289: Blue Note Bourbon is the New Fuel of the Pros of Pickleball

The Bourbon Lens is joined by Logan Welk, President and Chief Operating Officer of B.R. Distilling Company.  B.R. Distilling is known for their portfolio of Blue Note Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys. Logan has moved up the ranks at Blue Note and is well-versed in the ins-and-outs of the business of bourbon and brand-building. We also discuss whether Blue Note Bourbon and Rye will help improve your pickleball game, on the heels of their recent announcement of becoming the official bourbon of Major League Pickleball. Join us for this insightful and inside-look at growing a bourbon brand.

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Cheers,
Scott and Jake
Bourbon Lens

 

Blue Note Bourbon™, the award-winning whiskey portfolio which features big notes and a smooth structure, is making waves in the spirits industry. Founded in 2014, B.R. Distilling Company holds the oldest distillery license in the city of Memphis, Tennessee. Blue Note, launched in 2018, is artfully crafted to honor the rich blues music that is synonymous with Memphis. 

The brand’s whiskey portfolio is distilled in partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company (parent company of Green River Distilling Company) and then aged just north of downtown where the Mississippi and Wolf Rivers collide. The long summers filled with infamous Memphis heat and cooler evenings forces the whiskey deep into the oak, creating an unmistakably rich flavor that’s bold yet smooth.

“The location of our warehouses with high humidity and higher average temperatures than Kentucky make it the perfect place to age our whiskey,” said Logan Welk, President and Chief Operating Officer, B.R. Distilling Company. “Our award-winning flagship Blue Note expressions prove that point, with both Juke Joint and Crossroads winning Double Gold at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition two years running and Blue Note Uncut being named #7 on Whisky Advocate’s list of top whiskeys in 2022.”

The Blue Note Bourbon portfolio includes:

• Blue Note Juke Joint ($34.99)
• Blue Note’s flagship Straight Bourbon Whiskey is bottled at 93-proof, unfiltered
• Mash Bill: 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley
• Awards: 2024 Platinum Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition; 2022, 2023 and 2024 Double Gold Medals, Wine Enthusiast (93 pts)
• Blue Note Crossroads ($44.99)
• Finished with several types of toasted French oak staves and bottled at 100-proof, unfiltered
• Mash Bills: 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley and 78% corn, 13% rye, 9% malted barley
• Awards: 2024 Platinum Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition; 2022, 2023 and 2024 Double Gold Medals
• Blue Note Uncut ($49.99)
• Aged for a minimum of four years and bottled at variable proofs
• Mash Bill: 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley
• Awards: Whisky Advocate’s #7 top whiskeys of 2022 (92 pts)
• Blue Note Straight Rye Whiskey ($34.99)
• The most recent release is bottled at 93-proof, unfiltered
• Mash Bill: 95% rye and 5% malted barley 
• Awards: 2024 ASCOT Awards Double Platinum, Whisky Advocate (90 pts)
• The brand has also introduced several highly awarded limited-release offerings, which include Premium Small Batch, Single Barrel Reserve, 17-year, and Special Reserve. 

Blue Note’s packaging is unique and quintessentially Memphis. Metallic blue music notes accent the front label, which features a guitar-like illustration, further reinforcing the product’s connection to the Bluff City’s musical roots.

Production Facility & Tasting Room

The 110,000 square foot production facilities, located on Royal Avenue just North of downtown Memphis, are open from Monday through Friday from 10am – 4:00pm and includes a unique and intimate tasting room. Guided tours are available on Thursdays and Fridays for $10 plus tax & fees. Guests can add a Tasting Flight Experience for an additional $5. For more information and to book a guided, behind-the-scenes tour, visit www.bluenotebourbon.com. 

About B.R. Distilling Company

Founded in 2014 in Memphis, TN, B.R. Distilling Company is the oldest licensed distillery in Memphis, TN, and producer of world-famous Blue Note Bourbon. Currently, the company produces four flagship expressions, along with regular limited releases, which are distributed across 17 U.S. states, including: AL, AR, CO, CT, FL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MS, MO, NY, NJ, OK, SC, TN, and TX, and online at BlueNoteBourbon.com via Bevstack, which can be shipped to: AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MN, MO, NE, NJ, NC, NM, NV, NH, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, VA, WA and WI. Please sip responsibly.

Image Credit: Blue Note Bourbon / B.R. Distilling