Torchtree Bourbon Touches Down in Texas

David Pratt, founder of Texas-based Torchtree Bourbon, just wants to tell an authentic story with his new brand.

“I’ve just seen a lot of stories out there that just didn’t connect with true bourbon enthusiasts,” Pratt told Fredminnick.com. “Everything I do, I wanted to come up with a genuine, real story.”

The story is that Pratt, like so many bourbon lovers, came to America’s spirit largely by accident. He spent two decades mostly working in the soft drink industry – Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, Red Bull – and just a handful of years ago, he began experimenting with home brewing.

That led to Pratt exploring whiskey and different mashbills.

“I just fell in love,” he said. “My first true love came from Buffalo Trace, and I just started making my way down that rabbit hole and continued to pursue my passion. Every bourbon has a story to tell based on mashbills.”

Pratt purchased 12 barrels of 7-year bourbon from a distillery based in Owensboro, Ky., four of which will be released as single barrel products, four of which went into toasted barrels, and four more that were spiral-stave finished and will soon be toasted. The mashbill is 75% corn, 21 % rye and 4% malted barley. The bourbon was bottled at Bardstown Bourbon Company.

All of the bottles will be released in Texas. He said the bourbon is one Green River hadn’t released to the public previously – and now it will hit the market as Torchtree Bourbon – the brand name being an allusion to fire meeting oak.

The reason why I picked this specific bourbon,” Pratt (pictured below) said, “is based off aromatics – the minute you pop it open, you get that smell of caramel notes hitting your nose.”

First to market will be Torchtree Bourbon Single Barrel, which is bottled at 100 proof and carries an SRP in the range of $79-$89. Look for the toasted barrel expression to hit shelves this coming winter. For more information, visit https://www.torchtreebourbon.com/.

-Kevin Gibson