Remarkable range.
Deep, warming complexity.
And a mighty money pot that helps keep the hospitality industry running like a well-oiled
machine.
The choices at the liquor store can be overwhelming, but is Bulleit Bourbon a winner?
Let's talk.
The Bulleit story starts back in Louisville Kentucky in 1830, a time when bourbon production
was simmering and flavor experimentation was on the forefront.
Tavern owner Augustus Bulleit worked endless hours to finetune his exploratory whiskey
varieties, attempting to concoct a blend that would stand out among the rest.
Eventually he honed in on a high-rye recipe, and according to Forbes Travel Guide, Bulleit
ended up setting sail to New Orleans alongside his coveted barrel in hopes of commercializing
his product.
And that's when he completely vanished.
To this day, no one knows what happened to this unfortunate soul, and it wasn't until
1987 that Thomas E. Bulleit, Jr., decided to pick up the family torch again and revive
his great-great-grandfather's exclusive recipe.
For a long time, whiskey drinkers questioned the production location of Bulleit, as there
were zero traces of it online, raising some big questions.
A lawsuit was eventually filed by two California Law Firms back in 2015, accusing the brand
of violating California consumer protection laws over its labeling for Bulleit Bourbon.
In a nutshell, the label was deemed as misleading, as the language claimed the production resided
in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.
However, parent company Diageo never operated a distillery in this vicinity.
However, around a year after the lawsuit, Diageo announced major plans to invest $115
million in a Bulleit branded distillery in Shelby County, Kentucky, finally putting future
speculation to bed.
If you're thinking about launching your own bourbon line soon, don't take design inspo
from Bulleit — you might find yourself in a serious trademark infringement lawsuit,
just like Redemption.
That's right, Diageo fired back when Redemption released a bottle that closely mirrored the
signature long and narrow cylinder-shaped Bulleit bottle, claiming it infringed upon
the brand's image.
This copycat bottle propelled Diageo to pursue destruction of infringing products and injunctive
relief.
Prior to this dispute, Bulleit also targeted Sazerac around the same issue, specifically
around Dr. McGillicuddy's liqueur's new design that closely resembled Bulleit.
But lucky for Bulleit, Sazerac agreed to pivot their design plans, and both parties reached
an agreement outside the courtroom.
When it comes to packaging, it's also worth noting Bulleit's "intentional" crooked label.
Never noticed it?
You're probably not alone, but it's actually a deliberate part of their look.
According to Men's Journal, back in the 1800s, any sort of label apparent on a bottle would've
been wrapped and, of course, slightly warped.
Now the crooked label is most definitely part of Bulleit's trademarked branding.
According to Vegas Magazine, a foundation called the Bulleit Frontier Fund was founded
with a mission to keep restaurants and bartenders afloat, specifically during the global COVID-19
pandemic and throughout the waves of shutdowns.
At the heart of it?
A $250,000 mighty money pot to keep the hospitality industry running like a well-oiled machine.
Not only does Bulleit constantly donate from a monetary perspective, but they've also released
a strategic educational platform to keep bartenders' skills sharpened with at-home cocktail-making
classes and industry insights, tagged under the specific hashtag #BulleitBarSkills.
Bulleit is also committed to hiring real bartenders for content creation and commercials, opening
up new money-making gateways for those professionals.
Aside from this, Bulleit is also a partner of Sourced Craft Cocktails, which employs
bartenders to make cocktails for home delivery.
It's a creative and clever way to give back to the hospitality industry, while also incentivizing
bartenders across America to keep pouring Bulleit through a tumultuous time in history.
"Another work from home day in the books, time for a cocktail!
Who's with me?
Charlie?
Cocktail?
Bobby?
Mark?"
Bulleit's innate character is slightly bold and spicy.
There's a certain element of smoothness that's irresistible.
Upon first whiff you'll detect a complex blend of fruitiness, including sour peach, baked
apple, pineapple, and dried orange.
After swirling, the citrus notes are accentuated, potentially transporting you to the tropical
islands of Fiji.
On the first sip, you'll arrive at another level of explosive flavor — notes of roasted
vanilla, honey, baked apple, and licorice, along with some spices including clove, cinnamon,
and fennel.
Based on the Beverage Tasting Institute, Chicago's review, the medium-bodied palette is described
as light, approachable, and refreshing.
This is a type of alcohol that warms you, exuding an elongated, velvety-smooth finish.
So before taking one sip, get ready for something completely multidimensional — you'll certainly
ignite all of the senses.
"You can't bring in your own bottle."
"You carry Bulleit Bourbon?"
"No."
"Yea, well I do."
Let's just say, if you're looking for a peppery bite, bourbon with high rye content is the
best way to go.
It's no secret by now that Bulleit's speciality is rye-forward bourbon — it's been that
way since Augustus Bulleit started operations back in the 1800s.
The mash bill of the standard Bulleit is exactly 68 percent corn, 28 percent rye, and 4 percent
barley for their regular bourbon, leaving you with a spicier finish.
And that?
It's important, as it's what makes Bulleit stand out from the crowd of other types of
bourbon.
Not enough rye?
You can also opt for the Bulleit Rye: As the name suggests, this one is made with even
more rye and comes with a completely different flavor profile.
Due to Bulleit's remarkable range and deep complexity, it naturally dominates in the
versatility department — meaning you can consume it in a variety of ways and still
reap all of the tasty benefits.
While you can absolutely drink Bulleit on the rocks, straight, or with a bit of water,
club soda, or ginger ale, the possibilities don't stop there.
Bulleit has developed a plethora of colorful cocktail recipes to choose from, including
a bartender's favorite, Bourbon Swizzle — a sweet and slightly sour concoction that incorporates
bourbon, a swirl of citrus, spicy ginger, fresh mint leaves, and aromatic bitters.
Perfectly refreshing on a warm spring afternoon on the porch if you ask us.
Basically, the moral of the story is that you can't go wrong with your preferred method
of drinking Bulleit, making it a must-have in your spirit cabinet.
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