Duke Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Duke Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the flagship bourbon of Duke Spirits, the house built on John Wayne's own palate — 44% ABV (88 proof), 750mL, from a mash of 75% American dent corn, 13% rye and 12% sixth-row barley, aged a minimum of five years in heavily charred new American oak barrels, small-batch blended and distilled and bottled at the O.Z. Tyler Distillery (KY-11) in Owensboro, Kentucky. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 44% (88 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Mash bill: 75% dent corn, 13% rye, 12% sixth-row barley
- Ageing: Minimum 5 years in heavily charred new American oak
- Style: Small-batch Kentucky straight bourbon
- Origin: O.Z. Tyler Distillery, Owensboro, Kentucky
Built From John Wayne's Handwritten Notes
John Wayne — "Duke," a nickname carried from a childhood dog — meant to make fine spirits himself and never got the chance. Decades later his youngest son, Ethan Wayne, found his father's preserved liquor collection and handwritten blending notes from 1962, and with partner Chris Radomski tasted through them to pin down the profile Wayne preferred: smooth and balanced, with pepper and oak at the finish. This bourbon is that recipe reproduced and updated in Kentucky, at the Owensboro distillery founded in 1885 as Green River and known in the brand's era as O.Z. Tyler. Find it among our bourbon whiskey shelves, browse the wider whisky range, or see the house on the Duke vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Subtle charred oak and roasted nuts, with vanilla, caramel and nutmeg (brand notes). Palate: Warm pepper spice and toasted nuts over the caramel and vanilla core. Finish: Robust and satisfying, sweetness carrying off the oak.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a single large cube — the 88 proof and the heavy char reward slow sipping. It is also a natural Manhattan bourbon, where the rye's pepper in the mash meets the vermouth's spice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Duke bourbon? The brand states a minimum of five years in heavily charred new American oak barrels, small-batch blended — the flagship is the house's "5 YR" bottling on its own sales sheet.
Where is Duke bourbon made? It is distilled and bottled in Owensboro, Kentucky, at the O.Z. Tyler Distillery (KY-11) — the historic Owensboro site that reverted to its original Green River Distilling Co. name in 2020.
What is the connection to John Wayne? Duke was Wayne's nickname. His son Ethan Wayne co-created Duke Spirits, working from Wayne's preserved 1962 liquor collection and handwritten blending notes to reproduce the profile his father favoured.
A bourbon rebuilt from a legend's own notes — buy Duke Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.