148: Veterans Day Special with Horse Soldier Bourbon

In a special Veterans Day episode, we are joined by retired, Special Forces Veteran Scott Neil who is the co-founder of Horse Soldier Bourbon. Horse Soldier, was co-founded by the horse-mounted Green Berets who lead America’s counter-terrorism effort in Afghanistan almost immediately following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Scott Neil has an incredible story, a warrior’s mindset, and a soldier’s determination with everything he does, including his current mission: growing a bourbon brand.  A huge thank you to Scott Neil, Horse Solider Bourbon, and all the United States’ Veterans on this very special Veterans Day.

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Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens

About Horse Soldier Bourbon

Horse Soldier Bourbon is an all American, ultra-premium whiskey crafted by the legendary U.S. Army Green Berets who answered the country’s call days after 9/11 with a daring insertion, on horseback, into northern Afghanistan. This brave and unconventional act earned them the moniker of “Horse Soldiers” and inspired them to create their awarding winning bourbon. The team has been featured in the Hollywood movie 12 Strong, the CNN documentary Legion of Brothers, and is memorialized by America’s Response Monument located at Ground Zero in New York City.

When the team first set out on their journey to make Horse Soldier Bourbon, they wanted to ensure they were fully immersing themselves in the art of making whiskey and learning all they could about the ingredients used, distillation, aging and design. They therefore traveled around the world visiting distilleries and brand houses to gain more information and understand everything that went into making a stellar bourbon. The result was the ability to successfully combine their new knowledge and whiskey making skills with the meticulous precision, process, and habits they gained in the military and translate both into distilling the world-class Horse Soldier Bourbon brand. 

Founded in 2015, Horse Soldier Bourbon encompasses three core elements that make it the legendary spirit it is today: Authentic, the team behind the brand are an integral part of the country’s history; All-American, each ingredient used to make Horse Soldier Bourbon is from the U.S, including its glass bottle, which is molded by steel recovered from the World Trade Center to commemorate the lives lost but never forgotten; And Award-Winning, to date the brand has won more than 30 awards from many of the industry's most prestigious competitions, including three Double Gold Medals at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition.

Today, the team’s steadfast mission is to continue to create an award-winning, legendary line of bourbons, the embodiment of the American spirit and the Horse Soldier’s legacy in a bottle. Comprised of rich and complex wheat-forward whiskies, the core Horse Soldier Portfolio includes the Straight Bourbon, Small Batch Bourbon, and Barrel Strength Bourbon in addition to limited edition expressions launched annually, such as the Commander’s Select Limited Edition Release. 

Looking ahead, Horse Soldier Bourbon will be making its forever home in Somerset, Kentucky. Located on 225 acres of rolling countryside, they put together an award winning team of international and local architects, experiential designers, and engineers to create the Horse Soldier Distillery experience.  The new distillery will become the most southern stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, joining the family of iconic distilleries that have made their home there and ensuring the Horse Soldier legacy lives on for decades to come.

The Horse Soldier Bourbon Portfolio:

• Horse Soldier Straight Bourbon (SRP: $49.99 | 43.5% ABV):  The brand’s classic recipe of authentic bourbon is made with corn, rye, and malted barley and won a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2019. It is a balanced and robust bourbon aged a minimum of 3 years to ensure its distinctive, mellow character. 
• Horse Soldier Small Batch Bourbon (SRP: $69.99 | 47.5% ABV): Extraordinarily complex with notes of vanilla, ginger, and cherries, this “wheated” bourbon is made from small batches of meticulously blended mature whiskey, aged for a minimum of 6 years in new American white oak barrels. It received a Gold Medal (95 Points) at the New York International Spirits Competition and 92 Points at the International Wine & Spirits Competition.
•  Horse Soldier Barrel Strength Bourbon (SRP: $84.99 | 54% ABV): A uniquely complex “wheated” uncut and non-chill filtered bourbon that has matured for a minimum of 6 years in new American white oak barrels. This all-natural, all-American product just won a Double Gold in the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was included in the Top 100 Spirits of 2020. It also earned 93 points at the New York International Spirits Competition and 92 points at the International Wine and Spirits Competition, making it a truly prized bourbon. The soft red winter wheat in the recipe provides intriguing depth and complexity to this ultimate American spirit.
• Commander’s Select Limited Edition Single Batch Release (SRP: $595 | 65.5% ABV): An outstanding and award-winning limited annual release, most recently winning Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2019, the Commanders Select barrels are meticulously chosen each year by both Commander and Chief Warrant Officer of Special Forces ODA Team 595. Sales from the Commander’s Select are all donated to maintaining the America Response Monument located at Ground Zero in New York City. This year’s 2021 release will be debuted in the fall, commemorating the 20th Anniversary of 9/11.

For more information, visit https://horsesoldierbourbon.com, and follow them on social media at @HorseSoldierBourbon 

About Scott Neil:

Scott Neil is a retired Special Forces Veteran with significant executive, operational and combat experience, having served as a Senior Advisor to several General Officers, Senior Civilian Policy Makers, National Members of Interagency Task Forces as well as several House and Senate Committee Members. Following the tragic events of 9/11, he conducted numerous successful special operation combat missions as part of the Commander’s In-Extremis Forces, one of the first to lead the Direct Action and Counter-Terrorism charge into Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa.

Scott’s career highlights include serving as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Director of US Special Operation Command's Interagency Task Force (IATF) at MacDill AFB, FL. Provided subject matter expertise and leadership on counter-terrorism activities supporting unique intelligence, operations, inter-agency planning and collaboration of U.S. Government strategic, special operations, counter-terrorism missions. While serving at the 4 Star Headquarters, Scott provided leadership and mentoring for over 143 senior field grade special operations officers, service members, senior federal agency representatives, and contract personnel engaged in strategic planning and coordination in support of the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO). Additionally, Scott served as the Special Operation Command's Crisis Action and Time Sensitive Planning Sergeant Major for the Commander during all emergency and emerging overseas contingency operation utilizing Special Operation Forces. Scott also served as a Board Member and Operational Advisor to a number of critical organizations such as his role as the Director of Special Operation Command’s Science and Technology.

Post retirement, Scott Neil has been part of Horse Soldier Bourbon since its inception in 2015. As Co-founder and COO, Scott is responsible for day-to-day operations, regional production of multiple facilities, and corporate responsibility functions.

Scott actively collaborates with the George W. Bush Military Service Initiative and Team 43, a collaboration of former veterans and the former President and his staff that focuses on the power of outdoor recreational sports. He also works with several Veterans Affairs Committees and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship championing key issues facing veterans establishing their own businesses. 

In addition to Scott’s speaking engagements mainly in Washington, DC and New York City, he is a regular contributor to major news and media outlets including Fox News, Newsmax, Global News, LA Times, and Bloomberg Business Week.

Show Links:

• Horse Soldier Bourbon 
• Buy Horse Soldier
• Horse Soldier Bourbon (@horsesoldierbourbon) • Instagram photos and videos
• Post-9/11 Horseback Heroes Make American Whiskey Honoring Mission
• Horse soldiers from Afghan war plan Kentucky distillery | Lexington Herald Leader
• New Veteran-owned facility brings Bourbon Trail to Southeast Kentucky
• Bourbon Meets 'Staycation': New Somerset Distillery to Include Theatre, Wedding Chapel, and Cabins 
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