Bulleit Bourbon: High Rye Kentucky Bourbon Explained

Bulleit Bourbon is a Kentucky straight bourbon owned by Diageo and made at distilleries in Shelbyville and Lebanon, Kentucky. It is known for a high rye mash bill, around 28%, and a story that starts with a tavern keeper who vanished on the way to New Orleans.

At a glance

• Owner: Diageo

• Locations: Bulleit Distillery, 3464 Benson Pike, Shelbyville, and Bulleit Distillery, 100 Bourbon Drive, Lebanon, Kentucky

• Mash bill: 68% corn, 28% rye and 4% malted barley (Wikipedia)

• Age: at least six years for the core bourbon

• Strength: 45% ABV (90 proof) in the US, Canada, UK, Netherlands and Mexico, 40% in Australia and Denmark

• Also sold in: Germany, Norway and Sweden

The story

Augustus Bulleit

The official brand page says Augustus Bulleit, a Kentucky tavern keeper, crafted a bold high rye whiskey in the 1830s. He disappeared while transporting barrels to New Orleans. Wikipedia says the first batch was made around 1830 and that Augustus produced it until his death in 1860. The two sources differ on how his story ended, so this post leaves the ending out.

Tom Bulleit

Thomas E. Bulleit Jr., great great grandson of Augustus, revived the brand. Wikipedia says he began distilling in 1987 and that the first commercial run was a 4,000 case contract run at Frankfort's Leestown distillery, now Buffalo Trace, in 1989. After ageing, it reached shops in the summer of 1995.

Seagram and Diageo

Seagram bought the brand in 1997 and began distilling it in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The brand reached Australia, the UK and Germany in 2000. Diageo acquired Seagram's assets, including Bulleit.

Its own distillery

On 14 March 2017 Diageo opened a new Bulleit distillery on 300 acres east of Shelbyville, a 115 million dollar facility. A visitor experience opened there in June 2019 with guided tours, a cocktail bar and a chance to design a custom bottle label. Tours and prices were not checked.

The range

The official brand page lists these expressions:

• Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey

• Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon

• 10 Year Old Whiskey

• Rye Aged 10 Years

• Rye 12 Years Aged

• Bulleit 95 Rye

• American Single Malt Whiskey

Additional details from Wikipedia, not checked against the official site:

• Barrel Strength: a blend of barrels aged 5 to 8 years, proof varying by batch from 118 to 125 (59 to 62.5% ABV)

• 10 Year: 91.2 US proof, same mash bill as the original, double gold at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

• Rye: introduced March 2011, 95% rye and 5% malted barley, produced in Lawrenceburg, Indiana by MGP Ingredients, bottled at 45%

• Bottled in Bond Bourbon: a limited 2025 release aged seven years, distilled and aged at Shelbyville

• Bulleit '87: announced for 2026, a blend of Kentucky bourbon and Indiana rye, 45% ABV, scheduled for nationwide availability from September 2026

Recent news

Wikipedia reports that Tom Bulleit's daughter Hollis left Diageo in 2017 and made a claim about her departure that Diageo denied. This is included only because it is part of the public record on the brand, and is not a verified account of what happened.

FAQ

Who owns Bulleit?

Diageo.

Is Bulleit a high rye bourbon?

Yes. The mash bill is about 28% rye, high for a bourbon.

Where is Bulleit made?

At the Shelbyville and Lebanon distilleries in Kentucky. The rye is made in Indiana by MGP, per Wikipedia.

How strong is it?

45% ABV in the US and several other markets, 40% in Australia and Denmark.

Sources and gaps

Sources read on 20 October 2026: Wikipedia article on Bulleit Bourbon and the Diageo run Bulleit brand page on thebar.com. Not reached: bulleit.com (404). Gaps: visitor hours and prices, current capacity, master distiller, and whether the Lebanon distillery still produces. Wikipedia's rye origin and 2026 releases are unchecked. Whisky Clan does not publish tasting notes in its distillery profiles.