The Kings of Leon story is shrouded in the kind of rock n’roll mythology that’s hard to find these days, and at the center of that mythology often sits a good, stiff drink — that’s just part of the reason why it makes so much sense that the Southern rockers are now in the whiskey business.
The band behind soaring hits like “Use Somebody” and “Sex On Fire” (not to mention 2021’s surprisingly solid “When You See Yourself”) are teaming with Kentucky’s Willett Distillery on Kiamichi Whiskey, which should prove a fitting complement to the band’s bluesy yet arena-ready stylings.
The partnership focuses on a special run of three whiskey editions: Two rye whiskies (one 5-year and one 8-year offering) and a promising 19-year-old bourbon.
The moniker of the whiskey harkens back to the days when the Followill brothers and cousin Matthew Followill spent summers on the Kiamichi River in southeastern Oklahoma.
The partnership is billed as a “family reunion whiskey,” and was announced in conjunction with Kentucky’s Bourbon and Beyond Festival, where the band played a hit-packed headlining set last Thursday.
For now, whiskey and rock n’roll enthusiasts can sign up for a mailing list promising additional info on the high-voltage trio of spirits.
The 19-year Kiamichi bourbon in particular has added significance: KoL burst onto the scene 19 years ago with debut album Youth and Young Manhood, which added a distinctly Southern, hard-edged tint to the garage rock revival of the early ‘aughts.
Willett Master Distiller Drew Kulsveen also joined the distillery 19 years ago, and the age of the bourbon itself is also pushing the higher end in terms of time elapsed in barrels.
Those keen to try each offering from Kiamichi and Kings of Leon will have to be patient — no formal release date has been announced as of yet.
And those looking to perhaps sample the whiskey in conjunction with a Kings of Leon live show might have to wait until 2023, as the band embarks on a tour of New Zealand and Australia in the months ahead.
Like great bourbon or a slew of modern rock classics, the best things take time and prove worth the wait, though.
