Calumet Farm 12 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Calumet Farm 12 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon is the Single Rack Black bottling — a small, age-stated Kentucky straight drawn from one center-cut rack of the rickhouse, aimed at the value-minded drinker who wants a genuine 12-year age statement without a three-figure price.

Process & Profile

Bottled at 94 proof (47% ABV) from a traditional mash of corn, rye, and malted barley, this release is aged twelve years in barrels given a deep #4 char, which drives its dark color and a faint smokiness. The name carries real pedigree: Calumet Farm is the storied Lexington Thoroughbred nursery that produced eight Kentucky Derby winners, and the bourbon is built by Western Spirits Beverage Company — a Bowling Green outfit founded in 2008 — with distillation handled to spec by The Bardstown Bourbon Company. "Single Rack Black" refers to the sourcing: every barrel in the batch comes from a single center rack, the sweet spot for even maturation, in tiny runs of roughly 19 barrels.

On the nose, vanilla, caramel, and toffee lead the way.

On the palate, baking spice, black pepper, and toasted oak carry a whisper of char-driven smoke.

The finish is warm, balanced, and dry, the oak lingering without turning bitter.

At twelve years for well under many single-barrel age-stated bourbons, this is the release's real hook — a center-rack selection from a deep-char barrel that delivers older-bourbon oak and spice at a mid-shelf price, sitting neatly between Calumet's 10 and 14 year expressions.

Serve neat or over a large cube in a rocks glass; it holds up to a barrel-char sear on a ribeye.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this whisky?
A 12-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon, the Single Rack Black bottling from Calumet Farm.

What are the specs?
12 years old, 94 proof / 47% ABV, mash of corn, rye, and malted barley, #4 char barrels, 750mL.

What does it taste like?
Vanilla, caramel, and toffee on the nose; baking spice, pepper, and toasted oak on the palate; a warm, dry finish.

How should you enjoy it?
Neat or over a single large ice cube.

Why is this release notable?
It's a genuine 12-year age statement drawn from a single center rack, delivering aged oak and spice at a mid-shelf price.