "This amber beauty, with its notes of spice, rye, and cedar, packs a stronger bite than its sweet aroma would imply."[22]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link){{cite book}}:|last2= has generic name (help)