LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 29, 2026 — Blade and Bow is releasing a 30-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon at an imposing 164.2 proof, offering collectors an undiluted version of the same blend used for its original 30-Year-Old Limited Release.
Limited to 1,200 bottles, Blade and Bow 30-Year-Old Cask Strength carries a suggested retail price of $2,500 per 750-milliliter bottle. Initial availability begins in November, with Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Shively serving as its first retail destination.
The distillery will offer an initial allocation of just 25 bottles by reservation. Reservations open Nov. 16, with pickup scheduled for later that month. Additional bottles will be offered through periodic holiday-season releases at Stitzel-Weller and in select markets, while some of the 1,200 bottles will be held for later release.
The launch accompanies the return of the original Blade and Bow 30-Year-Old Limited Release, which debuted in 2025. Stitzel-Weller will offer 30 bottles of that expression Oct. 30, followed by limited distribution and additional distillery releases.
Both expressions trace their origins to whiskey first placed in barrels in spring 1993. The bourbon spent much of its maturation in Stitzel-Weller’s historic rickhouses, where seasonal temperature changes and decades of aging shaped the remaining whiskey.
As evaporation reduced the contents, partially filled barrels were consolidated to preserve the liquid. From an original collection of 96 barrels, Nicole Austin, Diageo’s director of American whiskey liquid development, selected 42 to create the blend behind both releases.
“What I find so compelling about the 30-Year-Old collection is that these aren’t two different whiskeys. They’re the exact same blend, presented in two distinct ways,” Austin said.
The original Limited Release was bottled in 2023 at 109 proof, a strength Austin selected to achieve her intended balance. The new Cask Strength expression preserves the blend at its natural barrel strength of 82.1% alcohol by volume, without dilution.
That difference gives enthusiasts an opportunity to explore how proof changes the presentation of the same whiskey. The brand suggests adding room-temperature water gradually to discover a preferred balance of flavor and intensity.
According to Blade and Bow’s tasting notes, the Cask Strength expression opens with citrus oils, dark berries and warm baking spice, followed by fig, molasses and mature oak.
The palate is described as rich and viscous, with roasted nuts, ginger, dark sugar and blackcurrant alongside a cooling menthol note. With water, the brand says the whiskey reveals additional fruit, floral, sweet and spice characteristics.
Each bottle comes in a custom-made leather box, positioning the release as a collector-focused addition to the brand’s oldest whiskey collection.
For visitors interested in sampling the bourbon, Stitzel-Weller plans dedicated tasting experiences featuring both 30-year-old expressions at its Garden & Gun Club. Those experiences will include keepsake glassware, and both whiskeys also will be offered as 1-ounce pours on the menu.
The collection honors Blade and Bow’s Five Keys of Bourbon — grain, yeast, fermentation, distillation and aging — while presenting two interpretations of a single blend shaped by three decades of maturation.
ABOUT BLADE AND BOW
Blade and Bow pays homage to the artful passion and renowned craftsmanship of the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. Blade and Bow whiskey is currently available in three variants: Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old Limited Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and the latest 30-Year-Old Limited Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
ABOUT STITZEL-WELLER DISTILLERY
Originally opening on Derby Day in 1935 and reopening to the public in 2014, the historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery is one of the true cathedrals of the American whiskey industry.
Located only five miles from downtown Louisville, the Stitzel-Weller Distillery Experience is one of the most convenient and impressive stops along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. We are proud to invite guests to step foot on this hallowed ground and gain a unique perspective on the dichotomy of the historic contrasted with the innovations of tomorrow that include Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and I.W. Harper.
ABOUT DIAGEO
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in nearly 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com.
