Green River Debuts 92-Proof ‘Real, Natural’ Honey Bourbon

(Photo: Green River)

On Tuesday, Green River Distilling Co. announced the release of a honey bourbon.

Green River Honey Finished Bourbon Whiskey is a 92-proof expression made by finishing 4-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon that ages with real honey.

Unlike some honey whiskeys, which rely on added flavoring and lower-proof whiskey liqueur blends, Green River’s new release is built around traditional bourbon structure and barrel interaction.

The whiskey begins as Green River Kentucky Straight Bourbon distilled and aged in Owensboro, Kentucky. A custom blend of raw honey sourced from family-owned apiaries across the Midwest and South is then added to the barrel, allowing the bourbon and honey to integrate naturally over time.

According to the company, the resulting whiskey features notes of honey, caramel, orange peel, toasted oak and vanilla, finishing with light cinnamon spice.  We have a sample and will have our own tasting notes and full review up soon — keep your eyes peeled for that.

“For too long, honey whiskey has been defined by shortcuts,” Lofted Spirits Master Blender Dan Callaway said in a news release. “Green River Honey is changing that – putting our money into real, natural honey and Kentucky Straight Bourbon.”

Bottled at 92 proof (46% ABV), the whiskey arrives at a notably higher proof than many flavored whiskey competitors, positioning it closer to traditional bourbon than to lower-proof whiskey liqueurs.

The honey used in the release comes through a partnership with Kentucky-based Above the Dirt Garden and Honey Shop, a beekeeper-owned business that sources raw, unfiltered honey from family-owned apiaries.

Green River said the release is intended to appeal both to bourbon drinkers and bartenders seeking a more structured honey whiskey for cocktails.

The company suggested using the whiskey in cocktails such as a Gold Rush, where the honey component can reduce the need for additional sweeteners.

Green River Honey Finished Bourbon Whiskey will begin rolling out nationwide May 15 in 750-milliliter and 200-milliliter formats. The suggested retail price is $24.99 per 750-milliliter bottle.

The launch comes during a period of broader expansion for Green River and parent company Lofted Spirits, which recently introduced Green River Wheated Full Proof following strong performance from its wheated bourbon lineup.