Actor Cole Hauser Partners with Spirits Industry Veteran Britt West and Third Generation Montanan David Leuschen, to launch Lazy K Bar Whiskey in Montana.
Best known for his tough guy role as “Rip” in the hit show Yellowstone, Cole Hauser has partnered with fellow Montanans to launch his first whiskey in Big Sky Country. Lazy K Bar Whiskey’s first release is an 8-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon at 92 proof which is an homage long-standing history and tradition of ranchers in Montana. The bourbon is packaged in a handsome, yet rugged leather-wrapped bottle emblazoned with the Lazy K Bar brand. The squared glass bottle also bears appearance of hammered copper. Aside from the celebrity connection and good looks, ultimately, the proof will be in the whiskey. The brand promises notes of caramel, toffee, sweet toast and malted grain characteristics with herbal and spice notes from the rye. Initially limited to Montana, the brand has commented on Instagram that it has goals to spread beyond the state over time. For full details on the Lazy K Bar Bourbon and it’s development, read on below.
Fast Facts About Lazy K Bar Bourbon Whiskey:
- Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon
- Mashbill: 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley
- Age: minimum of eight years in Kentucky, and bottled in Bozeman, Montana.
- Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
- Barrels: #4 “Alligator Char” barrels
- Tasting Notes:
- Nose: dark barrel notes of caramel and toffee with an aged honey character. Sweet toast and malted grain characteristics are complimented by herbal and spice notes from the rye. The aromatic complexity continues to evolve over time. Dark spices of clove and cinnamon are present along with a hint of apple.
- Palate: the blend has a rich round mouthfeel with a balanced natural sweetness.
- Finish: finishes with a pleasant warming sensation and notes of caramelized oak and malted grain.
- SRP: $100
- Availability: Montana-Only currently.
Details from the Press Release:
BOZEMAN, Mont. (December 12, 2023) – Just in time for the holiday season, actor Cole Hauser and partners bring a high-spirited vision and product to shelves. Only available in Montana, and named after one of the oldest operating cattle ranches in the state, Lazy K Bar eight-year-old straight bourbon whiskey celebrates the grit and strength of the pioneers that shaped Big Sky country.
Operating under Lazy K Bar Whiskey, the project is a collaborative vision between David Leuschen, owner of Lazy K Bar Ranch and third-generation Montanan, Cole Hauser,Yellowstone actor with Montana family history dating back to 1862, and Britt West, a 25-year beverage alcohol industry veteran and resident of Livingston, Montana.
There’s a story behind the brand. This is a legacy project for all partners involved. We wanted to bring something to market that we’re proud of and that people can enjoy with their friends and family for 100 years to come. Montana is an extraordinary place with a lot of character, and our goal is to make sure that is reflected in Lazy K Bar Bourbon.
Cole Hauser
Bringing decades-long experience in the alcohol industry to the Lazy K Bar Whiskey team, Britt West was integral in fine-tuning the product inside and out.
What we’ve created is something that can be enjoyed around the campfire, at a dinner party with friends or in the finest bars, restaurants, and hotels around the world. Our eight-year-old straight bourbon whiskey evokes the spirit of the Wild West. The bottle design is ruggedly handsome, burned with the ranch brand on aged leather, and topped off with a hefty brass closure, but it’s what’s inside the bottle that ultimately matters and we think people are going to be very pleased when they give us a try.
Britt West
ABOUT LAZY K BAR RANCH
Located just north of Big Timber and founded as a working cattle and horse ranch in 1887, Lazy K Bar Ranch opened to guests in 1922, making it the oldest operating dude ranch in Montana. Today, under the ownership of Leuschen, Lazy K Bar still evokes the feeling of the founding cowboys and preserves the natural beauty of the Eastern slope of the Crazy Mountains. Despite growing over the decades to span some 12,000 acres, Lazy K Bar still maintains the legacy of its founding ethos.
As you pass through the entry of the Lazy K Bar Ranch you’re immediately brought back to an era when saddle-worn cowboys and ranch hands enjoyed the warmth of a glass of whiskey by the campfire not as a luxury, but as a hard-earned reward after the daily challenges of life on the ranch.
David Leuschen, Owner of Lazy K Bar Ranch
ABOUT LAZY K BAR WHISKEY
Named for one of the oldest operating cattle ranches and longest-running dude ranches in Montana, Lazy K Bar straight bourbon whiskey celebrates the heritage and strength of the pioneers that built big sky country.
The nose starts with dark barrel notes of caramel and toffee with an aged honey character. Sweet toast and malted grain characteristics are complimented by herbal and spice notes from the rye. The aromatic complexity continues to evolve over time. Dark spices of clove and cinnamon are present along with a hint of apple. The blend has a rich round mouthfeel with a balanced natural sweetness and finishes with a pleasant warming sensation. The finish leaves you with notes of caramelized oak and malted grain.
Lazy K Bar straight bourbon whiskey is currently available exclusively in Montana at fine retailers and at select restaurants and bars. For more information, please visit lazykbarwhiskey.com or follow along on Instagram @lazykbarwhiskey.
Awarded 98 points out of 100 by Tasting Panel Magazine
The peach nectar on the nose is a siren luring you in for its captivating flavors of sweet oak, honey, and a hit of new leather and pecan nougat. It possesses a succulent finish of strength and luxury.
– The Tasting Panel
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
Lazy K Bar Straight Bourbon is a collaborative vision between David Leuschen, the owner of Lazy K Bar Ranch and 3rd generation Montanan; Cole Hauser, Yellowstone actor with Montana family heritage dating back to 1862, and Britt West, 25 year beverage alcohol veteran and resident of Livingston, MT.
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