Blue Note 17 Year Barrel Proof Bourbon Returns After 4 Years
A 17-year-old bourbon is a rare thing at any price, and Blue Note's version has been missing since 2022. Memphis-based B.R. Distilling Co. is bringing back its 17-Year Barrel Proof Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey in a limited run of roughly 4,000 bottles. It comes in at 119 proof, unfiltered, and with a suggested price of $174.99. For anyone who missed the last one, this is the second chance.
Why This Return Matters
Seventeen years is a long time for any whiskey to sit in wood, and most bourbon never gets near it. Blue Note's CEO, Chris Crosbie, called the bottle "a rare opportunity for collectors and discerning whiskey enthusiasts." It has been four years since the company last released an expression of this caliber, so this return is a genuine event for the brand's fans.
The whiskey is a returning release, not a brand new bourbon. It joins a growing lineup of limited Blue Note bottlings that includes Premium Small Batch, Single Barrel Reserve, Single Barrel Rye, Honey Bourbon and the recently introduced Cherry Cask Bourbon. At $174.99, it sits well above the brand's everyday core bottles, which run from about $35 to $50.
Inside the Bottle
The mash bill, which is the grain recipe, is 70% corn, 22% rye and 8% malted barley. That is a corn-heavy base for sweetness, with a solid dose of rye for spice. "Barrel proof" means the whiskey is bottled at full strength without being watered down. Here that works out to 119 proof (59.5% ABV).
The whiskey is distilled in Kentucky in partnership with Lofted Spirits, the parent company of Green River Distilling Co. It then travels to Blue Note's Memphis warehouses to age. Those warehouses sit near the meeting point of the Mississippi and Wolf rivers, where hot summers and cooler evenings push the whiskey in and out of the barrel wood. That constant movement is what the brand credits for the deep character of its older bottles.
According to the distillery, the nose opens with seasoned oak, dark cherry and antique leather, with vanilla bean, burnt sugar and baking spices behind them. The palate is full-bodied, mixing rich oak and sweetness. The finish lingers with charred oak, dark cocoa and spice.
The Story Behind Blue Note
Blue Note is a Memphis story, and it has the music to match. Its core range carries names like Juke Joint, Crossroads and Uncut, a nod to the blues heritage of the city. B.R. Distilling describes itself as the oldest licensed distillery in Memphis, and says it was founded there in 2014.
One outside account tells a slightly different version. According to Whisky Auctioneer, the company took shape in 2018 when McCauley Williams bought a small vodka distillery out of administration, and Blue Note became its first bourbon brand. The two dates likely reflect the original founding and a later relaunch, but either way, a vodka distillery turned bourbon maker is a good underdog tale.
Today the company runs a 110,000-square-foot production facility in Memphis with a tasting room and guided behind-the-scenes tours. Its portfolio is five flagship expressions plus regular limited releases, with the 17-Year as a prized bottle at the top.
Price, Proof and Availability
Official Name: Blue Note 17-Year Barrel Proof Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Category: Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey, unfiltered
ABV/Proof: 59.5% ABV (119 proof)
Age: 17 years
Price (SRP): $174.99
Quantity: approximately 4,000 bottles
US Availability: select US markets plus online at BlueNoteBourbon.com. The brand's distribution states are AR, CO, CT, FL, GA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NE, NJ, NY, OK, RI, SC, TN, TX and WI, plus Washington, DC, so New Jersey and New York are included. Online orders ship to a wider list of states, so check the site for yours.
Release Date: announced November 10, 2026
Limited Edition: yes
Did You Know?
A 17-year age statement means the youngest whiskey in the bottle is at least 17 years old. In 2026, that points to whiskey distilled in 2009 or earlier, years before B.R. Distilling opened under either founding date.
Blue Note's older whiskey is distilled in Kentucky and aged in Tennessee, so this bourbon spent its 17 years maturing in Memphis weather rather than in Kentucky.
Tonights Poison Take
Seventeen-year bourbon at $174.99 is not a casual purchase, but for the age and the barrel-proof strength it sits in a spot many collectors will find reasonable. The run is only about 4,000 bottles, and with one earlier edition now four years in the past, interest should be strong. Fans who have followed Blue Note from the $35 Juke Joint up to the limited bottles will see this as the top of the ladder. If you want one, check the brand's site or your local store early.
Bar Talk: This Memphis bourbon is distilled in Kentucky and aged for 17 years in the Tennessee heat.
Know a bourbon collector who missed the 2022 bottle? Send them this one before the 4,000 bottles disappear.
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About the author: Jas Sawhney (Tonights Poison) has spent 18 years in the beverage alcohol industry and shares new releases, tastings and spirits news as @tonightspoison on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Please enjoy responsibly.
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