You’ve probably seen the bottle. It’s distinct, leaning into that Stitzel-Weller nostalgia with a blue label and a price tag that makes most people do a double-take at the liquor store. But honestly, Blade and Bow 22 Year Old is one of those pours that divides a room faster than a political debate. It’s rare. It’s expensive. And it carries the weight of a legendary distillery name that isn’t even technically making the juice inside the bottle anymore.
Is it good? Yeah, it's incredible. But "good" is a loaded word when you’re dropping several hundred dollars on a single bottle of Kentucky Bourbon.
People chase this stuff because of the Five Keys. If you aren't familiar with the lore, the keys represent the steps of making bourbon—grains, yeast, fermentation, distillation, and aging—but they also represent the keys that used to hang on the door of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Shively. When Diageo launched the Blade and Bow brand, they leaned hard into this heritage. The 22-year-old expression is the pinnacle of that marketing, released annually in limited quantities, usually around Derby season.
The Stitzel-Weller Connection and the "Solera" Confusion
Let’s get one thing straight right out of the gate: the Blade and Bow 22 Year Old isn't a solera aged bourbon like its younger, non-age-statement sibling.
A lot of folks get these mixed up. The standard Blade and Bow uses a Solera system where older whiskey is theoretically mingled with younger whiskey. But the 22-year-old? That’s straight-up, hyper-aged bourbon. It’s a snapshot of time. However, there is a massive misconception about where this whiskey actually comes from.
Stitzel-Weller stopped distilling in 1992. Do the math. If you’re buying a bottle of Blade and Bow 22 Year Old in 2024, 2025, or 2026, that whiskey was put into a barrel long after the legendary Pappy-producing stills went cold. Diageo, the parent company, owns a massive amount of stock. They have barrels from Bernheim, they have barrels from Buffalo Trace (from back when Diageo had a stake), and they have their own newer production.
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So, what are you actually drinking? Most experts, including those who have tracked the TTB filings and tasted through the decades, suggest this is likely sourced from Buffalo Trace or Bernheim. It’s high-rye or wheated depending on the specific release year, though the 22-year-old is generally understood to be a bourbon with a traditional rye mash bill that has survived the grueling Kentucky summers for over two decades without turning into a bottle of liquid wood.
Why 22 Years is a Dangerous Age for Bourbon
Bourbon isn't Scotch.
In Scotland, the cool, damp climate allows whiskey to age for 30, 40, or even 50 years without the barrel completely taking over. Kentucky is a different beast. The "Angel’s Share" (evaporation) is aggressive. By the time a barrel hits 22 years, it’s often more than half empty. The remaining liquid is basically a concentrated essence of charred oak.
Most bourbons peak between 6 and 12 years. Going to 22 is a gamble. If the warehouse isn't managed perfectly, the whiskey becomes "over-oaked"—it tastes like chewing on a pencil.
The magic of Blade and Bow 22 Year Old is how it manages to avoid that fate. Most years, the flavor profile is remarkably bright for something that old. You get the expected vanilla and heavy oak, sure, but there’s usually this weird, beautiful notes of dried apricot, toasted marshmallow, and even a hint of tropical fruit that shouldn't be there. It’s a testament to the master blenders at Diageo who pull these specific barrels from the "honey spots" of the rickhouse where the temperature stays just stable enough to prevent the tannins from becoming bitter.
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The Reality of the Secondary Market
If you find this at MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price), which usually hovers around $450 to $500, you’ve hit a minor jackpot. But let’s be real. You aren't finding this at MSRP unless you have a very close relationship with a liquor store owner or you win a state-run lottery.
On the secondary market, prices for the 22-year-old can spike to $800 or even $1,200 depending on the "tater" cycle of the moment.
Is any liquid worth $1,000? Probably not. You’re paying for the blue label. You’re paying for the fact that only a few thousand bottles exist. You're paying for the "key" that comes tied to the neck of the bottle (collectors try to get all five unique keys, which is a brilliant, if frustrating, marketing ploy).
