Bluegrass Distillers announced the release of its new High Rye Blue Corn Single Barrels. The release is available now online and at the distillery, with select barrels soon reaching distribution as limited store picks. Each barrel is bottled individually at full cask strength, with select barrels reaching as high as 147 proof. SRP is $75 per 750mL bottle, with yields varying by barrel. 

This release marks Bluegrass Distillers’ first Blue Corn Single Barrel release since 2023. While the original expression highlights wheat, this latest release, featuring 21 percent rye as the secondary grain, offers a unique flavor profile. 

Compared to traditional yellow corn, which typically produces a softer, sweeter profile, the heirloom, non-GMO blue corn used by Bluegrass Distillers delivers deeper richness and complexity. Much like heritage grape varietals in wine or heirloom barley in craft beer, blue corn is prized for the depth, individuality, and richness it brings to the final spirit. 

Paired with rye as the secondary grain, this new expression layers notes of amaretto, orange liqueur, baking spice, and dark caramel into the whiskey’s bold, full-bodied character.

“We love Blue Corn because, for one, we were the first to do it. It’s our baby,” Sam Rock, co-owner of Bluegrass Distillers, said in a news release. “Since 2017, we’ve continued experimenting with it, learning from it, and pushing it in new directions. This high rye release is a fun new evolution of the program and a chance to showcase Blue Corn in a completely different way.”

“Our Wheated Blue Corn isn’t going anywhere,” Rock continued. “We’re continuing to produce plenty of it using grains grown on our property. But Blue Corn has always stood apart, not just for its flavor, but for how unique it is, and this new high rye expression gives us another way to showcase that character.”

The High Rye Blue Corn Single Barrels will begin arriving in select markets soon as limited store pick releases, while the 7-Year High Rye Blue Corn Small Batch will remain available as a year-round core offering.

Read more: Bluegrass Distillers Releases Tournament of Roses Bourbon

About Bluegrass Distillers

Bluegrass Distillers is a craft bourbon distillery based in Midway, KY, known for its award-winning small-batch and single-barrel bourbons. In 2025, the brand expanded to a new 62-acre farm and distillery at Elkwood Farm, doubling production capacity. Committed to a seed-to-glass approach, Bluegrass uses local grains — many grown right on the farm — to craft bourbon rooted in Kentucky tradition. For more information, visit https://bluegrassdistillers.com/.