SPARTA, Ky. — Hidden Barn Bourbon is releasing its first organic bourbon, a six-year-old wheated bourbon bottled at 106.2 proof to celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month.
Distilled with organic grains and certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Kentucky Department of Agriculture, this bourbon was distilled in Michigan, selected, batched, and proofed by Master Blender Jackie Zykan, and aged and bottled at the now certified organic Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, Ky.
Hidden Barn’s name harkens back to the local communities who painted their barns black in solidarity with distillers during Prohibition. Hidden Barn is owned by Neeley Family Distillery. The brand is available online and in select states. For more information visit hiddenbarnwhiskey.com
Zykan’s passion project to bring an organic bourbon to market began several years ago after she did some consulting work at Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Mich. There she grew a fondness for Bill & Johanna Welter and their company culture of quality, experimentation and family. She began sampling and compiling some of the earlier barrels that would later become this nine-barrel batch. Neeley Family Distillery is now distilling organic bourbon in Sparta to ensure the continuation of this product line for years to come.
As someone focused on quality, collaboration and sustainability, working on an organic bourbon has been Zycan’s dream for many years.
“I’ve wanted to create an organic bourbon for a long time, so this has been a passion project for me,” she said. “For me, blending barrels is all about finding balance and harmony while still showcasing individuality. The nine barrels used for this blend were meticulously selected from a very large pool of inventory with much intention. The combination of the high-quality organic grains used in the distillation with the variable entry proofs used in the maturation — that range in proof from low to high — led to everything integrating beautifully.”
Tasting notes for this bourbon describe it as having a nose of buttery caramel combined with tart green apple and sweet orange. The palate is medium-bodied, where robust white pepper transitions into a lengthy and clean tobacco finish.
This bourbon will be released to the public Saturday, September 14, 2024. Suggested retail pricing for the Hidden Barn Organic Wheated Bourbon Whiskey is $79.99. It will be available for sale at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Sept. 14 and 15 in Bardstown, Ky., at the Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, online and at retail in Kentucky, Indiana, New York, California, Georgia, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico.
This sense of community is continued today through the passion for quality whiskey and camaraderie shared by its three partners, Jackie Zykan, Royce Neeley and Nate Winegar. Together, the three friends bring their own strengths – a superior palate, distilling prowess, and a powerhouse connector to form Hidden Barn Bourbon.
Previous Hidden Barn Series have earned Double Golds at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2023 and 2024 and Best Small Batch, 1st Place at the 2023 New Orleans Bourbon Festival.
