Blade and Bow is a Kentucky straight bourbon with a real sense of history, and that story makes it a favorite to talk through with guests at Camp West, the cabin-inspired cocktail bar and restaurant in the West Seattle Junction. It is a bourbon tied to one of the most storied addresses in American whiskey, which earns it a place on our deep West Seattle whiskey shelf.
About the Distillery
Blade and Bow pays tribute to the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery in Kentucky, which closed in 1992 and was later reopened. The brand’s name nods to the two parts of a skeleton key — the blade and the bow — a reference to the five keys that once hung on the Stitzel-Weller door, representing the five steps of crafting bourbon: grains, yeast, fermentation, distillation, and aging.
Style & Mash Bill
This is a Kentucky straight bourbon made distinctive by its use of a Solera aging system. In that process, barrels are never fully emptied, so older and younger whiskeys are continually blended together — a method the brand uses to carry a thread of older Stitzel-Weller-era stock into every bottle. We’ll keep specific age and proof claims general, but the Solera method is what gives Blade and Bow its layered character.
Tasting Notes
Expect a soft, inviting nose of honey, ripe fruit, and dried apricot. The palate brings vanilla, caramel, and a touch of baking spice, with the Solera blending lending a smooth, well-rounded feel across the ages of whiskey within. The finish is mellow and warming — polished rather than aggressive.
How to Enjoy It at Camp West
Blade and Bow is an $18 pour. We suggest enjoying it neat or over a single large rock so its honeyed, fruit-forward character and smooth Solera-blended texture come through. It is a thoughtful sipper with a great backstory — perfect for a slow evening in a cabin booth.
FAQ
What is the Solera aging system?
It is a fractional blending method where barrels are never fully drained, so each bottling continuously mingles older and younger whiskey — allowing a touch of historic Stitzel-Weller stock to live on in every bottle.
What is the connection to Stitzel-Weller?
Blade and Bow is a tribute to the historic Stitzel-Weller distillery, and its Solera system is used to keep some of that distillery’s heritage whiskey present in the blend.
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