Stetson Bourbon Debuts in Collaboration with Green River and Bardstown Bourbon Company.
Stetson, the iconic American Western brand, is expanding into the spirits category with the launch of Stetson Bourbon, a super-premium Kentucky Straight Bourbon designed to connect the brand’s long history of American craftsmanship with the traditions of Kentucky whiskey.
The new bourbon is a 100-proof, high-rye proprietary blend distilled and bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky. Stetson says the whiskey is the result of a three-year sourcing and tasting process that ultimately brought the brand together with Kentucky Master Blender Dan Callaway.
Stetson Bourbon Blends Kentucky Whiskey Expertise
Stetson Bourbon represents a collaboration between Green River Distilling Co. and Bardstown Bourbon Company, bringing together whiskey from two Kentucky producers for the first collaboration of its kind between the companies.
The resulting bourbon is a proprietary blend with an average age of seven years, bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV). The high-rye recipe provides additional spice and structure while maintaining the sweet oak and caramel characteristics expected from a mature Kentucky bourbon.
Stetson says the whiskey was developed to meet the same standards of quality and craftsmanship associated with its brand, while creating a bourbon that can be enjoyed neat, over ice or in classic cocktails.
Seven-Year Kentucky Bourbon Offers Balanced Tasting Profile
Stetson Bourbon opens with aromas of buttery oak, caramel and vanilla before moving into deeper notes of brandied fruit and warm baking spices.
The palate is designed around a balance of sweetness, oak and spice, with a lighter rye character appearing on the finish. At 100 proof, the bourbon offers enough structure for sipping while also providing the versatility for cocktails.
The whiskey’s profile includes:
- Nose: Buttery oak, caramel and vanilla
- Palate: Brandied fruit and warm baking spices
- Finish: Light rye spice
- Proof: 100 proof / 50% ABV
- Age: Seven years
Stetson Bourbon Connects Western Heritage and Kentucky Whiskey
The launch extends a brand story that dates back to 1865, when John B. Stetson introduced the cowboy hat that would become synonymous with the American West.
According to Stetson CEO Robert Dundon, bourbon was a natural category extension given the spirit’s longstanding connection to the same Western culture and traditions represented by the Stetson name.
“For more than 160 years, Stetson has stood alongside the people who built the American West. Bourbon has always been part of that same tradition, woven into the same ranches, saloons, and gatherings our hats have been part of,” said Dundon.
Dundon added that the company spent years developing its approach to new categories before introducing the bourbon, with the goal of creating a premium expression that reflected Stetson’s established reputation for craftsmanship.
Stetson Bourbon Features Iconic Western Artwork
The connection between Stetson’s heritage and the new bourbon extends to the bottle itself. Each bottle features The Last Drop from His Stetson, a painting by renowned Western artist Lon Megargee.
The artwork, which dates to the early 1920s, depicts an enduring image of the American West and reflects themes of resourcefulness, compassion and humility that Stetson says have long been part of its identity.
Stetson Bourbon Launches in Texas
Stetson Kentucky Straight Bourbon is available beginning August 4, 2026, through Stetson’s direct-to-consumer online channel and at select retailers throughout Texas.
The bourbon carries a suggested retail price of $70 for a 750mL bottle, with Stetson planning to expand distribution into additional markets in the future.
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