Serving Up Great Kentucky Bourbon with a Side of Kentucky History
About Kentucky Senator
Kentucky Senator Bourbon revives a historic Kentucky whiskey label once produced by Crigler & Crigler in Covington and later by Double Springs Distillers in Bardstown. The modern brand is led by Andre Regard and Damon Thayer, who have rebuilt Kentucky Senator around limited 107-proof releases tied to notable Kentucky senators and historical figures.
Each bottle blends bourbon with storytelling — pairing mature Kentucky whiskey, collectible presentation, and regional history into a series that feels distinct from most modern sourced bourbon brands. The releases intentionally lean into Kentucky culture, politics, sports, and Americana rather than avoiding the complexities that come with historical figures.
Regard brings deep bourbon lineage to the project as a direct descendant of Basil Hayden and the founders of Old Grand-Dad Whiskey, while Thayer spent more than two decades in the Kentucky Senate advocating for the bourbon industry before entering the business directly. Together, the founders give the brand a level of authenticity that feels rooted in actual Kentucky bourbon culture rather than manufactured nostalgia.
The result is a bourbon series that works equally well as a collectible archive of Kentucky history and as a lineup of mature, transparently sourced Kentucky whiskey.
Featured Review
Kentucky Senator Batch 7 Jim Bunning Review
A deeper, dustier take on classic Kentucky bourbon with baseball nostalgia baked into every sip.
More from Kentucky Senator
Batch 6 — John Edwards
A high-rye Kentucky bourbon layered with snickerdoodle, apple pie, peanut brittle, and warming baking spice. One of Kentucky Senator’s most cohesive releases so far, balancing approachable 107-proof drinkability with strong collector appeal and classic Kentucky character.
Louisiana Senator #1 — Huey Long
A richer, earthier pour built around maple sweetness, roasted peanuts, cherry, and cinnamon warmth. The inaugural Louisiana release expanded the Kentucky Senator concept while keeping the same vintage-inspired personality intact.
“Kentucky Senator Bourbon serves up great Kentucky bourbon with a side of Kentucky history.“
— Kentucky Senator
Awards & Recognition
- Forbes feature coverage
- Fred Minnick Top 100 Whiskeys (multiple years)
- ASCOT Gold Awards
- San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold
About the Founders
Andre Regard
Andre Regard’s connection to bourbon runs unusually deep. A direct descendant of Basil Hayden and the founders of Old Grand-Dad Whiskey, Regard traces his Kentucky lineage back to bourbon’s earliest days before later family roots spread into Louisiana during America’s first bourbon boom.
Outside bourbon, Regard built a career as both an entrepreneur and equine attorney while remaining heavily involved in Kentucky horse culture, agriculture, and preservation efforts. That connection to land and regional identity heavily shapes Kentucky Senator’s storytelling-first approach.
The Louisiana connection also helps explain why some Kentucky Senator releases have begun branching into regional expansions beyond Kentucky itself.
Damon Thayer
Before helping revive Kentucky Senator Bourbon, Damon Thayer spent more than two decades in the Kentucky State Senate where he became one of bourbon’s most visible legislative advocates.
Thayer received the Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s prestigious 100 Proof Award four separate times and was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2025 following years of legislation supporting growth within the Kentucky bourbon industry.
That background gives Kentucky Senator a level of authenticity that many history-driven bourbon brands struggle to establish. The project feels less like a marketing exercise and more like a genuine extension of Kentucky bourbon culture itself — from politics and racing to heritage preservation and modern bourbon advocacy.