Category - Liquor
This Limited-Release Whiskey Was Made at the Distillery Famous for Van Winkle Bourbon
Pappy Van Winkle, Old Fitzgerald, and W. L. Weller are just three of the names synonymous with Stitzel-Weller Distillery, the spiritual home of wheated bourbon and inspiration behind Blade and Bow, which just re-released its 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
Built in 1935 by Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle Sr., Alex T. Farnsley, and Arthur Phillip Stitzel, the Stitzel-Weller Distillery passed hands through the trio over the years, eventually to just Pappy and then on to his son, Julian Van Winkle Jr., after Pappy’s death. It was sold in 1972 with the stipulation that Van Winkle Jr. would be able to procure old stocks from the site, and maintain the Van Winkle family brand name. Eventually the distillery closed in 1992 and is now mostly a tourist attraction, except for a few whiskeys that are still aged and bottled on-site.
One such whiskey that's aged and bottled at the iconic Stitzel-Weller Distillery is Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old. Re-released each year, the bottle celebrates the facility and what it continues to stand for—namely, aged spirits, quality water, and the Southern traditions of hospitality, warmth and enjoying the finer things.

Courtesy Image
"Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a testament to the enduring craft of American bourbon," says Douglas Kragel, master educator for Blade and Bow. "Bourbons of this age and caliber are a rarity, and when they do reach this level of maturity, they reveal incredible complexity.”
Unlike most whiskey makers at the time, Stitzel-Weller was known for aging its spirits up to 10 years or more. It's still a less common practice in today’s bourbon marketplace. Blade and Bow continues this tradition through the creation of its 22-Year-Old, which it has been releasing in very limited quantities annually since 2015.
The whiskey offers what Kragel calls a “nostalgic flavor profile that pays tribute to the heart of Kentucky tradition." Aromas of toasted oak, warm vanilla, and fig join layers of baked orchard fruits, hints of spiced honey, and a touch of caramel, giving the bourbon a rich, sweet, and smoky flavor.
Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey can be found at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery and Garden & Gun Club in Louisville, KY, as well as at select U.S. markets while supplies last.
Related: There's a Brand New Way to Get a Taste of Pappy Van Winkle—If You Act Fast