Tasting Notes: What Does 22 Years Taste Like?
When you actually crack the seal—and please, crack the seal, don't just let it sit on a shelf—the nose hits you first. It’s deep.
- The Nose: It’s like walking into an old library. Leather bound books, dusty wood, but then there's this underlying sweetness like dark chocolate and Maraschino cherries.
- The Palate: It’s thick. It coats your tongue. You’ll notice the oak immediately, but it’s a "sweet" oak, not a dry one. Think caramelized sugar and burnt orange peel.
- The Finish: This is where the age shows. The finish lasts for minutes. It’s warm, spicy (thanks to the rye), and ends with a touch of smoke.
If you’ve had the standard Blade and Bow, this is a completely different animal. The standard version is approachable and light. The 22 is demanding. It’s a "slow sip" bourbon. You don't put ice in this. You don't make a Manhattan with it. You sit with it for an hour and watch how the air changes the flavors in the glass.
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Comparing the Releases: Not All Years Are Equal
Since Diageo releases this annually, there is "batch variation." Even though they don't explicitly batch it like a Booker's, the year of release matters to enthusiasts.
The 2021 release was widely praised for being exceptionally balanced. Some of the later releases have been noted as being slightly "drier" on the finish. It’s the nature of sourcing. Since they are pulling from remaining aged stocks that weren't originally distilled by the current team, they have to work with what they have.
This leads to a lot of debate in the bourbon community. Some purists argue that without a consistent mash bill or distillery of origin, the 22-year-old is just a high-priced "mystery juice." Others argue that the proof is in the tasting, and Diageo’s ability to curate these barrels is world-class.
How to Actually Get a Bottle
Don't just walk into a Total Wine and expect to see it sitting next to the Jim Beam.
- The Stitzel-Weller Experience: If you happen to be in Louisville, visit the distillery. They don't distill there, but it's the brand's home. They sometimes have "distillery only" releases or pours available at the Garden & Gun Club upstairs.
- Lotteries: Many big-box retailers and state-controlled liquor boards (like in Virginia or Pennsylvania) include the 22-year-old in their Pappy-season lotteries.
- High-End Bars: Honestly, this is the best way to try it. Paying $50-$80 for a 2-ounce pour is a lot cheaper than $1,000 for a bottle you might not even like. Look for "allocated" bourbon bars in major cities.
The Verdict on Blade and Bow 22
Basically, this bourbon is for the person who loves the history of Kentucky whiskey and wants a "trophy" bottle that actually tastes sophisticated. It isn't a value play. If you want value, buy a bottle of Wild Turkey Rare Breed or Old Forester 1910 and call it a day.
But if you want to experience what happens when bourbon survives two decades in wood—and comes out the other side with grace—this is one of the few bottles that does it consistently.
Actionable Steps for the Bourbon Hunter:
- Check the Key: If you are buying a bottle, check the number on the key. There are five different ones. Collectors value the "complete set," so if you're looking for resale (which we don't recommend—drink it!), the key matters.
- Let it Breathe: If you open a bottle, pour a glass and let it sit for at least 15 minutes. High-age bourbons are often "tight" when first poured and need oxygen to open up the fruit notes.
- Verify the Source: Look at the back label. It will say "Bottled by Stitzel-Weller Distilling Co." but pay attention to the fine print regarding where it was distilled. It’s a fun rabbit hole to compare different release years against known distillery profiles.
- Store it Properly: Keep it upright. With a 22-year-old cork, the high alcohol content will eat away at the stopper if it's stored on its side, ruining a very expensive investment.
Ultimately, Blade and Bow 22 Year Old remains a polarizing figure in the whiskey world. It’s part marketing masterpiece, part genuine relic of aging excellence. Whether it belongs on your bar depends entirely on how much you value the story behind the sip.