Deep in the heart of Texas, something big is happening for whiskey lovers. B.R. Distilling Company – the folks behind Blue Note Bourbon – just shook hands with Ben E. Keith Beverages to bring their Memphis-made whiskey to every corner of the Lone Star State. For anyone who enjoys a good pour after a long day, this is the kind of news that makes you sit up and pay attention.
If you’ve never heard of Blue Note Bourbon, you’re not alone – yet. Coming out of Tennessee’s oldest licensed distillery in Memphis, this brand has been quietly stacking up awards while staying under a lot of radars. Now, with Ben E. Keith’s trucks rolling across Texas, that’s about to change.
“Ben E. Keith Beverages is widely regarded as a leader in beverage distribution,” said Chris Crosbie, President and CEO of B.R. Distilling Company. “Given Texas’s importance as a whiskey market, we are confident this partnership will significantly enhance awareness and visibility for Blue Note Bourbon throughout the Lone Star State.”
He’s not exaggerating. Texas isn’t just another state on the map for bourbon and rye – it’s the proving ground. Sell big in Texas and the rest of the country starts listening. Drink big in Texas and you’ve got yourself a brand that can go toe-to-toe with the Kentucky giants.
On the other side of the deal, Flint Prewitt, Beverage Division President for Ben E. Keith Beverages, sounds just as fired up: “We are honored to be selected as the Texas distribution partner for Blue Note Bourbon. Texas is one of the most dynamic and influential markets for whiskey, and we’re excited to introduce this exceptional brand to our customers.”
Ben E. Keith isn’t some newcomer. The company started hauling beer and goods across Texas back in 1906 – think Model Ts and dirt roads. Today it’s the seventh-largest independent beer wholesaler in America and runs 14 sales and distribution centers across the state. When they decide to carry a spirit, bars, liquor stores, and restaurants from El Paso to Beaumont take notice.
So what exactly is hitting the shelves?
Blue Note currently offers four core bottles that won’t require a second mortgage:
- Juke Joint – $34.99
- Crossroads – $44.99
- Uncut (unfiltered, higher proof) – $49.99
- Straight Rye Whiskey – $34.99
The big news for proof chasers: the Uncut expression gives you the barrel-strength experience without crossing the $50 line. In a world where “cask strength” sometimes means “cough up $80 or more,” that’s the kind of pricing that makes a man smile.
The whiskey itself is born from a partnership with Lofted Spirits (the same group behind the revived Green River Distilling Co. in Kentucky). The mash gets distilled, then trucked up to Memphis where the barrels rest in warehouses right where the Mississippi and Wolf Rivers come together. There’s something about that humid river air that does wonders for bourbon, and the people at B.R. Distilling have been taking full advantage since they fired up the stills in 2014.
The proof is in the medals. At the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition – one of the toughest in the business – both Juke Joint and Crossroads walked away with Platinum medals. That doesn’t happen by accident. Platinum means those two whiskeys have scored Double Gold three years running. Out of thousands of entries worldwide, only a handful pull that off.
Right now Blue Note is already poured in 24 states plus D.C., but Texas feels different. When a brand born on Beale Street teams up with a Texas institution that’s been around since before Prohibition ended, you get the sense this could be the start of something lasting.
For the guys who keep a bottle on the top shelf for special occasions and another in the cabinet for Saturday nights on the porch, Blue Note might just become the next go-to. It’s got the Tennessee roots, the Memphis soul, the big awards, and pricing that doesn’t make you wince when you crack the seal.
Next time you’re in your favorite liquor store or belly up to a bar anywhere from Lubbock to Longview, keep an eye out for those dark blue labels. Texas just gave Blue Note Bourbon the keys to the kingdom – and if the past is any indication, the Lone Star State knows how to crown a winner.
