Last Updated on December 17, 2025 by Justin Jones

Arkansas bourbon enthusiasts should pay close attention. The Bourbon Club of Arkansas (BCA) has previewed its first true custom private blend, and based on what has been disclosed so far, this project represents a significant evolution in the club’s approach to whiskey.

This is not a routine barrel pick.

According to preview details shared by Gary Penna, Gary Penna and Justin Mills personally traveled to a blending facility where they spent the day selecting and constructing the blend from a large inventory of barrels. The result is described as a six-barrel, multi-distillery blend and the oldest bottling BCA has produced to date.

At the time of writing:

• The release date has not yet been announced
• The final price is unknown (any figure discussed so far is only an estimate)
• This release is currently available exclusively to BCA members

This article serves as a long-form preview and historical deep dive into the whiskey, the distilleries involved, and the blending house that made it possible.

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What We Know So Far — And What Remains Open

Confirmed Details

• Type: True custom private blend (not a single barrel)
• Barrels Used: Six barrels total
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Proof: Described as near 120 proof (final proof not confirmed)
• Status: Currently exclusive to Bourbon Club of Arkansas members
• Significance: Oldest BCA blend to date

Not Yet Final

• Official release date
• Final retail price

This is a preview announcement only. Additional details are expected later.

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The Blend Formula (As Previewed)

Base Layer — 3/8 of the Blend

This base layer is effectively 100% 12-year MGP, forming the structural core of the whiskey.

Mid Layer — 3/8 of the Blend

This layer reportedly targets the mid-palate, balancing oak maturity with sweetness and body.

Finishing Layer — 2/8 of the Blend

This final layer is designed to restore aromatic lift, reinforce the finish, and add historical character.

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The Distilleries Behind the Blend

MGP Ingredients — Lawrenceburg, Indiana

The Backbone of Modern American Whiskey

The Lawrenceburg, Indiana distillery now known as MGP Ingredients dates back to 1847, making it one of the oldest continuously operating distilling sites in the United States.

For much of the 20th century, the distillery was operated by Seagram’s, which transformed it into a precision-focused, high-capacity producer known for consistency and long-term aging strategies. When Seagram’s exited the spirits business, the site eventually came under MGP ownership, a company with deep expertise in grain processing and fermentation.

What sets MGP apart is its ability to produce whiskey designed to age well:

• Strong vanilla and caramel development
• Structured oak integration
• Stability at higher proofs and older ages

For years, MGP whiskey powered countless brands quietly. Today, it is openly respected as one of the most reliable sources of mature bourbon in America.

In this blend, the 12-year MGP component clearly functions as the foundation—providing age, sweetness, and structural integrity upon which the rest of the whiskey is built.

Below is a List of Spirits that MGP currently distills/contract for/with:

Brand Name	Relationship	Primary Spirit	Notes
George Remus	Owned (MGP)	Bourbon	MGP’s flagship house bourbon brand.
Rossville Union	Owned (MGP)	Rye	MGP’s flagship house rye brand.
Penelope	Owned (MGP)	Bourbon	Acquired by MGP in 2023.
Ezra Brooks	Owned (Luxco)	Bourbon/Rye	Part of the 2021 Luxco acquisition.
Rebel (formerly Rebel Yell)	Owned (Luxco)	Wheated Bourbon	Part of the 2021 Luxco acquisition.
Blood Oath	Owned (Luxco)	Bourbon (Blend)	High-end limited releases.
Yellowstone	Owned (Joint Venture)	Bourbon	Produced at Limestone Branch (50% MGP owned).
David Nicholson	Owned (Luxco)	Bourbon	Historic wheated bourbon brand.
El Mayor / Exotico	Owned (Luxco)	Tequila	Sourced from MGP’s partner distillery in Mexico.
Notable Contract / Sourced Brands (Past & Present)
Bulleit Rye	Contract	Rye	Famous for the MGP 95% Rye mashbill.
Redemption Whiskey	Contract	Bourbon & Rye	Entire brand is built on MGP distillate.
High West	Contract / Blend	Rye & Bourbon	Famous for blending MGP with their own distillate.
Smoke Wagon	Contract	Bourbon	Exclusively MGP; famous for their blending of it.
WhistlePig	Contract / Blend	Rye	Older stocks (Old World Rye) often MGP; now moving to own/Canadian stock.
Templeton Rye	Historical Source	Rye	Historically MGP; recently opened their own distillery.
George Dickel Rye	Contract	Rye	Dickel makes their own bourbon, but sources rye from MGP.
Smooth Ambler	Contract / Blend	Bourbon (Old Scout)	Old Scout line is famous MGP sourcing.
Angel’s Envy	Contract (Partial)	Rye	Their Rye is MGP (95% mashbill); Bourbon is their own/KY sourced.
Joseph Magnus	Contract	Bourbon	Heavily finished MGP bourbon.
Tin Cup	Contract / Blend	American Whiskey	A blend of MGP + Stranahan’s single malt.
Sagamore Spirit	Contract / Blend	Rye	Historically MGP; now blending MGP with their own Maryland distillate.

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Green River Distilling Co. — Owensboro, Kentucky

“The Whiskey Without Regrets,” Reborn

Green River Distilling Co. was originally founded in 1885 in Owensboro, Kentucky, and once stood among the state’s most prominent producers. Its famous slogan, “The Whiskey Without Regrets,” reflected its early reputation for quality and consistency.

