After months of dour news, the bourbon world experienced a jolt of excitement this week. The social media website Coming Whiskey were the first to break the scoop that on-again off-again fan favorite Black Maple Hill were coming out with a new highly-aged Kentucky bourbon. Detective work revealed the brand now fell under the umbrella of Rare Character Whiskey, another company whose releases send bourbon nerds into a fugue state in search of allocated bottles of liquid gold.
Newly approved filings with the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) reveal the front label for a new limited edition "Black Maple Hill Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey." The label says the whiskey was "Distilled and aged in Kentucky” and "Bottled by Black Maple Hill Distilling Co., Lexington KY." The back label is where things get really interesting, with Rare Character Whiskey Co. listed beneath the legally required government warning. Another label filed for approval offers age and proof verification, revealing the bourbon to be sixteen years old and coming in at 95 proof / 47.5% ABV.
The Ups And Downs Of Black Maple Hill
Launched in 2000 by CVI Brands, Black Maple Hill was one of the most celebrated non-distiller producers (NDPs) of the early "Bourbon Boom." Their first releases achieved legendary status among collectors, allegedly having been sourced from barrels that originated at the hallowed Stitzel-Weller Distillery and supposedly bottled by Julian Van Winkle III. When that initial supply was exhausted, the brand began sourcing its whiskey from Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD), the family-operated company behind the historic Willett Distillery and brand, which at the time was operating as an NDP and finishing house. This association further enhanced Black Maple Hill's standing, as KBD had access to highly aged bourbons and ryes that few other NDPs could rival.
As the demand for premium bourbons intensified, the supply of high-aged Kentucky barrels quickly vanished. By the late 2000s, the age statements disappeared, and Black Maple Hill's core appeal diminished. In a controversial move around 2014, CVI Brands revived Black Maple Hill by sourcing its whiskey from Stein Distillery in Oregon. This change from old, pedigree Kentucky spirit to a younger, craft-distilled Oregon product caused the brand's following to fracture, with Black Maple Hill largely fading from the must-have lists of serious bourbon connoisseurs.
The Rise Of Rare Character Whiskey
Rare Character Whiskey Co. was founded in 2021 by Pablo Moix and Peter Nevenglosky and has rapidly established itself as a leading force in independent bottling. They have earned a passionate following by consistently accesing premium, well-aged stocks from top distilleries across Kentucky and Indiana. This capability is largely credited to co-founder Pablo Moix’s extensive network of relationships forged over decades in the industry. Beyond securing high-quality barrels, Rare Character is lauded for its innovative approach to blending and finishing, resulting in unique and complex flavor profiles in its limited-edition releases. The company is also praised for its sense of history, successfully reintroducing legacy brands, such as Fortuna Bourbon and Brook Hill Whiskey. This focus on quality and tradition makes the brand a fitting steward for Black Maple Hill's return to prominence.
What The Return Of Black Maple Hill Means
Following the TTB discovery, Bourb Your Enthusiasm's Frank Dobbins III posted on Instagram, stating emphatically, “It’s official, Rare Character are the new owners of Black Maple Hill.” Dobbins has a direct relationship with Rare Character, having selected 2024's Old Cassidy Single Barrel Bourbon for the brand, and reported Black Maple Hill will launch with 11 and 16-year-old expressions. An official announcement from Rare Character, Black Maple Hill, or CVI Brands, is still forthcoming.
The move has intriguing implications for the struggling American whiskey industry. For years, securing truly old, high-quality whiskey has been nearly impossible for independent brands. Rare Character's ability to acquire and commit such mature barrels implies smaller entities are beginning to access the aged inventory that has been locked up by brokerages or large producers for years. If this trend continues, the rebirth of Black Maple Hill could be the first sign that the scarcity of truly old, premium American whiskey is beginning to ease, bringing exceptional, age-stated bottles back to the forefront of the market.
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