James B. Beam Distilling Co. is launching the second installment within the Hardin’s Creek™ Kentucky Series (announced June 2023), called Hardin’s Creek™ Frankfort. The Kentucky Series takes whiskey fans on a journey of ‘Kentucky Terroir’, featuring three Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey expressions, all aged for 17 years with the same mash bill — the only difference being the location of aging. This limited-edition collection of ultra-rare expressions includes Hardin’s Creek Clermont (released June 2023), Hardin’s Creek Frankfort (launching now), and Hardin’s Creek Boston (coming in September).
Hardin’s Creek Frankfort is a 17-year-old Bourbon, aged at The James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s Frankfort campus in Kentucky. The creek bed at the Frankfort campus covers the storied rack houses in a blanket of humidity, making everything age more slowly. The unique terroir of Frankfort lends this Bourbon a flavor distinct from the other two expressions in the series, making for a delicate oak-infused pour, with notes of sweet caramel and floral tobacco.
“These liquids are comprised of the same mash bill, and aged for the same amount of time, but resulted in a different tasting profile. It’s a real testament to how micro-climates and diverse landscapes can impart major differences on the flavor profile of each whiskey,” said Freddie Noe, Eighth Generation Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery. “The humidity and airflow in our Frankfort campus influence the evaporation and oxidization processes, making a slower reaction to the color and flavor.”
Launched in 2022, Hardin’s Creek is a series of ongoing releases featuring some of the James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s rarest and most unique whiskeys, grounded in rich distilling expertise. The releases showcase the breadth and depth of the James B. Beam Distilling Co’s whiskey-making credentials inclusive of age, blending, mash bill, distillation, barrels, rack house locations and more.
HARDIN’S CREEK KENTUCKY SERIES, FRANKFORT – 55% ABV | Suggested Retail Price: $169.99
The second expression from the Kentucky Series is Hardin’s Creek Frankfort, aged on the Frankfort campus and bottled at 204 months.
COLOR: Deep burnished amber
NOSE: Delicate oak wood with hints of campfire and cigar box
PALATE: Concentrated sweet caramel and raisin with gentle floral tobacco
FINISH: Sweet oak and aged wood tones
Hardin’s Creek Frankfort is best enjoyed neat or served over a large ice cube in a lowball glass where its complex flavors can be appreciated with each sip.