Modified on August 6, 2026 ,
Published on August 5, 2026
Tyler Ellison
Sometimes collaborations between whiskey and fashion brands work, and sometimes they don’t. In the case of the new partnership between Western wear icon Stetson and Bardstown Bourbon Company and Green River, two of Kentucky’s best modern distilleries, the results turned out to be very good.
Stetson has been around since 1865, when founder John B. Stetson was credited with inventing the cowboy hat. Bardstown Bourbon Company, on the other hand, has only been around since 2014, but its sister distillery Green River (they both operate now under the Lofted Spirits name) can trace its origins back to 1885. It did not survive for very long after Prohibition was repealed, but the name was revived in 2014 and it began distilling again two years later, and ultimately was acquired by Bardstown in 2022. As we’ve reported, things have been a bit tough for both distilleries in recent months, and as of last spring both names have cut back on production. Still, based on recent releases like Victoria Pineapple Finish and the Distillery Reserve Mars Single Malt Japanese Blend, master blender Dan Callaway still has plenty of excellent whiskey stock to work with and no lack of new ideas.
