Kentucky Owl Takumi Edition is a collaboration with John Rhea, Kentucky Owl's master blender, and Yahisa Yusuke, Japanese whiskey master blender for Nagahama Distillery in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. John Rhea started his career in whiskey at Four Roses Distillery right out of college, eventually working his way up to Chief Operating Officer and then retiring in 2016 after 40 years with the company. Rhea also served on the board of the Kentucky Distillers' Association for 17 years. He joined Kentucky Owl as master blender in 2021. Yahisa Yusuke is much newer to whiskey blending, but proving to be an up-and-coming blender to watch.

All our Discovery Series releases push the boundaries of whiskey innovation, but Series #8 takes the program to a new level with our most complex creation to date. We start with an artfully crafted blend of Kentucky Bourbon, two Indiana ryes, and aged Canadian whiskey. We then add a custom selection of five oak staves that were created specifically to enhance the unique flavor of our original blend. The staves provide nuances that range from French toast to vanilla to Rioja barrels. The result is a celebration of innovation and a spirit bursting with flavor.