Sometimes it takes a racehorse, a sea voyage and a reduction in tariffs to create the perfect Bourbon Whiskey.
Never Say Die, the world-first Bourbon inspired by the legendary tale of the namesake racehorse, is launching its flagship product today for the UK market.
The Barrel Strength Bourbon has been distilled and matured in Kentucky before embarking on a six-week trip across the Atlantic, where it was then matured in barrels in Derbyshire to give it a unique, British finish.
Exposure to the ocean air during Never Say Die’s six-week maritime voyage combined with the contrasting climates between Kentucky and the UK results in a unique flavour profile with lively spice and citrus notes that melt into vanilla, leather and caramel, concluding with a lasting smooth finish.
The brainchild of world-class Bourbon distillers Pat Heist and Shane Baker, Never Say Die was inspired by the infamous racehorse of the same name, which following a traumatic birth was revived with a shot of whiskey. Three years later and at odds of 33-1, Never Say Die became the first American-born horse in 70 years to win the Epsom Derby in front of 250k spectators, which included Queen Elizabeth II and Sir Winston Churchill.
With production beginning in 2017, its long-awaited launch was only made possible when crippling 25% whiskey tariffs on US imports were reversed as a result of the campaigning efforts of the team and the Bourbon Alliance which was co-founded by Never Say Die director Martha Dalton.
“The process of bringing Kentucky Straight Bourbon in original barrels across the ocean to further mature in England has never been done before,” explained Dalton. “We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved, creating a world-class whiskey that is rooted in Kentucky provenance but with an undeniably English character.”
Pat Heist, Never Say Die’s Master Distiller, added: “Our philosophy is only to produce the best and most interesting whiskey possible for drinkers worldwide. As such, Never Say Die is made using only the finest ingredients. Our custom mash bill has been designed to highlight the essence of the small grains with consistency, using carefully selected local grains. It is a pioneering sweet mash which results in a smoother, more flavourful whiskey.
We also use high-quality, mineral-rich limestone-filtered water sourced from the deepest aquifer in Kentucky. We add our Bourbon whiskey to well seasoned, charred American Oak barrels and tuck them away to mature to perfection for up to four years in Kentucky before it embarks on the final leg of its journey across the ocean to the White Peaks Distillery in Derbyshire to finish”.
For more information go to neversaydiebourbon.com