Like many historic distilleries, Green River suffered during Prohibition and never fully reclaimed its pre-Prohibition stature. Over time, the site fell dormant.

In the modern era, distilling returned to Owensboro under new ownership, initially operating as O.Z. Tyler Distillery before formally reclaiming the Green River Distilling Co. name in 2020 as a deliberate return to heritage.

Modern Green River bourbon is known for:

• Balance between sweetness and oak
• Strong mid-palate presence
• Compatibility in both single barrels and blends

The 9- and 10-year Green River barrels in this blend appear intentionally chosen to manage oak intensity while preserving richness and approachability.

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Wild Turkey — Lawrenceburg, Kentucky

A Distillery Defined by Consistency, Not Trends

Wild Turkey’s identity has been shaped by decades of continuity, not reinvention.

Jimmy Russell joined Wild Turkey in 1954 and became master distiller in 1967. His son, Eddie Russell, later joined him, forming one of the longest-running father-son legacies in bourbon.

Wild Turkey’s philosophy emphasizes:

• Low barrel entry proof
• Heavy barrel char
• Yeast and fermentation profiles maintained for generations

These choices yield bourbon that is bold, spice-forward, and structurally sound—even at younger ages.

The 8-year Wild Turkey component in this blend likely serves to lift the nose and reinforce the finish, preventing the whiskey from becoming overly rounded or muted by age alone.

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O.Z. Tyler: A Rare and Transitional Chapter of Kentucky Whiskey

Who Was O.Z. Tyler?

Working with his stepson after retirement, he invented a process that used ultrasonic energy and oxygenation (TerraPURE) to “clean” spirits. The theory was that high-frequency sound waves could force chemical reactions (like the breakdown of harsh congeners and the formation of esters) in hours, simulating years of barrel aging.

NOTE: This process was NOT used on any of this whiskey. This process occurs after aging and before bottling; and efforts to use this technology were abandoned after bad reviews.

This technology became the foundation of Terressentia Corp, the company that bought the distillery in 2014. They named the facility O.Z. Tyler to honor him, as he passed away that same year.

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The O.Z. Tyler Distillery Era

The Owensboro distillery site was revived in the 2010s under ownership associated with Tyler’s work and reopened as O.Z. Tyler Distillery, with distilling resuming in 2016.

This era represents a bridge period:

• Between a dormant historic site
• And the modern rebirth of Green River Distilling Co.

In 2020, the distillery formally reverted to the Green River name, closing the O.Z. Tyler chapter while preserving its contributions.

In March 2025, Lofted Spirits was formed as a unified parent company holding Bardstown Bourbon Co., Green River Distilling Co., and Lofted Custom Spirits. While the brands maintain distinct identities, they share executive leadership, distribution networks, and a consolidated contract distilling arm.

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Why the O.Z. Tyler Barrels Matter in This Blend

The 10-year O.Z. Tyler whiskey used here reportedly comes from early barrels filled during that transitional era. These barrels are not simply old—they represent a moment in time that cannot be recreated.

In this blend, the O.Z. Tyler component is said to anchor the finish, contributing deep caramelized sugars, oak weight, and lingering warmth.

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Exclusivity and Why It Matters

At present, this release will be available exclusively to Bourbon Club of Arkansas members.

That exclusivity reflects more than access—it reflects trust. Access to high-age, historically significant barrels across multiple distilleries does not happen casually.

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Final Thoughts (For Now)

Even without finalized release details, this BCA private blend already stands apart:

• Multi-distillery
• High-age
• Purpose-built
• Historically significant
• Member-exclusive

ArkansasLiquor.com will continue to follow this release as additional details are announced.

Stay tuned.

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📌 Update – December 24, 2025

The Bourbon Club of Arkansas (BCA) has shared a new update confirming that its private blend has been bottled and finalized, with availability expected to begin in January. The release remains exclusive to BCA members.

Final Proof & Price

• Proof: 119 proof
• Price: $150 for BCA members
  (Shared as a club-specific price for this release.)

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Final Blend Details (As Released)

The finalized blend composition was shared as follows:

• 24% · 12-year · 36% MGP
• 74% · 9-year · 21% Green River
• 1% · 9-year · 13% Green River
• 1% · 8-year · Wild Turkey

(Blend details are reproduced exactly as released.)

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Official Tasting Notes

Source: Gary Penna, Bourbon Club of Arkansas — December 24, 2025

Color:
Molasses-dark.

Nose:
Aged, charred rickhouse on the initial pull, followed by dark jam preserves. Whipped butter and brown sugar emerge with time, alongside deep stone fruit and bakery notes reminiscent of icing-topped cinnamon rolls.

Palate:
Buttery with an extremely silky mouthfeel. Highly viscous, with dark fruit spreading across the tongue. Pie crust and donut dough notes combine with fruit to create a Danish pastry character on the mid-palate. Gentle heat builds into a classic Kentucky hug. Drinks below proof with brief flashes that remind you of its true strength.

Finish:
Cream soda, sweet oak, dark berries, and light cocoa powder, followed by a long, lingering finish.

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Availability

This release is currently available exclusively to members of the Bourbon Club of Arkansas. No public availability has been announced.

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📌 Source & Methodology

Source Attribution:
Blend details and tasting notes were originally shared by Gary Penna, Bourbon Club of Arkansas, via a Facebook post dated December 24, 2025.

Editorial Use Statement:
ArkansasLiquor.com republishes community-sourced information for editorial and informational purposes only.