Stitzel Reserve Debuts With A 24-Year-Old Bourbon That's Been Waiting Since 1999

Forbes

2 days ago

Stitzel Reserve
There are distilleries—and then there's Stitzel-Weller. Known to bourbon devotees as the 'cathedral of Bourbon,' the Louisville landmark has quietly held court since 1935, aging barrels that have become the stuff of legend. Now, the historic site is throwing open its gates in a new way, launching Stitzel Reserve, a distillery-exclusive series that begins with a showstopper: a 24-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey drawn from just nine barrels.
This isn't your average limited-edition bottle. This is history—bottled.
Stitzel Reserve is more than a brand extension—it's a platform for the rare, the archival, and the impossibly well-aged. The series draws from some of the oldest and most exceptional barrels resting within the legendary rickhouses of Stitzel-Weller, beginning with a showstopping debut: a 24-Year-Old Bourbon aged in new charred American oak barrels, laid down in 1999 by a historic Kentucky producer and matured in Warehouse B.
Only nine barrels were selected for this release, yielding a mere 191 bottles—each one individually numbered and hand-signed by Nicole Austin, Diageo's Director of American Whiskey Liquid Development and Capabilities, who personally curated and blended the whiskey.
'At Stitzel-Weller Distillery, we are fortunate to have inherited some of the most remarkable aging barrels in the country,' said Austin. 'The launch of Stitzel Reserve is a pivotal moment for our distillery. It's a celebration of the past and a bold step forward.'
This 24-Year-Old expression isn't just a flex of age—it's a fully developed character study in bourbon form. The whiskey opens with a rich, leathery profile, layered with saddle oil and an elegant sweetness that rounds into burnt sugar on the finish. With an ABV of 61.7%, this is a cask-strength pour that still manages remarkable balance, depth, and warmth.
If you're the type who appreciates tasting notes that sound like the inside of a vintage study, this bottle is your spirit animal.
The packaging itself is an homage to the whiskey's character, featuring design cues inspired by wood and leather—elements as timeless as the bourbon inside. While there's no official release calendar for future expressions, each Stitzel Reserve bottling will be based solely on peak liquid maturity and barrel quality, not marketing timelines. In other words, you'll have to be patient—and lucky.
All releases in the Stitzel Reserve series will be available exclusively on-site at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. Beginning June 2025, consumers 21 and up can purchase the 750mL bottle directly at the distillery. Pricing, naturally, is available only upon request (a sure sign of prestige, or possibly heartbreak).
For those who just want a taste without committing to the full bottle, the distillery is offering bespoke pours at the Garden & Gun Club on-site. Each tasting experience includes an etched whiskey glass, branded bag, and a limited-edition Stitzel-Weller Distillery pin, ensuring your bragging rights come fully accessorized.
With Stitzel Reserve, the distillery is reaffirming its place not just as a producer, but as a custodian of bourbon legacy. It's a reminder that sometimes the most exciting things in whiskey aren't the new brands or experimental casks, but the stories quietly aging in oak, waiting for just the right moment to emerge.
This first release may be rare, but if the promise of the series holds, it's only the beginning. Consider it a toast to the past—and a whisper of what's still to come.