Legent Is a Kentucky Bourbon Blended Like Japanese Whisky

Turns out we haven’t hit peak bourbon innovation. We just need a bit of outside help.

While bourbon is synonymous with but not exclusive to Kentucky, Beam Suntory just gave the spirit some international flair with the launch of Legent (“lee-jent”).

At heart, Legent is a Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon aged in wine and sherry casks and then blended with more Jim Beam product.

So the distilling and mashbill is homegrown — credit Jim Beam seventh-generation Master Distiller Fred Noe — but the blending expertise arrives courtesy of House of Suntory Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo. Being that Japanese whisky is very much a thing right now (and particularly blends), it’s no surprise that the methods of each whisky style have come together quite fruitfully: The end result is a well-balanced tipple with bright, long finish.

A 750ml bottle of Legent is available in some markets now via Drizly for $35.