Blue Lot Bourbon marks two years with West Virginia finish

Blue Lot Bourbon is marking its second anniversary as Tailgate Spirits expands a West Virginia-born premium bourbon brand built around state identity. The 100-proof single-barrel bourbon is distilled in Kentucky, finished in Summersville and sold at select retailers across West Virginia.

Why it matters: - Blue Lot Bourbon is trying to turn West Virginia tailgate culture into a premium spirits brand with local economic and cultural identity attached. - The bourbon’s West Virginia finishing process and state certification give the brand a hometown claim that sets it apart from other bourbons sold in the state. - The product is already on shelves in West Virginia, giving the brand a retail footprint as it enters year three.

What happened: - Tailgate Spirits LLC marked two years since the company was founded on July 11, 2024. - The company delivered its first order on August 29, 2024. - Blue Lot Bourbon is now entering its third year as a certified West Virginia Grown bourbon. - Founder Mike Greenblatt said the brand is built around the idea of “Culture, Bottled.” - Blue Lot Bourbon 100 Proof is available at select retailers across West Virginia. - The suggested retail price is $84.99. - Product information and retail locations are available at the company’s website.

The details: - Blue Lot Bourbon is distilled at Green River Distilling Co. in Owensboro, Kentucky. - Green River Distilling Co. has operated since 1885. - Greenblatt hand-selected a six-year single barrel for the brand. - The bourbon is shipped in sealed barrels to Summersville, West Virginia. - In Summersville, the bourbon is brought to bottling proof with West Virginia spring water, then bottled and labeled. - Blue Lot Bourbon 100 Proof is certified as a West Virginia Grown product by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. - Tailgate Spirits absorbs the extra logistics cost of finishing the bourbon in West Virginia instead of completing the process in Kentucky. - Greenblatt has been part of Morgantown tailgate culture in the same lot since 1980, when the area was mostly mud and gravel. - Blue Lot Bourbon takes its name from that Morgantown lot. - Greenblatt arrived in West Virginia at age 4 and graduated from West Virginia University in 1981. - Blue Lot Bourbon is an independent brand and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any university, athletic program or conference.

Between the lines: - The brand is positioning West Virginia involvement as a core part of the product, not just a marketing theme. - The decision to finish the bourbon in-state appears designed to justify the brand’s local identity and its higher-end price point. - Greenblatt’s comments frame the venture as a personal project tied to state pride, not a necessity for his business portfolio.

What's next: - Blue Lot Bourbon will likely continue building distribution in West Virginia as Tailgate Spirits promotes the brand’s local finish and state-grown certification. - The company’s website remains the primary channel for product details and store locations. - Tailgate Spirits is also directing customers to its social media presence on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X.